Liverpool progressed to the next round of the League Cup in fine style on Wednesday night. The victory was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, although it could have been even more emphatic if Emile Heskey had taken all his chances.
An impressive turnout of 7000 Reds fans made the 40 mile journey up the M6 and M65 to Ewood Park on what was a horrible night, the weather alternating between freezing cold and heavily raining. It was in start contrast to the local populace, most of whom had opted to stay at home and watch the game on Sky Sports.
Empty seats were everywhere as Rovers fans made their feelings known about their clubs recent loss of form and decision to charge normal league prices for this fixture.
Despite ending our losing streak against Leeds last Saturday, Houllier chose to make a number of changes to the team. Kirkland was given his first start of the season in goal while up front Pongolle got a chance due to a minor injury to Owen.
Kewell was rested to give Murphy an opportunity to impress after recovering form injury but it was in defence where the most radical experimenting occurred. Full backs Finnan and Riise were left out to be replaced by Traore and Biscan and I'm beginning to wonder if Houllier won't rest till Igor has been played in every outfield position.
Liverpool began more brightly of the two teams and Heskey tested Friedel in the third minute with a long range drive. Pongolle was also put through by Gerrard but unfortunate to be found offside. Rovers were offering little early on although it didn't stop their fans, who made up only just over half the crowd, causing much annoyance to us with the constant drumming.
From the quarter hour mark we began to get pegged back a little with ex-Red David Thompson causing us no end of problems. On one occasion he was able to do so through our own making after Gerrard misplaced a pass straight into his path, but luckily the shot went just wide.
After half an hour we had a big let off when Traore badly mistimed a tackle on Cole just outside the area. It was the French defenders once a game blunder and he was fortunate to escape without a booking, especially when you consider that Mike Riley was the referee. Feguson curled the free kick around the wall but luckily for us it cannoned off the crossbar to safety.
Just a minute after this incident we were behind and again it was Thomspon who was instrumental in the build up. He crossed from the right and Yorke headed past Kirkland and although we weren't playing badly ourselves, it can't be said that Rovers didn't deserve their lead at that point.
Rather than sit on their lead, they continued to bombard us, with Cole chipping just wide and a cross from Gresko threatening to find the net only for Kirkland to touch it over the bar.
After surviving these two scares the incident that would change the course of the game happened with five minutes left before the break. Pongolle got into a shooting position only to be brought down by Neill. Riley pointed to the spot and had no option but to show the red card as Pongolle was more than likely to score.
Neill is making a habit of getting sent off against us but luckily for us this time the player he fouled was able to get up, although he would later leave Ewood Park on crutches. Murphy stepped up and coolly converted the penalty to draw us level and set up what looked to be a fascinating second half.
Pongolle was taken off at half time and Kewell came on in his place. Riise also took the field in place of Hyypia, who seemed to have been struggling during the first half. We had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the first minute when Biscan put Heskey through.
Heskey initially thought he was offside but when he realised he wasn't you could see the look of terror in his face as he moved one on one with the keeper. Nobody was surprised at all when he blasted his shot high and wide with the Reds fans responses ranging from pitied laughter to downright anger. It wasn't quite as bad as his backpass to Palace's keeper in last years FA Cup but it was close.
Heskey did make amends for his glaring miss three minutes later when he headed in Diouf's cross. As so often happens the Reds fans who had been castigating him moments earlier were now singing his praises and celebrating what was surely now a guaranteed victory.
The optimism wasn't premature as we began to dominate from then on. Heskey should have added another when he fired a Le Tallec cross over the bar and Kewell also sliced a shot wide after a good ball from Biscan.
After 62 minutes Heskey did put the result beyond doubt when he headed in after some great work on the left by Diouf who had one of his best games yet for Liverpool. Although Rovers fans seemed to have given up by now, their players still had a go at us and Reid and Cole both went close.
However our fans were in great voice and 'Souness what's the score' was sung very loudly. Many have criticised this taunting of someone who was a great player for us but I don't see any problem with this chant. He almost single handed destroyed our club in the early 1990s and has done nothing but insult us ever since. Great player, average manager (for everyone else bar us) but cunt of a man is how I see him and I have no qualms having a little dig at him.
With fifteen minutes remaining Heskey had another opportunity to score when Kewell was brought down in the box. Initially Gerrard looked set to take the penalty then Heskey changed his mind after at first declining the chance. His subsequent kick was almost apologetic and Friedel saved easily.
Perhaps if he'd have taken it with his head it may have gone in, but Gerrard's decision to let him change his mind was a poor one. If Heskey didn't feel he could take a penalty when first asked, he can't have suddenly felt confident ten seconds later. It showed in his run up and as captain, Gerard should have stood firm and took it himself.
Five minutes after the penalty miss Diouf again caused mayhem down the left flank and put in a perfect cross that Kewell tapped in from close range. This was the cue for most of the sparse home support to leave, but those that did remain did then witness quite a fightback. Ferguson pulled a goal back almost immediately and substitute Gallagher blazed over from near the penalty spot.
Suddenly we were wondering if we would rue the decision to let Heskey take the penalty as memories of Southampton away in 2000-01 sprang to mind. Luckily we didn't sit on the lead and took the game to Rovers and could easily have gone further ahead ourselves.
In the last minute Heskey was again in a good position on the right hand corner of the box. But he bizarrely passed the ball along the ground to Friedel. Whether it was a cross that went wrong or a weak shot is anybody's guess, but it's clear he needs to work on his shooting. I suppose we should be grateful though as most games he never even tries his luck on goal. In this game he did have five or six shots as well as his two headed goals.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time Yorke hit another consolation for Rovers after our defence parted like the Red Sea to let him through. It gave the scoreline an air of respectability for the ten men but in reality our dominance made us worth a two or three goal victory. However the makeshift defence did give cause for concern as we did look vulnerable at the back on occasions.
Soon after the final whistle the draw for the next round was made and it couldn't have been kinder as we got Bolton at home. Sam Allardyce has made it known before that cup competitions are an inconvenient obstacle from his main task of keeping his team in the Premiership. Although I don't expect them to roll over and die, I can't see them being at full strength either. A quarter final place is now there for the taking.
Liverpool: Chris Kirkland; Igor Biscan, Sami Hyppia (John Arne Riise), Stephane Henchoz, Djimi Traore; El Hadji Diouf, Stevie Gerrard (Didi Hamann), Anthony Le Tallec, Danny Murphy; Emile Heskey, Florent Sinama-Pongolle (Harry Kewell):
