Rush issues Birmingham warning for Reds
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has described their upcoming game at Birmingham as their "biggest game of the season".
While Danny Murphy has said he is confident Liverpool can cope with the pressure of the run-in to Champions League qualification.
Rush is warning a win is vital in the Reds’ penultimate Premiership match of the season at Birmingham on Saturday, Murphy is keeping his cool.
To get past their next major hurdle in the race for fourth place, Liverpool will also have to overcome the memory of one of their worst displays of last season.
Back in February 2003 Birmingham battered Liverpool at St Andrews, won 2-1 and started a run of seven league wins in nine which hauled Steve Bruce’s men away from the threat of relegation.
Liverpool never really recovered from the mauling – which came just a couple of days after a tiring UEFA Cup victory in Auxerre.
Birmingham still believe they can qualify for the UEFA Cup, but Murphy said: “We are a side who produce when we have to get a result.
“It was important to get that win against Middlesbrough on Sunday to keep our confidence up.
“The last game with Newcastle could now be the be-all and end-all of our season.”
Rush, meanwhile – now Liverpool’s strikers’ coach – said: “Everyone is now looking ahead to the last game against Newcastle, but psychologically I rate the trip to St Andrews even higher at the moment.
“Those looking for Liverpool to slip will fancy Birmingham to get something next weekend. I believe if we win against Steve Bruce’s side we’ll be virtually there.”
Rush believes a good performance this weekend will take some of the pressure off.
“Depending on Aston Villa’s result at Southampton, we may only need to draw against Newcastle,” he predicted.
“The trip to Birmingham has to be treated as the biggest game of the season. Fourth place is within our grasp now, and we’re in the right form to win our last two matches.”
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