Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome expects Liverpool to provide a stern test even if Rafael Benitez rings the changes for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash at St Andrews.
Benitez made nine changes for last Saturday's league game at Fulham ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Chelsea and is expected to adopt a similar plan against City before the return meeting with Avram Grant's side.
But even a second string side won 2-0 with ease at Craven Cottage and Jerome is expecting few favours from a game Blues have to achieve a positive result after dropping into the bottom three.
The England Under-21 striker told PA Sport: "It would be nice if Liverpool's minds were on the Champions League but the reality is they have still got a fantastic squad whoever plays for them.
"Whatever the side selected against us on Saturday, it is still going to be a difficult game. They proved that by going to Fulham with nine changes and winning last weekend.
"It is not going to be an easy game. We have got to have the winning mentality and try and perform from the start and put the pressure on them.
"Hopefully the crowd will get right behind us and we can turn it on and get three points."
Jerome is aware Birmingham need a positive response after being beaten 5-1 by local rivals Aston Villa.
The former Cardiff player said: "We have got to bounce back and the lads have got to pick themselves up.
"The encouraging thing is we have been good at home. We were unfortunate not to beat Everton in the last game at St Andrews and defeated Manchester City in the home game before that.
"We have lost only one game at home under the new boss and it is away from home that we have not picked up as many points as we would have liked.
"Other teams have been starting to do that. Bolton got back to back results and Fulham won the other day on the road.
"But the other teams around us have got difficult run-ins as well so who knows will happen?
"We need to get as many points as we can and see where it takes us. Hopefully the crowd will get right behind us on Saturday and we can turn it on."
Skipper Damien Johnson will serve the final game of a three-match suspension for his sending-off at Wigan.
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