LIVERPOOL V BIRMINGHAM: STAT ATTACK

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Here are all the important stats and facts ahead of our Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham City at Anfield.

The last Premiership meeting between the sides was on this ground in February 2006 with the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Steven Gerrard gave the Reds the lead before Xabi Alonso scored an 88th minute own goal. City became the first visiting team to score at Anfield in more than three months.
  

Birmingham are one of only two teams Liverpool have failed to beat in the Premiership under Rafa Benitez. Manchester United are the other though both teams have lost cup ties to the Reds in the last three years.
  

Liverpool have lost only three of the last 20 League meetings between the sides home and away but they have been beaten twice in the last four.
  

In the Premiership home and away Liverpool have won two of the eight meetings drawing three and losing three.
  

The Reds beat Birmingham 1-0 in the League Cup at St Andrews last season with Daniel Agger scoring on the stroke of half time. Craig Bellamy had a penalty saved by Maik Taylor.
  

Peter Crouch made his league debut against Birmingham in August 2000 while playing for Queens Park Rangers.
  

Daniel Agger made his Liverpool debut against Birmingham in February 2006. In the same game Robbie Fowler played the first game of his second spell coming on as a substitute.
  

Steve Finnan made 15 league appearances for the Blues from 1995-1996 after joining from Welling United and managed to score on his debut at Watford.
  

Jermaine Pennant played 50 times in league football for Birmingham, scoring twice, before joining the Reds in the summer of 2006.
  

Pepe Reina's penalty save at Portsmouth last week was his first for Liverpool in normal play. Including shoot-outs he has saved six of the 13 spot kicks faced.
  

Liverpool have lost only 9 times in the last 48 League games but one of those defeats was 9-1 at St.Andrews in 1954-55-that is still Liverpool's biggest ever loss.
  

Four Liverpool players have scored League hat-tricks against Birmingham - Gary Gillespie (1986), John Toshack (1975), Gordon Hodgson (1934) and Harry Chambers (1923).
  

Liverpool's biggest win at Anfield against today's opponents came in April 1986 when the Reds won 5-0 with Gary Gillespise scoring a hat-trick.
  

The last goalless draw between the sides here came in April 1931.
  

The last time the sides met here Jermaine Pennant was in the Birmingham side.
  

Only two of the 46 league meetings here have taken place outside the top flight.
  

A win today will equal Liverpool's best ever start to a Premier League season. They took 14 points from the opening six games of the 1996-97 campaign.

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Liverpool have suffered only one defeat in the last 36 league games at Anfield.
  

City's last win here came in November 2004 when Darren Anderton scored the only goal in the 77th minute. It is their only victory at Anfield in the last 29 years.
  

Birmingham have kept only one clean sheet at Anfield in the last 76 years.
  

City have recorded one away win in the league this season. They beat fellow promoted side Derby 2-1 last month with Cameron Jerome scoring both including the opener after just 33 seconds.
  

That victory came either side of defeats at Chelsea (2-3) and Middlesbrough (0-2).
  

Of all the current Premier League managers Steve Bruce is the third longest serving with his club. He took over at St Andrews in December 2001. Only Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have spent longer at their clubs.
  

Garry O'Connor scored the only goal of the Russian Cup Final last season as Lokomotiv defeated city rivals FK Moscow after extra time.
  

Both Mehdi Nafti and Sebastian Larsson could play their 50th league games for the Blues in this game.
  

Damien Johnson was sent off on City's last visit in February 2006 for serious foul play after just 28 minutes.
  

The last Birmingham player to score a hat-trick against the Reds was Eddie Brown in a 9-1 win in September 1994.
  

Birmingham's biggest win here came in January 1904 when they won 2-0.