Robbie’s return continues, with a place on the bench for Fowler in Liverpool’s first league game since the prodigal son returned. Jamie Carragher is rested, or at least kept in reserve on the bench, as Daniel Agger is given his debut. The old-fashioned central-midfield pairing of Didi and Stevie is given a run-out tonight too.
Liverpool: J Reina, S Finnan, S Hyypia, D Agger, J Riise, S Luis Garcia, S Gerrard, D Hamann, H Kewell, P Crouch, F Morientes
Subs: S Carson, R Fowler, X Alonso, J Carragher, S Warnock
Birmingham: M Taylor, M Melchiot, M Latka, M Upson, J Gray, J Pennant, N Kilkenny, D Johnson, D Dunn, E Heskey, C Sutton
Subs: N Vaesen, M Forssell, S Lazaridis, A Bruce, O Tebily
Ref: U Rennie