Garcia banned for Pool clash with Birmingham

LIVERPOOL will be without Spanish midfielder Luis Garcia for the trip to Birmingham as he serves a one-match suspension for collecting five bookings.

Antonio Nunez is available again after his three-match ban but there is a chance Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer could play an attacking midfield role at St Andrews.

Smicer has not started for the Anfield club since May 2 and has battled back from a knee operation.