Cotterill values win over Liverpool

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill refused to accept that his side’s FA Cup triumph over Liverpool was devalued by the Anfield club’s weakened line-up for last night’s third-round clash.

The Clarets stormed into the fourth round thanks to a Djimi Traore own goal, against a Liverpool outfit packed with reserves and youngsters.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez equally insisted he did not get his team selection wrong as Burnley inflicted a night of embarrassment on the Merseyside giants.

Cotterill said: “We stood at our dressing room door and watched them arrive so we soon knew who would be playing. We were a bit upset to see Milan Baros arrive, we were not expecting him.

“But look through their team. They had Dudek, Hyypia, Biscan, Baros, Mellor, Sinama-Pongolle and Traore. All first-team players.

“As regards the likes of Potter, Raven, Welsh, Warnock, we knew about them too. We have been to see them play when there has only been a couple of hundred people watching in the reserves, we went to see a reserve game to get a run down on them just in case.

“But you would take any one of them on loan, they are all good players with good futures so they were not an easy touch.”

He added: “There was an expectancy from our fans for us to win as soon as they saw their team sheet. That put a lot of mental pressure on us because Gerrard and Carragher were not playing, that meant the expectancy level rose even more.”

Benitez will be accused of taking the competition too lightly. But he countered by saying: “I was satisfied with my team selection. You cannot use the same players in all four competitions all the time. We played well with the same players in the Carling Cup.

“I say that perhaps we do not have a squad good enough for four competitions at the top level. I used the players I felt we needed, if we had used more senior players then maybe we would have more problems next week and then in the Champions League."

For Burnley boss Cotterill it was a dream night. He said: “It feels very good, we are delighted with our boys, they were excellent. We were the better side in the first half and did not get the goals we deserved.

“I won’t pick any individuals out. We had 11 fine performers and if we have that sort of commitment then we know we can win.

“It was probably my best night in management, there are not many nights when you can say you have beaten Liverpool.”