Gerrard back on song but disappointed with Birmingham draw

Birmingham 2 Liverpool 2

The Liverpool captain has admitted a lack of fitness was to blame for his below-par performances in England's recent World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland.

But Gerrard showed no signs of the calf injury that affected him in the early part of the season and forced him out of Liverpool's European Super Cup clash with CSKA Moscow in Monaco immediately before England's double-header. He was the one player against Steve Bruce's side who oozed genuine quality.