January 24 2001

The League Cup

Liverpool ended Palace's Worthington Cup dreams tonight as The Eagles were sunk 5-0 (agg 6-2) by The Reds.

Three goals in only five minutes brought an end to Palace's Worthington Cup final.

Goals by Smicer, Murphy and Biscan gave Liverpool a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes to turn around the 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park a fortnight ago.

Not long after the interval, Murphy scored his second and Liverpool's fourth by beating the offside trap and dispatching the ball into Kolinko's goal.

Palace's biggest chance of the game was for Clinton Morrison. The young striker, who was booed by the Liverpool fans throughout the game, completely missed a volley and in his second attempt, he found Liverpool goalie Westerveld in his way.

In the final minutes of the game, Kolinko was sent off after bringing down Liverpool's Fowler, who was clean through.

The Palace keeper was replaced by young Matt Gregg, who saved the resulting free kick by Murphy but he had no answer to Fowler's strike one minute from time to make it 5-0.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Gerrard (Hamann 68), Carragher (Ziege 76), Henchoz, Hyypia, Biscan, Murphy, Litmanen, McAllister, Fowler, Smicer (Barmby 70).

Subs not used: Nielsen, Heskey.

Palace: Kolinko, Smith, Harrison, Austin, Thomson, Carlisle (Pollock 57), Rubins (Gray 75), Rodger, Black, Forssell (Gregg 83), Morrison.

Subs not used: Ruddock, Kabba.