Birmingham City chairman David Gold hopes Liverpool field their reserve-team this weekend.

Gold admitted ahead of the St Andrew's clash: "We need every bit of help we can get because we are fighting for our lives.

"We have been in this sort of situation before, although the last time the boot was on the other foot.

"I remember a couple of years ago we went to West Ham and got beaten 3-0 by their full first-team.

"A week or so later they were playing our relegation rivals Portsmouth two days before an FA Cup quarter-final.

"They put out their 'ladies' team and lost 4-2, a result that went a long way towards us going down. I expect Liverpool to play a weakened side against us."