Liverpool v Birmingham City Team Line-Ups: Gerrard Starts On Bench, No Torres For Reds

The full team line-ups for Liverpool v Birmingham City in their Premier League match at Anfield on Monday evening.

Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool have lost three of their last four Premiership matches, with a 2-0 win over fierce rivals Manchester United the only win in Liverpool’s last eight matches in all competitions.

Liverpool are without vice-captain Jamie Carragher, who is suspended for one match and Phillip Degen, who is out for three matches after both were sent-off in Liverpool’s last league match, a 3-1 defeat to Fulham.

Further bad news for Liverpool boss Benitez is that Reds skipper Steven Gerrard starts the match against Birmingham City on the bench, while inspirational striker Fernando Torres has not been named in the final squad.

New signing Alberto Aquilani has also been named in the substitutes, along with Gerrard and Ryan Babel.

Birmingham City also have injury concerns, with Garry O'Connor suffering with a groin problem, while Martin Taylor has an ankle injury.

Teemu Tainio and Keith Fahey have both recovered from knee injuries, with Tainio starting the match for City.

City midfielder Barry Ferguson is suspended for the match after receiving two yellow-cards in last Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Manchester City, while James McFadden, Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez all start in attack for Alex McLeish's side.

Liverpool v Birmingham City Full Teamsheets:

Liverpool Team: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Riera, Skrtel, Insua, Benayoun, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, N'Gog.

Liverpool Substitutes: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Gerrard, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Spearing, Darby.

Birmingham City Team: Hart, Carr. R. Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer, Tainio, McFadden, Benitez, Jerome.

Birmingham City Substitutes: Taylor, Espinoza, Queudrue, Gregory Vignal, McSheffrey, Carsley, Phillips.