Saturday may have seen the eight home teams scored 25 goals between them, but yesterday saw the two remaining hosts fire blanks. Fernando Torres’ Chelsea debut failed to live up to the hype as the Liverpool revival continues to gather speed, and Birmingham climb out of the drop zone with a crucial bottom-of-the-table win at Upton Park.

With Obafemi Martins still awaiting visa clearance, Alex McLeish named an unchanged side from the starting XI that drew at home with Man City in midweek, as Nikola Zigic partnered Cameron Jerome up front in a 4-4-2 for Birmingham. Martin Jiranek again stepped in at centre half alongside Roger Johnson (who grabbed the maximum 3 Bonus Points) and the Blues showed their steely side in picking up a vital 1-0 win. This was their first clean sheet in ten league games and will surely spark more transfers-in for Birmingham defensive options ahead of double game week 27, where they host (STK, NEW) at St Andrews.

Zigic was awarded 2 Bonus Points ans it seems he is finally starting to find his feet at Birmingham, though a look at his stats suggests any criticism has been a tad over-excessive. He has played 90 minutes on just 7 occasions for McLeish’s side and has returned 4 goals and 2 assists in those games. It seems that if Big Eck keeps him on the pitch, he’s likely to get amongst the points.

On the back of their 3-1 victory at Bloomfield Road, West Ham, understandably, came into the Upton Park encounter on a high. Following their Carling Cup semi final exit to the same opponents, this was a chance for vengeance for Avram Grant’s side and with five goals in their last two league games, the Hammers were a team on form, with Victor Obinna, in particular, looking full of goals. Both sides started the game in the bottom three but, try as they may, the home team couldn’t break down the Birmingham rearguard and despite their embarrassment of riches up front, West Ham remain firmly in a relegation dog-fight, as Avram Grant suffered a not-so-happy birthday.

The Hammers also have injury concerns following yesterday’s game. Both Robbie Keane and James Tomkins sustained calf problems and both have withdrawn from their respective squads for this week’s internationals. Tomkins was injured in the warm-up for the game, while Keane was forced off with his injury. Matt Upson is also crocked again – he had to be subbed in the second-half with an achilles tendonitis problem. All three will be doubts for West Ham’s now crucial trip to West Brom in Gameweek 27.

Liverpool clearly forgot to read the script at Stamford Bridge, as the 1-0 triumph stretched their winning run to four consecutive games. Kenny Dalglish welcomed back Jamie Carragher to the heart of the Reds’ defence and continued with the formation previewed in the recent home win over Stoke, which gives defensive solidity, with three central defenders flanked by two wing-backs. Liverpool have also picked up four clean sheets in a row, a sign of their recent resilience, and are only six points off the Champions League places now.

Raul Meireles once again found the net for Liverpool making it four goals in his last five appearances, and looks an altogether different prospect to the player he was under Roy Hodgson. Dalglish kept new boy Luis Suarez on the bench, with Dirk Kuyt toiling away up front on his own. Steven Gerrard grabbed the maximum 3 Bonus Points, with Carragher on 2 and Meireles on 1, making it 9 in his last 5 games.

Steven Gerrard picked up a groin injury in yesterday’s game and has been withdrawn from England’s squad for the friendly with Denmark on Wednesday. Right now, we’ve no reason to suspect that this is any more than a precaution but Gerrard must be considered a doubt for Liverpool’s home clash with Wigan in Gameweek 27 at this stage.

Chelsea’s diamond formation worked a treat at Sunderland in midweek but failed miserably against a resilient Liverpool, as the record-breaking week ended in something of an anti-climax for the champions. Nicolas Anelka played in the hole behind Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba but Chelsea lacked any real cohesiveness and there was no surprise when Torres was subbed not long after the hour mark.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side reverted to 4-3-3 upon Torrres’ departure and despite throwing on the likes of Florent Malouda and other new signing David Luiz, the Italian’s attempts were in vain. Like Liverpool, Chelsea came into this game having won three games on the trot but the acquisition of Torres looks like posing questions as to what the side’s ideal formation and personnel will be.