Lacklustre Liverpool need shoot-out to win

Liverpool 1 Ipswich 1

Under-fire goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was not the only Liverpool player unexpectedly named in the side. Back came Abel Xavier, for his first game since early September, while second team leading scorer Neil Mellor made his full debut.

Dudek got a tremendous reception from the Kop who had the chance to see what some of the supporting cast could do with only three of Saturday’s starting line-up on show.

Ipswich went ahead on 13 minutes when Markus Babbel made a mess of a clearance in the six-yard box from a Darren Bent cross, planting the ball straight to Miller who scored with ease. Ipswich had plenty of possession and were the more positive side. Liverpool compounded their problems by wilfully conceding possession at virtually

every opportunity, giving the ball back to Matt Holland and Miller, allowing them to create a stream of attacks.

Dudek needed to be off his line twice to mop up at the back, and then he saved with his legs when Darren Bent got clear in the box.

Liverpool brought on Jamie Carragher at half time to play in the centre of defence in place of Babbel. One run by Smicer which ended with Diouf almost bustling his way into the area, was about all Liverpool could manage at the start of the second period.

Ipswich were defending their own half, five at the back, and making it very hard for Liverpool to find space to attack. But they did get a lifeline on 53 minutes from a Diouf penalty, awarded when Mark Venus brought down Mellor, who had surprised him with his pace as he chased what looked a lost cause in the box. The Senegal striker stepped up to drill home the spot kick.

Diouf had a goal disallowed when referee Dermot Gallagher decided a challenge on Marshall by Gerrard was a foul when it looked no more than a 50-50 challenge for a loose ball.

Richard Naylor replaced Bent with a minute remaining and soon after the final whistle went, meaning the game went into extra-time.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Xavier, Biscan, Babbel (Carragher 45), Vignal, Riise, Gerrard, Diao, Smicer (Welsh 83), Diouf, Mellor (Baros 76).

IPSWICH: Marshall, Gaardsoe, Venus, Hreidarsson, Wright, Miller, Holland, Ambrose (Magilton 81), Clapham, Darren Bent (Naylor 90), Counago (Armstrong 55).

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

DRAW for Worthington Cup quarter-finals: (ties to be played on December 17 and 18)

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