Liverpool put their wretched recent run behind them as they booked their place
in the semi-finals of the Worthington Cup via Danny Murphy's injury-time winner
in a delayed but pulsating encounter at Villa Park.
The Reds came into the game on the back of a run of just one point from the
last six Premiership matches and a Champions League exit.
But they fought back to lead 3-1 and then survived a terrific Villa recovery
before ensuring their place in the last four.
And the good news for England is that midfielder Steven Gerrard looked back to
his best form, particularly in the second 45 minutes.
Gerrard was a constant threat with his surging runs forward and he set up two
goals and scored one himself.
The kick-off was delayed after consultations with police for 80 minutes after
thousands of fans turned up to collect tickets which had not been sent out over
concerns that they would not arrive in time because of the Christmas post.
The supporters in the stadium had to endure bitterly cold conditions before
the game finally got the nod to go ahead at 9.05pm.
When the action finally started, Villa settled confidently although it needed
a splendid tackle from Olof Mellberg to halt Michael Owen in full flight after
he had skipped past Jlloyd Samuel.
Murphy was cautioned for a challenge on Gareth Barry and then Sami Hyypia
followed him into Graham Barber's notebook for bringing down the lively Darius
Vassell.
In between Sami Hyypia had a header deflected just wide while Murphy curled a
rising effort into the side netting after going on the outside of Barry.
The game came to life with two goals in four minutes, with Villa first taking
the lead through a Vassell penalty only to be quickly pegged backed by a Murphy
free-kick.
The spot-kick was awarded to the home side after Djimi Traore had brought down
Lee Hendrie who was involved in a neat one-two with Vassell.
Vassell strode forward to take the penalty himself and he drilled it straight
down the middle of the goal after Liverpool keeper Chris Kirkland had dived to
his right.
Stephane Henchoz was then fortunate to escape a caution after a crude
challenge on Vassell but in the 27th minute Liverpool drew level.
Milan Baros went down on the edge of the area after the slightest contact in a
challenge from Oyvind Leonhardsen. Up stepped Murphy to curl home the free-kick
over the defensive wall.
Villa quickly retaliated and Kirkland held onto a flicked header from Dion
Dublin and came out to block at the feet of Barry who had seized onto a fine
reverse pass by Hendrie.
Henchoz was finally yellow-carded for a blatant body check on the ever
dangerous Vassell as Villa started to take control.
John Arne Riise blocked an effort on the line from Mustapha Hadji before Reds
boss Gerard Houllier opted for a substitution with a far from happy looking
Markus Babbel replaced at right-back by Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool looked more assured at the start of the second period and after 55
minutes Milan Baros put them ahead.
Gerrard made the initial telling pass through to Riise who cut inside before
feeding Baros and he had time to steady himself before driving his 20-yard shot
across Peter Enckelman into the corner of the net.
The game looked all over as a contest in the 67th minute when Gerrard turned
from goal creator to goal poacher to double Liverpool's lead.
Baros made the telling break into the Villa penalty area before the supporting
Gerrard drove the ball past Enckelman.
Villa refused to buckle and five minutes later Tomas Hitzlsperger gave them a
lifeline with his fourth goal in the last five games.
There appeared little danger when he received the ball some 30 yards out but
his low shot skidded past the dive of Kirkland.
Villa then dramatically gave themselves a lifeline when Dublin's shot was
deflected off Henchoz past Kirkland with six minutes left.
But in injury-time that man Gerrard broke into the area and, after his cross
had hit Leonhardsen, it was Murphy who broke Villa's hearts.
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