Sinama-Pongolle starts for Reds

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was forced to hand Florent Sinama-Pongolle a first Barclays Premiership start of the season in the absence of Milan Baros.

With Djibril Cisse out for the season with a broken leg, Benitez’s striker crisis has hit home with seven-goal leading scorer Baros also out for the Anfield visit of Birmingham with a hamstring injury.

Xabi Alonso returned to the starting line-up after being on the bench for the midweek Champions League victory over Deportivo La Coruna due to a calf injury, with Igor Biscan the man to make way.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce also made two changes to his side with Muzzy Izzet returning after a five-week absence with a knee problem, while Stephen Clemence was also handed a start, with Dwight Yorke and Stan Lazaridis dropped to the bench.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Luis Garcia, Hamann, Alonso, Riise, Sinama Pongolle, Kewell.

Subs: Finnan, Diao, Biscan, Dudek, Mellor.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Gray, Gronkjaer, Izzet, Savage, Clemence, Johnson, Heskey.

Subs: Clapham, Lazaridis, Bennett, Anderton, Yorke.

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire)