Jamie Carragher has a foolproof theory that he knows will turn Liverpool into champions - stop giving away penalties.

Spot-kicks are the only goals Liverpool have conceded in any competition so far this season, and goalkeeper Jose Reina goes into Saturday's home Premier League match with Birmingham having not been beaten in open play since eight minutes from time in last season's Champions League final in Athens.

The concern though for defender Carragher is that Liverpool have already given away four penalties in just eight matches this term.

Carragher says: "It is just one of those strange things that happen sometimes, we seem to be giving penalties away every game. I am sure it will not continue like this.

"The disappointing thing is, all the penalties we have given away have not really been goalscoring chances.

"And we are not giving many chances away in open play and that is something we have got to be proud of. All we need to do is stop giving penalties away."