It seemed so unthinkable three months ago but Tottenham's visit to Anfield on May 15 will have plenty riding on it if Liverpool continue to play like this.
The pursuit of fifth place has appeared fanciful at times but for Tottenham or Manchester City to forget Kenny Dalglish's side, who are playing like they believe anything is possible, would not be wise.
Birmingham City's hard-earned reputation for stubbornness - they had drawn their previous seven league games against Liverpool - mattered for little as the visitors were torn apart as the Anfield side took their tally to 27 points in 14 league games under Dalglish.
Two up at the break through Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt, Birmingham could not get near them. And Rodriguez added two more goals after the break to complete his hat-trick before Joe Cole added a fifth.
With John Flanagan again on the opposite flank, left-back Jack Robinson, 17, made his first senior start and the pair played with ease and certainty that belied their youth.
At the same time a midfield of Lucas, Rodriguez, Raul Meireles and Jay Spearing, rotated and never stopped moving, with some of their first-half passing representing a decent imitation of Dalglish's last great teams.
They took the lead with just six minutes gone when Spearing, who finished last season on loan at Leicester, hit a thumping shot that Ben Foster spilled and Rodriguez pounced to prod into the net.
The advantage was doubled midway through the opening period, despite Foster making up for whatever blame could be thrown at him for the opening goal.
Pepe Reina's long kick was flicked on by Meireles and Luis Suarez's effort was blocked by Foster, who also got in the way of Kuyt's effort before the Dutchman rolled the rebound past a defender on the line.
Flanagan, 18, even appeared comfortable in his first brush with Lee Bowyer, standing his ground and struggling not to smirk at his dominance much like a shy newcomer to a five-a-side game.
Foster played on despite suffering a heavy blow from Stephen Carr in the build up to the second goal but by the time he limped off five minutes before the interval the visiting fans had already resorted to gallows humour.
Luis Suarez wasted a decent opportunity just before the interval, shooting straight at substitute goalkeeper Colin Doyle after holding off Roger Johnson.
The second period was never likely to continue at the same pace but Liverpool added a third with yet more style.
Martin Skrtel, who had earlier attempted to dribble through a crowd of defenders in the opposition box, sent Suarez clear down the right and rather than life a percentage cross into the centre he lifted the ball to the unmarked Rodriguez at the far post and the Argentinian fired past Doyle.
Rodriguez latched on to another rebound from his own shot to make to complete his hat-trick and the home fans sung the name of former manager Gerard Houllier, in hospital after complaining of chest pain last week, as the game wound down.
But there was still time for Cole to capitalise on poor goalkeeping from Doyle, squeezing a shot inside the post for his second for the club.
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE - IBM
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