Liverpool 3 Birmingham 1
Liverpool produced their second high-quality performance in four days to underline their determination to stay in the chase for the Premiership crown.
In midweek they dug deep to clinch a UEFA Cup third- round place, and today they put a vastly-improved Birmingham to the sword. The midlanders have produced powerful, physical performances all season but they were over-powered and outplayed eventually by Gerard Houllier's much-maligned side.
Behind to a Mikael Forssell goal on the half- hour mark, Liverpool could have sunk into their now familiar depths of uncertainty and indecision. But with Steven Gerrard driving them forward, they hit Birmingham with a trio of goals.
The first was a penalty from Gerrard - won yet again by Florent Sinama-Pongolle, the fifth time in five matches in a month where his trickery has produced spot-kicks. Then in the second half Harry Kewell produced a stunning diving header and Emile Heskey scored with a volley.
Heskey came into the Liverpool side for the injured Michael Owen, who is probably out until Christmas.
Birmingham had Frenchman Christophe Dugarry back after being sidelined with a twisted knee, while keeper Maik Taylor was out with flu, Ian Bennett taking over.
Liverpool were fluid and quick from the off, with Kewell heavily involved, switching wings to great effect. But there was soon a sign of things to come when Sinama-Pongolle was laid out by Damien Johnson, but despite complaints from the pitch and the dug-out, referee Neale Barry chose to ignore it.
Birmingham's organisation and midfield running - through Stephen Clemence and Robbie Savage - restricted Liverpool's options and hurried them into errors, and the Merseysiders for a while looked unsure and slow.
And in the 32nd minute the visitors took the lead from the free-kick when Savage's ball in from the left found Forssell arriving unmarked on the far post to score. But Liverpool were level within two minutes.
Sinama-Pongolle's twisting and turning had been a constant problem for Birmingham's central defenders, and when in the 34th minute Gerrard threaded a pass into the Frenchman's feet it produced a penalty. Sinama-Pongolle's spun and Matthew Upson lunged in and the referee pointed to the spot.
Gerrard stepped up to drill home the kick.
Liverpool replaced Djimi Traore with John Arne Riise on 66 minutes, and two minutes later the Norwegian supplied an accurate ball in from the left for Kewell to dive forward and send a spectacular header wide of Bennett's right hand.
Three times in as many minutes Liverpool could have settled things but on 77 minutes Liverpool got the third. It came from the much-maligned Heskey, and what a cracker it was.
Diao hoisted a ball in from the right and Heskey jumped to take it on his chest before spinning to hook the dropping ball into the top corner.
There was still time for Smicer to hit the bar from 25 yards, just to underline that Liverpool look to have come through their nightmare months.