Traore taking second Liverpool chance

DJIMI TRAORE was within minutes of quitting Liverpool before new Spanish coach Rafael Benitez fixed him with a look that told him his future was still at Anfield.

Liverpool's unsung heroes get the chance to take a bow against Birmingham in their first home game since the critical and highly-deserved Champions League victory against Deportivo La Coruna.

Benitez has a massive problem if Milan Baros fails a fitness test on a hamstring injury and may have to use either reserve striker Neil Mellor or Florent Sinama-Pongolle up front, just a week after seeing Djibril Cisse ruled out for the season with a double leg fracture.