Liverpool 3-1 Southampton (Worthington Cup)
Two goals in the space of three second half minutes earned Liverpool aa second win over Southampton this season, and saw the Reds book their place in the fourth round of the Worthington Cup on a bitterly cold night of football at Anfield.
Gerard Houllier made ten changes from the side which started the game agsint West Ham at the weekend, with only Vladimir Smicer keeping his place.
All of the back five, including the club's second choice 'keeper, Chris Kirkland, were making their first start of the season, and their was a particularly warm welcome for Markus Babbel after his remarkable recovery from serious illness.
Up front, Milan Baros was starting his first game at Anfield for six weeks, and El Hadji Diouf was making only his sixth start since Southampton visited Anfield in the Premierhip way back in August.
With so many players aiming to force themselves into contention for a first team place, it was no surprise to see Liverpool begin strongly, and the Reds won a free kick in the opening minute, though Smicer's weakly hit shot from the corner of the 18 yard box was easily blocked by the Southampton defensive wall.
Minutes later, Liverpool had a free kick from an almost identical position after a bad challenge by Oakley on Bruno Cheyrou. Steve Gerrard, the Liverpool captain for the evening, stepped up to take the kick, and curled his shot inches over the bar.
Matt Oakley had Southampton's first opportunity of the evening, and forced Kirkland into the first of many saves over the course of the game. From the resulting corner, and following a game of head tennis between the Liverpool defence and the Saints' attack, Delgado managed a looping header towards goal which was dropping into the top corner before Kirkland scrambled back and tipped the ball over the bar.
It wasn't until midway through the half that Liverpool saw their first real chance from open play, and it fell to Smicer.
A brilliant turn deep inside the Liverpool half by Cheyrou and then a pass behind the Southampton defence was chased by Baros, and after poor clearance by the the Saints' defence, Smicer picked up the loose ball and broke into the area before firing his shot wide.
Southampton had the best of the remainder of the half though, and it was again Kirkland who came to Liverpool's rescue. Firstly, a shot by Delgado after a quick counter attack by Southampton required a flying one handed save by Kirkland to tip the ball oevr the bar. And then with half time approaching, Matt Oakley unleashed a low strike from 30 yards which looked to be heading just inside the post until Kirkland got down to get fingertips to the ball and push it out for another Southampton corner.
But despite having by far the better of the chances, Southampton found themselves a goal down at half time. A free kick was conceded by Svensson 35 yards from goal, and Patrick Berger's strike at goal took a big deflection off the legs of Svensson, and Annti Niemi found himself unable to do anything to prevent the ball rolling into the net, with the goal sending Liverpool into a half time lead.
The second half started slowly, but quicly came to life following a Southampton equaliser on 55 minutes.
A Chris Marsden cross was poor;y dealt with by Biscan, and Svensson got a shot on goal from just four yards out, but saw a tremendous save by Kirkland, and then Marsden got the ball straight back into the area, Svensson saw yet another shot from close range brilliantly saved by the England under-21 keeper before Delgado put the rebound into the net before Kirkland could pick himself up.
Liverpool took little over a minute to restore the lead though, and it was the man who scored twice against Southampton in the league game in August, El Hadji Diouf, who scored it.
After a run from midfield, Cheyrou picked out Baros at the edge of the area, and the Czech striker stormed his way through four challenges by the Southampton defence and after his shot was parried by Niemi, Diouf quickly pounced on the rebound and slotted into an unguarded goal, and before Southampton could reorganise themselves, Milan Baros added a third Reds' goal of the night to effectively finish the tie off.
Cheyrou again was involved, controlling a 50 yard cross field pass by Gerrard before laying the ball off to Diouf, who found Berger making a diagonal run inside the Saints' penalty area. Berger fired a low first time cross and with Niemi failing to gether the ball, Baros slid in at the far post to grab his fifth goal of the season.
Liverpool had chances to extend their lead, but Niemi made four outstanding saves during the final half hour of the match.
A close range effort by Smicer from a good cross by Vignal was struck close to Niemi, who still did well to keep the ball out, and he needed an even better stop to keep out a ferocious strike from Cheyrou which was heading for the near post, and a third save in close succession came from the resulting corner, when Emile Heskey's looping header needed a touch by the Finnish 'keeper to tip it over the bar.
With the game already looking safe, Bruno Cheyrou tried his luck from long range, but Niemi again got across his goal to get both hands to the ball and tip the shot wide of the post and concede the corner from which Liverpool were unable to trouble Southampton.
Following a first half in which Chris Kirkland kept the Reds' in the match, it was eventually a comfortable victory for Liverpool, and they improve on last year's performance in the competition to progress into round four.
The draw for the 4th round will take place on Saturday afternoon.
View match pictures from this game!
