Liverpool v Birmingham Premier League Highlights

Maxi Rodriguez scored a hat-trick as Liverpool kept up their pursuit of a Europa League place by hammering Birmingham.
Anfield 23/04/11

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish:

“Overall it was a thoroughly deserved three points. Whether five flatters us or not I don’t know, but during the game we played some fantastic football.

“There are a few youngsters there who are going to be very happy with themselves tonight. They have shown they can handle the pressure, which is fantastic for them and for the football club.

“The players give me the joy and the satisfaction. I’m celebrating for them as much as I am for myself because I know how hard they work and how much they put in during the week.”

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:

“Yet again, like Chelsea last week, after the first couple of minutes we lose a goal. One of the things we emphasized before the start of the game was to get a good, solid start. But we gifted them the first two goals.

“The manner in which we’ve concede goals over the last two games is a bit concerning. It is not like us. We’re better than that. But I know that this team is very good at bouncing back.

“Expectations were that we would probably get no points this week from two tough fixtures. But we’ll soldier on to our next home game, which is huge for both us and Wolves.”

Liverpool

* 25 Reina
* 23 Carragher
* 37 Skrtel
* 38 Flanagan
* 49 Robinson yellow card (Shelvey 78)
* 04 Meireles (Cole 84)
* 17 Maxi (Ngog 89)
* 21 Lucas
* 26 Spearing
* 07 Suarez
* 18 Kuyt

Substitutes

* 42 Gulacsi,
* 16 Kyrgiakos,
* 10 Cole,
* 28 Poulsen,
* 33 Shelvey,
* 35 Conor Coady,
* 24 Ngog

Birmingham

* 26 Foster (Doyle 40)
* 02 Carr
* 05 Johnson
* 06 Ridgewell
* 28 Jiranek
* 04 Bowyer
* 07 Larsson
* 08 Gardner (Phillips 79)
* 18 Fahey
* 22 Hleb (Bentley 67)
* 10 Jerome

Substitutes

* 13 Doyle,
* 21 Parnaby,
* 32 Davies,
* 11 Bentley,
* 23 Beausejour,
* 09 Phillips,
* 14 Derbyshire