Patched-up Portsmouth end Pool's Cup dream
Midfielder Hughes scored his first Pompey goal a fierce 71st-minute drive - to avenge memories of one of the darkest days in the club's history. That was when Liverpool deprived Portsmouth of an appearance in the 1992 FA Cup final with a penalty shoot-out victory in the semi-final.
But yesterday's famous victory, which sets up a quarter-final showdown against holders Arsenal, only came after Pompey twice survived penalty dramas.
Referee Matt Messias awarded Liverpool a 49th-minute spot-kick for handball - but changed his mind after consulting his assistant Guy Beale. The official got it wrong again 13 minutes later penalising Matt Taylor for a brilliant tackle on Milan Baros but Hislop saved Michael Owen's weak effort from the spot.
It was the perfect way for keeper Hislop, who had joked on the eve of this game he had never saved a penalty, to celebrate his 35th birthday.
Jubilant Pompey boss Harry Redknapp heaped praise on his side afterwards. "With the quality of their side they are entitled to come here and walk all over us but we were fantastic.
"We were struggling for numbers and to turn in a performance like that was magnificent. We were so patched up and to get the workrate we did from the players we had out there today was incredible.
"We played some great stuff on the counter. I thought we thoroughly deserved the win over the two games and it is great for us to have got this far. This certainly won't do us any harm."
Redknapp was scathing about the two controversial penalty incidents during the game.
"They were two diabolical penalty decisions. On the first one the linesman was facing the handball by Baros but he didn't flag. It was only our players taking the ref to the linesman that got him to change his mind. If the linesman cannot see it (the Baros handball) what is he doing on the line?
"As for the second one it was a perfectly-timed tackle by Matt Taylor and he gave a penalty. The decisions could have cost us dear but it's ended up being a great day for us and we showed great character."
Under-pressure Houllier expects to be "slaughtered" after this latest Liverpool reverse.
Liverpool's cup elimination comes as they sit sixth in the Barclaycard Premiership 26 points behind leaders Arsenal and three points off fourth-placed Newcastle in the race for a Champions League position.
"I know I'll get slaughtered but I don't feel under any more pressure than before," said Houllier.
"I think it's unfair to slaughter us. I cannot blame my players. They tried hard, but that's football and you have to live with it. It goes with being a big club."
Houllier traces many of Liverpool's troubles to the injury-enforced absence of Owen in mid-season.
"This has been a difficult season, and we missed Michael Owen for a couple of months," he said.
"We're disappointed but still have the UEFA Cup. We are strong enough and have to put it right."
Portsmouth's victory represents revenge for one of the most painful defeats etched into Pompey folklore. The south-coast side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool in the 1992 semi-final.
But this time jubilant boss Harry Redknapp was saluting his team.
"This is a great day for the club," he said. "Knocking out Liverpool is a great achievement, and I'm so proud of all my players. We've got 14 players out, and it is great to get such effort and commitment from my patched-up team.
"Liverpool were entitled to come here and walk all over us, but we showed great spirit and played some terrific stuff."
The only downside for Pompey was the news that winger Patrik Berger will be out for the season after undergoing knee surgery by world renowned specialist Richard Steadman in the USA on Friday.
Hislop, Primus, Pasanen, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic (Hughes 45), Harper, Smertin, Quashie, Taylor, Berkovic, Yakubu.
Kirkland, Finnan, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Hamann, Gerrard, Le Tallec (Murphy 59), Cheyrou (Sinama Pongolle 82), Heskey (Baros 45), Owen.
M Messias (N Yorkshire).
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