Reds must transfer UEFA form to league says jersey-chasing Kirkland

Liverpool 'keeper Chris Kirkland says Gerard Houllier's side must transfer their form in the UEFA Cup to their own back yard when they take on Birmingham in a Premiership encounter.

Kirkland has been given his chance in the Liverpool goal in place of Polish international Jerzy Dudek for the last two games and intends to grab the chance to make it more permanent with both hands.

Although Liverpool are lying in lowly ninth spot in the Premiership, Kirkland's two clean sheets in the past two games have given him a huge morale boost.

And the keeper, who kept Steaua Bucharest at bay in a 1-0 UEFA Cup second round win at Anfield on Thursday following the 0-0 away draw to Middlesbrough last weekend, says the Reds are riding high after their entry to the competition's third round.

"Now we want to take the momentum of the European win against Bucharest on Thursday into the Birmingham game on Sunday and get ourselves back on track," said Kirkland.

"It is going to be tough, everyone knows how well Birmingham are doing this season, but after the European success, it sets the lads up for another good performance."

Kirkland knows Liverpool must concentrate on getting some precious Premiership points if they are going to claim a Champions League place.

"We must start winning, particularly after last week at Middlesbrough, which was a big disappointment. The momentum to get to those Champions League places has to come soon, we were disappointed to drop points at Middlesbrough and I agree with Stevie Gerrard, who has said that if we want to get into the top four we have to be beating teams like that.

"It is not happening at the moment, but I am sure the lads will be full of confidence now."

The former Coventry star admits however that Birmingham will be tough to crack, having drawn at Anfield last term and won the return at St Andrews.

"Everybody knows how well Birmingham have done this season. Steve Bruce has got them working really hard so it will be a tough game, we know that. As for my return, any footballer wants to play, and I am no different to anyone else.

"But I know I have to keep working hard to make it a tough decision for the manager."