Danny Murphy lifted the pressure on manager Gerard Houllier with the goal
which could put Liverpool's season back on track.
After 10 league games without a victory, and six since any win at all, the
pressure was on for the Anfield club at Maine Road in the third round of the FA
Cup.
However England midfielder Murphy got the winner when he converted a
47th-minute penalty to book his side's place in Monday's fourth round draw.
While there was a degree of controversy about the spot-kick being awarded,
Liverpool were well worth the victory.
City, who have settled in so well to life in the top flight, looked out of
sorts in front of their home support.
Houllier made four changes to the side that lost to Newcastle for the third
round tie at Maine Road.
Neil Mellor was handed only his second start of the season and partnered
El-Hadji Diouf up front.
Milan Baros had to settle for a place on the bench while Michael Owen was
still ruled out through injury.
Murphy - after a one-match ban - Djimi Traore and Vladimir Smicer were all
restored to the starting line-up.
City were without defenders Richard Dunne (virus) and Steve Howey (Achilles).
Gerard Wiekens and Lucien Mettomo were drafted in.
City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was tested for the first time after six
minutes.
Smicer strode forward and rattled in a 20-yard shot that the Danish star did
well to parry.
A minute earlier Mettomo conceded a corner after deflecting a shot from Mellor
following a pass by Salif Diao.
Then the lively Mellor cut inside but his shot from 25 yards cleared the bar.
He was brought to ground a minute later when Wiekens laid both hands on him,
only for referee Uriah Rennie to allow play to continue.
Wright-Phillips then won a free-kick off Sami Hyypia but goalkeeper Chris
Kirkland managed to punch away Ali Benarbia's inswinging effort.
Steven Gerrard picked out Mellor at the far post with a long crossfield pass
that split the defence in the 24th minute.
Mellor opted to head the ball, instead of bringing it down and his effort did
not trouble Schmeichel.
City manager Kevin Keegan decided to shake things up five minutes before the
break.
In a bid a to bring a bit more creativity to his side he drafted in midfielder
Eyal Berkovic for Mettomo.
Berkovic had been struggling with a groin strain that forced him to miss the
2-2 draw against Everton on New Year's Day.
He released Nicolas Anelka two minutes before the break but Kirkland stood
tall to block his effort.
There was a dramatic start to the second half with Liverpool taking the lead
in the 47th minute.
Smicer's intended cross was handled by Marc-Vivien Foe and referee Rennie had
no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Murphy, back in the side after a one-match ban, stepped up and sent Schmeichel
the wrong way with his spot-kick.
Immediately before the penalty, Liverpool had a claim dismissed when Diouf
went down after a challenge from Wiekens.
That opening goal had inspired Liverpool, so desperate for a victory, and they
were playing with renewed confidence.
City hit back and Anelka laid the ball back into the path of Kevin Horlock but
his shot went high over the bar.
Berkovic, who had stayed on at the break to work on his fitness, tried hard to
get the home side going.
Liverpool were beginning to use the width of the park with Smicer an outlet on
the the right.
He delivered a deep cross to the far post but Traore's shot was blocked by Sun
Jihai.
The Chinese defender was then taken off in the 70th minute with Shaun Goater
brought on to give Anelka some support.
Heskey, who had been suffering from an ankle injury, came on in the 73rd
minute when he replaced the tiring Mellor.
Goater had as chance of pulling City level in the 84th minute when he latched
on to a cross from Benarbia. However he only succeeded in directing a header
high and wide.
Benarbia was brought off a minute later in a last throw of the dice by Keegan
with Darren Huckerby drafted into action.
Diouf almost added a second for Liverpool when Schmeichel headed the ball out,
only for his 40-yard effort to drift wide of the target.
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