Fowler sits out Cup tie

Robbie Fowler is cup-tied and will have to sit out Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final at Birmingham, with boss Rafael Benitez revealing he is likely to make changes from the side that won 3-1 in the Barclays Premiership at Newcastle on Sunday.

Steve Finnan and Fernando Morientes, who failed to even make the 16 at St James’ Park, were both rested with the St Andrews clash in mind and are expected back into the starting line-up.

Fowler, who scored a hat-trick for Manchester City earlier in the competition, will sit this one out with Peter Crouch likely to partner Morientes, with Djibril Cisse back on the bench.

Full-back John Arne Riise is back in light training following his thigh muscle injury but is unlikely to figure.

Provisional squad: Reina, Finnan, Kromkamp, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Warnock, Traore, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Kewell, Morientes, Crouch, Cisse, Dudek.