Birmingham won't exactly be welcoming Liverpool with open arms for their fourth round Carling Cup tie on Wednesday, for the last time the Reds came calling at St Andrews they dished out a 7-0 beating to Steve Bruce's men in an FA Cup tie.

Now in the Coca-Cola Football Championship, Birmingham started this season in a rather inauspicious manner and the question being asked in the Midlands was when will Bruce be ejected from the hot seat?

However, the Blues have got their act together recently, winning their last five consecutive games, including a 4-2 victory over Sheffield United in the last round of this competition, so confidence is growing.

Pool have failed to scale the heights many, myself included, predicted for them this season, but they have started to build momentum recently, winning eight of their last 11 in all competitions, and have scored an average of three goals per game in their last four fixtures.

Birmingham fans will remember the bitter pill they had to swallow at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2001 when they drew 1-1 with Liverpool in the final of this competition, but after 120 minutes of football couldn't separate them, the Merseyside club won 5-4 on penalties.

Despite their recent run of good form, chances are that Birmingham fans will once again be on the receiving end, even if Rafa Benitez opts to field a significantly under-strength side. In any case, one envisages that goals are on the menu - and quite a few of them.

Indeed, in the last ten meetings between these two sides, 33 goals have been scored, which equates to an average of 3.3 goals per game. Birmingham have nothing to lose and Liverpool will be keen to try and mop up some silverware with the Premiership now looking out of reach.

As such, there's every reason to suspect that this will be a competitive match in the true sense of the word and, at 21/10 with Bet 1128, opting for 4-6 in the total goals market looks way to go. Liverpool will come out on top, but the home side should give them plenty to think about.

Verdict: 2pts on 4-6 in the total goals market @ 21/10 (Bet 1128)