Garcia banned for Blues clash

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.

Liverpool will be aiming for their third straight Premiership victory, something they have only achieved once before under Rafael Benitez when they beat Newcastle, West Brom and Southampton in December.

Benitez will still be without Spanish full-back Josemi and midfielder Harry Kewell, who are still recovering from long-term injuries.

Provisional squad: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Pellegrino, Smicer, Biscan, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Warnock, Morientes, Baros, Carson, Nunez, Welsh, Raven.