Blackburn 3 Liverpool 4

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Blackburn went out of the Carling Cup after ref Mike Riley made Rovers play the second half with ten men after Lucas Neill had been sent off just before half time.

Blackburn took the lead after 34 minutes when a returning Dwight Yorke headed hope a David Thompson cross into the bottom left corner. The game turned oh its head 6 minutes later when young french striker Pongolle had his heel clipped lightly by Neill, which gave Riley no other choice and Neill was on his way back to the dressing room, his 3rd sending off in 5 matches this season. Danny Murphy scored from the penalty spot, giving Friedel no chance.

Liverpool made the most of their one man advantage in the second half and punished some slack defending by Taylor when Heskey guided a cross from Diouf into the bottom left corner on 49 mins, after the Liverpool winger had done well on the right. The same combination produced Liverpools third goal on 61 mins after Diouf turned Reid inside out and Heskey pounced from 3 yards out for the simple nod in.

Brad Friedel came to Blackburns rescue in the 75th minute after Gresko had pulled Kewell back in the area, Heskey on a hat-trick placed a weak right footed shot to Freidels left and the big American parryed it out and saved Heskeys follow up shot. Liverpool Made it four 4 minutes later when Diouf made it a hat-trick of assists as he set Kewell up for a 6 yard tap in with the Rovers defence stretched.

Barry Ferguson scored his maiden goal for Rovers 2 minutes later after probably the best piece of play in the game, some slick passing between Tugay, Cole and Yorke released Ferguson in the area who after one touch had taken him clear of the defenders placed his shot past the oncoming goalkeeper Kirkland. Blackburn gave the fans one last thing to cheer when Yorke scored his second of the night after substitute Gallagher had pulled the ball back in the six yard box.

Teams:

Blackburn Rovers

Friedel, Neill (s/o 40), Babble, Taylor, Gresko (Johansson 84), Thompson (Emerton 59), Ferguson, Tugay, Reid (Gallagher 82) , Cole, Yorke

Subs not used: Jansen, Yeddell

Liverpool

Kirkland, Biscan, Henchoz, Hyppia (Risse 45), Traore, Le Tallec, Gerrad (Hamann 82), Murphy, Diouf, Heskey, Sinama Pongolle (Kewell 45)

Subs not used: Finnan, Dudek

Attendance:16,918