Liverpool Comment: Rafa's Men Need To Rediscover Ruthless Streak

Eight defeats from 16 games. It doesn't sound good, does it? Whilst Liverpool suffered last season from a cluster of damaging draws, especially at Anfield, this time out it is losses which are costing Rafa Benitez and his side dearly.

Tonight, as Alex McLeish's Birmingham City prepare for a trip up the M6, the spotlight will once again fall on the Spaniard, as his troops prepare to launch yet another revival in a season littered with false hope and inconsistency.

There has at least been some good news for the beleaguered Benitez in the run up to tonight's clash. The injury crisis which has so hampered his side in recent weeks is showing signs of subsiding, with both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard expected to start at Anfield this evening, whilst Alberto Aquilani, Fabio Aurelio, Martin Kelly and Martin Skrtel are all in contention for starting places. At least Benitez has options where last time out, at Fulham, he had none.

Liverpool's manager will also be pleased with the news that both Gerrard and Torres have been omitted from their respective national team squads, allowing them the best part of two weeks' rest before the Reds' next league fixture - at home to Manchester City. Having welcomed the pair back limping after their previous international trips, and suffered greatly during their subsequent absence, Benitez will feel it is small consolation.

But amongst the doom and the gloom hovering around Anfield, there are rays of light to be grasped at. It is easy to forget that Liverpool have already run in 25 league goals this season - including 14 in three games against Stoke, Burnley and Hull - a figure bettered only by Arsenal and Chelsea, and that their form in the past eight league games eclipses that of either Manchester City or Tottenham.

Together again | Gerrard and Torres could both start

Benitez himself will be first to admit that this season has not, as yet, gone to plan. In fact he would probably find it hard to disagree with Pepe Reina's assessment after Wednesday's costly Champions League draw with Lyon that Liverpool's position had become "a disgrace", but the Spaniard is an eternal optimist, and his faith in his players can rarely be questioned. Tonight provides a chance to see if his faith is misplaced.

Birmingham have proven to be something of a bogey team during his reign on Merseyside. Benitez is yet to record a Premier League win over the Blues in six attempts (though he did guide the Reds to a 7-0 success at St Andrews in the FA Cup in 2006), but knows that if his side are to turn water into wine this season, they must start tonight.

Defensive lapses have proven costly in recent weeks - a clean sheet against Manchester United is their only shutout in eight games - but such errors have been exacerbated by an inability to convert a sufficient number of their chances. In Lyon on Wednesday they squandered a series of presentable openings, and were suitably punished in the final minute for a moment's hesitation at the back.

Liverpool clearly have the means with which to dominate. Torres and Gerrard may not be at 100 per cent but, aided by the tireless Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun, and with Ryan Babel's confidence high after his screamer in Lyon, there should be more than enough firepower to see off McLeish's lowly side.

If there isn't, then the questions will resurface. And this time, even Benitez's biggest fans will find it hard to offer a defence.

Neil Jones