Liverpool go into the game buoyed by the return of Mohamed Sissoko after his recovery from a sight-threatening eye injury

The French-born midfielder provides the flick that allows an unmarked Sami Hyypia to score in the first minute

Three minutes later Peter Crouch makes it 2-0 when he stoops to head Steven Gerrard's long ball past Maik Taylor

With 85 minutes still remaining, David Dunn attempts to put pressure on Liverpool's defence as Birmingham try to recover

The task is an uphill one for City - Jamie Clapham struggles to get the ball upfield as the Reds dominate

The win is all but secured when Crouch nets his second seven minutes before half-time with the Blues in disarray

Having seen his side totally outplayed in the opening period, Steve Bruce returns to the dressing room with a lot to ponder

The visitors show no signs of easing back after the break as Fernando Morientes scores on the hour to finish a neat move

10 minutes later it is 5-0 as John Arne Riise unleashes a trademark long-range effort that Taylor is unable to keep out

City's defenders have a night to forget but none more so than Olivier Tebily who diverts Harry Kewell's cross into his own net

Djibril Cisse adds the seventh and final goal when his hopeful shot slips under goalkeeper Taylor in the closing minutes