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| October 11, 2001 | Thursday | Rajab 23, 1422 |
Stunning defeat for Liverpool
LONDON, Oct 10: English League Cup holders Liverpool were knocked out of the competition in the third round on Tuesday when first division Grimsby pulled off a shock 2-1 win after extra time at Anfield.
Former Everton striker Phil Jevons grabbed the winner in the last minute of the match to end Liverpool’s defence of the trophy at the first hurdle. They and the other sides involved in European competition received byes into round three.
Elsewhere, Robbie Keane scored a hat-trick as Leeds United thumped Leicester City 6-0 away to pile on the misery for the troubled Midlands club.
And Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town, Southampton, Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic also progressed with away wins at lower division opposition.
Arsenal’s game against Manchester United has been postponed until November 7 because of the clubs’ Champions League involvement.
Liverpool’s victory over Birmingham City on penalties in last season’s League Cup final was the springboard for their treble-winning season, and they set about their defence of the trophy with intent at Anfield despite missing several regulars.
Jari Litmanen, Frode Kippe and Emile Heskey all had efforts cleared off the line as Grimsby were forced to hang on.
Visiting goalkeeper Danny Coyne had an inspired night, making series of fine saves, the best to keep out an acrobatic Litmanen effort.
The game somehow went into extra time and Gary McAllister’s penalty after four minutes appeared to have won it for Liverpool until Grimsby defender Marlon Broomes scrambled an equaliser seven minutes from time.
Just when a penalty shoot-out was looming, Jevons, signed from Everton for 250,000 pounds ($366,900) at the start of the season and a lifelong Liverpool fan, somehow squeezed a 25-metre shot past debutant Chris Kirkland to give Grimsby a memorable victory.
It was hardly the preparation Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier would have wanted for Saturday’s big league match against Leeds, especially as David O’Leary’s side romped home against Leicester.
While several top sides choose to rest their leading players for this competition, O’Leary’s decision to take a full-strength team to Filbert Street paid dividends.
Irish international Keane was on target twice in the first 16 minutes and a goal from Eirik Bakke put Leeds 3-0 ahead at the break.
Keane grabbed his third in the 53rd minute before being replaced by Alan Smith, Mark Viduka ended his eight-game goal drought with a lovely 25-metre curler and Harry Kewell chipped in with the sixth.
There was further good news for Leeds as centre back Jonathan Woodgate started his first game since January.
Leicester, winners of the competition in 2000 but now without a manager after sacking Peter Taylor, were run ragged.
Dave Bassett is the new favourite to take over at Filbert Street but he faces a tough task to get the midlands side, bottom of the premier league table, back on track.
($1=.6814 Pound)
Tuesday’s results:
Barnsley 0 Newcastle United 1
Coventry 0 Chelsea 2
Crewe 2 Ipswich Town 3
Gillingham 0 Southampton 2
Leicester City 0 Leeds United 6
Liverpool 1 Grimsby 2
(after extra time - 90 minutes 0-0)
Tranmere 0 Tottenham Hotspur 4
Watford 4 Bradford 1
West Bromwich 0 Charlton Athletic 1
Played on Monday:
Bolton Wanderers 1 Nottingham Forest 0
—Reuters
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