Benitez wary of Birmingham threat

Rafael Benitez goes into tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final at Birmingham hoping Steve Bruce’s men are more preoccupied with their Barclays Premiership future, but he is not holding his breath.

The Liverpool boss has so far failed to register a victory over Birmingham since he took over at Anfield, and predicts a tough, physical battle with the midlanders for the right to go into the semi-finals.