LIVERPOOL boss Roy Hodgson paid tribute to Pepe Reina after the goalkeeper excelled in yesterday’s goalless draw at Birmingham City.

The Spanish shot-stopper produced two stunning saves to thwart Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner and earn the visitors a point.

Reina bounced back from a disappointing night with Spain in midweek when his blunder helped Argentina inflict a 4-1 defeat on the world champions.

“Pepe is a very lithe and agile keeper who gets down quickly – that’s always been one of his strengths,” Hodgson said.

“They were two magnificent crosses and when a player makes such good contact you fear the worst. Thankfully we have someone of Pepe’s quality who ensured we didn’t concede.

“Birmingham had an extremely good spell in the first half. They worked hard, pressurised us and forced us into mistakes.

“Our back four and goalkeeper were hard pressed in that period and Pepe made two exceptionally good saves. But I thought the longer the game went on we got more comfortable.”

Yesterday was the seventh successive draw between the clubs and Liverpool have now failed to beat Birmingham on nine occasions in the league since Gerard Houllier’s side won 3-0 at St Andrew’s in May 2004.

Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances but the manager insisted they deserved a share of the spoils.