Liverpool 0-0 Birmingham

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez left Fernando Torres out of his starting line-up and paid the price again as Birmingham earned a point at Anfield. Torres looked a cut above the rest of Liverpool’s strikers when he emerged on the hour, but Birmingham’s defence had established the platform for a point.

John Arne Riise was just off target and Steven Gerrard’s shot was kicked off the line in a lacklustre display.

Torres’ over-head kick was inches over, but Birmingham deservedly held on.

Benitez surprisingly preferred Ryan Babel to £26m Torres, and his side lacked punch in the opening 45 minutes.

Riise posed the main danger with a shot across the face of goal and a rising shot off target.

Birmingham 1-0 Bolton

Birmingham secured their first home league win of the season thanks to Olivier Kapo’s close-range effort. The excellent Sebastian Larsson clipped in a pin-point cross for the unmarked Kapo, who stretched to poke home.

The hosts were rarely troubled by a lacklustre Bolton side whose best chance was a Daniel Braaten run and shot that was blocked by Stephen Kelly.

Larsson hit the bar from a free-kick and despite a late siege on their goal, the Blues held out for a deserved win.

Blues choose not to sign Kallon

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has decided not to pursue his interest in signing striker Mohammed Kallon. The former Inter Milan striker had trained with the Blues for the past 10 days after becoming a free agent when Monaco paid up his contract.

He scored in a friendly against Kidderminster but Blues opted out because of paperwork issues.

Bruce said: “Our information was it would have been very difficult to get a work permit so he’s gone elsewhere.”

	 source:bbcsports

Bruce delight at Oubina capture

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce believes Borja Oubina is a “quality” signing.

 The Blues moved to sign the player on loan from Spanish side Celta Vigo with minutes to spare before the transfer deadline after it had looked as though he would join Portuguese giants Benfica. The deal may be made permanent at the end of the season.

“Very early in the week, it looked odds-on as if he was going to Benfica,” said Bruce. “That didn’t happen, and we jumped on the back of it.”

The Blues moved for Oubina after a deal to sign French midfielder Peter Luccin from Atletico Madrid fell through.