Why Do Liverpool Need to Rely on A Goalkeeper to Keep a Clean Sheet.

There were the odd moments, where Lucas, Johnson and Torres showed that perhaps they might get a grip on the game, but sadly nothing seemed to transpire. Liverpool did have a good period of play but including a classic corner kick from Stevie G but unfortunately it was not picked up correctly and the goal remained empty.

The match continued and I guess had reached the point where every Liverpool supporter began to wonder if they were again witnessing the horrors of last season. Stevie had been involved in a bad tackle and had blood pouring down his face. Although it appears to have been a cut close to his eye, it quickly became evident that his inner ear was bleeding - this as anyone in the medical profession will tell you, can be extremely dangerous.

With Stevie going on and off for medical treatment for the reminder of the half , the team just could not get any form of rhythm going and Birmingham took control of the game. This resulted in Pepe Reina having to make two very good saves to ensure that both teams entered the dressing room at half time with the score line still level.

The second half started with Liverpool kicking off and I had hoped that during the half time team talk, Roy Hodgson had given the lads the rollicking that they deserved. Sadly and very quickly it appeared that he had not. They came out with the same apathy for the game that they had shown in the first half and it was obvious that apart from the magnificent saves from Pepe Reina, Birmingham were the team that and as much as I hate to say it, deserved to get a result. It very quickly became evident, that Stevie looked as though he was yet again going to have to try and salvage the game on his own. Stevie, in all honesty though appeared to be struggling for form, which after having played so well for his country earlier in the week, seemed strange, but I guess that young man has an awful lot on his mind at the moment.

I don't really know what to make of Roy at the moment. It is obviously too early to say whether or not he was the right appointment for the club, but the looks on his face, made me wonder if he has taken on more than he wanted too. He reminded me a bit of Rafa though, looking at his watch and then the substitutions began. Meireles came on for Lucas, who had been earmarked by the Birmingham players from the start and Agger for Konchelsky. It was though too little, too late and the game finished at 0-0.

The game though has attracted its own kind of controversy with Jamie Rednapp making the kind of stupid remarks that he is getting quite a reputation for. During the half time break, he called Torres, lethargic, Diabolical, Sloppy and fed up. I am not a lover of Jamie's comments, but I hate to say it, this time he has unfortunately hit the nail on the head. There is definitely something wrong with that young man, and it is not just the lack of match fitness. It may be the lack of his untidy blond locks, but I suspect it is more to do with the fact that Christian Purslow persuaded him to stay at the club. He clearly is not happy and needs to be jolted back to reality. He is with us now until at least January and there is no guarantee that the ownership problem will be over by then.

The ownership problem, I suspect is something that is at the back of their minds every day. With all the rubbish and rumours that are being printed in the press, there is no way that the club can shield it from them. It will affect their performance and although the players need to try and make more of an effort on the pitch, with the prospect of a fire sale possible in January it will not help matters. We, the supporters though must do out bit and become the twelfth man at both home and away games. Sadly this was lacking by the end of the game yesterday, but I guess everyone was a little shell shocked by the lack of desire to win.

I will reserve my judgement on the new boys, because like Roy, it will take them several matches to settle down. They were certainly not the true quality of player that Liverpool needs, but with a limited budget and a loan that needs paying off, then Roy bought what he could and hopefully they will show that age and experience can be worth a lot more than a prima donna who believes he is better than anyone.

But even when everything is taken into account, it should not take a world class goalkeeper in the shape of Pepe Reina, to ensure that the score remained as it did.
There were ten other players on that pitch and they should have given him a hand. I just hope that there is going to be an improvement or that top four place is going to be a long way off.