Birmingham were denied a win by three world-class saves from Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina that earned his team a goalless draw at St Andrews.

The Spaniard twice denied Cameron Jerome from close range – firstly with a spectacular dive to push his header wide midway through the first half, then with a brave punched clearance as Jerome nodded Sebastian Larsson’s cross goalwards.

Craig Gardner, who already scored three goals in three games prior to this one, should have beaten Reina seven minutes before the break but his close range header was again miraculously clawed wide.

Liverpool struggled to create much throughout the first 45 minutes, as Blues’ midfield closed them down time and again.

Johnson created a half chance for Torres in the opening ten minutes, which was clipped well wide, but it was their best chance in a frustrating half for the Reds.

Blues’ physical approach did have its drawbacks, as Gardner was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Lucas with 29 minutes gone.

But it was a bruising encounter which largely favoured the homeside, with captain Steven Gerrard forced to briefly leave the field after an accidental elbow from Barry Ferguson.

The home side continued to spurn chances after the break as Scott Dann headed over from 10 yards, after the Liverpool defence had left him unmarked in the box.

There was a growing feeling that Blues would be made to pay for their wastefulness and Liverpool began to grow in confidence as the game wore on.

They could have taken the lead on 64 minutes when Gerrard split the Blues defence with a well-aimed pass, but Fernando Torres’ narrow-angled shot was blocked by goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Jerome headed wide of the target with 19 minutes left, tumbling backwards as Stephen Carr’s cross came over, unable to adjust his body to divert the ball goalwards.

Nerves began to creep into Blues’ play as Liverpool poured forward in the final quarter of an hour but Liverpool simply couldn’t break their hosts down.

Torres could have stolen the points nine minutes from time, but he scuffed his shot straight at Foster after a winding 30 yard run, under pressure from Gardner.

The draw was Blues’ seventh straight against Liverpool in the Premier League, leaving Blues still unbeaten this season, in fifth place.