Liverpool 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3
by Paul Walker for the "Press Association" Surely we were witnessing the last rites of Roy Evans' near five-year reign in charge of Liverpool. It must now be a matter of time before he is asked to step aside and allow joint boss Gerard Houllier the chance to take sole control. It's been a long, drawn-out nightmare for Evans, a proud, loyal servant for 30 years at Anfield, but a half-empty stadium said it all as the red half of Merseyside now expect chairman David Moores to act. Defeat at Leicester, a home drubbing by Derby on Saturday and now a disastrous exit from the Worthington Cup. Frankly, Spurs humiliated Liverpool tonight at a ground that used to be a fortress. The Londoners cruised into the quarter-finals on the strength of a committed, organised display - all the hallmarks of new boss George Graham - after exposing all the flaws and weaknesses that have been so obvious for months in this Liverpool side. Two nightmare blunders by American 'keeper Brad Friedel gifted Spurs a two-goal lead in the first half as gloom engulfed Anfield. Graham's workaholic side took full advantage of Friedel's errors to score through Steffen Iversen and John Scales in the first 20 minutes. They were confronted with a Liverpool side looking drained of confidence after a tortured few weeks that have seen just that UEFA Cup success in Valencia as tangible proof that there is still a fighting spirit in a seemingly confused, dispirited squad. Spurs fans were having a field day, chanting ``Bye, bye Evans'' and ``Are you Tranmere in disguise''. On a night of critical importance to Liverpool, with their credibility as a major force in the top flight being questioned, they were hit by the absence through injury of Steve McManaman, Patrik Berger and Jamie Redknapp. Youngster David Thompson and Norwegian Oyvind Leonhardsen came into the team. Spurs had their problems with Les Ferdinand, Chris Armstrong and Justin Edinburgh all injured. The game had a remarkable start, with Jason McAteer planting a header against the Spurs bar after 40 seconds following a right-wing cross. But after two minutes, Anfield was stunned when the Londoners took the lead. Sol Campbell fired over a long cross from the left which cleared Steve Staunton on the edge of the box and fell for Steffen Iversen some 15 yards out. He met the dropping ball with a looping header that sailed over Friedel, who for some reason was standing several yards off his line, and dropped into the net. Spurs maintained an urgency about their play that Liverpool were not matching, and only a 20-yarder from Thompson that flashed a couple of yards wide, suggested the Merseysiders had much of an answer. Thompson was the only real threat. He went on one determined cross-field run, combined with Stig Bjornebye and Leonhardssen, and scooped an angled effort wide of the far post. But further disaster struck Liverpool after 20 minutes. Darren Anderton's free-kick caused chaos in the box, Iversen went for the ball, and Friedel fumbled it straight into the path of John Scales, who fired into the net from 10 yards. Almost on his own, Thompson was taking on responsibility for turning the tide and worked well on the right to find space for a cross that was hooked back by Robbie Fowler, only for Ramon Vega to clear on the far post. Liverpool emerged after the break playing for their pride, and they did find some spirit and effort. Vegard Heggem, Thompson, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen should be excused condemnation in a performance that was as poor as anything Anfield has seen in years. The second half saw an effort to resurrect a lost cause as substitute Karlheinz Riedle sent a header inches wide of the far post. Then the German set up Paul Ince with a nod back from Jamie Carragher's pass, but the England midfielder lashed his shot over the angle. Owen went on a long run to collect a Staunton pass but as he fired in his shot, Sol Campbell challenged superbly to deflect the ball wide. But then the inevitable happened as Spurs broke from defence at pace to exposed Liverpool's defence, depleted by men caught up field trying to save a lost cause. Scales sent the ball wide to the left, and Iversen played the ball into Allan Nielsen's path as he raced through a gaping hole in the home rearguard. This time Friedel couldn't be blamed as the Dane stroked the ball into the net. Nine minutes from time Liverpool got one back when Owen went into a fearsome challenge with 'keeper Espen Baardsen, the ball broke from the collision, and Owen was first onto his feet to force it home. But he took no further part in the game, limping away for Danny Murphy to take over, clearly in pain as he disappeared down the tunnel. On the bench, Evans and Houllier sat motionless as they no doubt contemplated the ramifications of what they and a 20,772 crowd - Anfield's lowest of the season - had witnessed. Teams Liverpool: Friedel, McAteer, Staunton, Leonhardsen (Riedle 45), Fowler, Owen (Murphy 82), Heggem, Ince, Bjornebye, Carragher, Thompson. Subs Not Used: James, Kvarme, Harkness. Booked: Carragher. Goals: Owen 81. Tottenham: Baardsen, Carr, Calderwood, Nielsen, Anderton, Ginola (Allen 45), Vega, Scales, Iversen, Sinton (Wilson 82), Campbell, Allen (Fox 90). Subs Not Used: Walker, Dominguez. Booked: Calderwood, Allen, Sinton. Goals: Iversen 2, Scales 20, Nielsen 62. Att: 20,772 Ref: G Willard (Worthing).
