A GAME of two spectacles, Momo Sissoko's glasses and Birmingham City's defending, ended with Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and police guarding Steve Bruce's dug-out on an extraordinary evening at St Andrew's.
Sissoko swiftly discarded his protective goggles, ordered by the doctor after his recent eye injury, as Liverpool charged forward to plunder goals at will against opponents whose defending bordered on the suicidal.
Humiliation
Sami Hyypia began the rout after 54 seconds, before Peter Crouch added two more in the first half. Fernando Morientes' tap-in, a John Arne Riise special, Olivier Tebily own goal and Djibril Cisse strike completed Birmingham's humiliation.
So angered did Birmingham's fans become at the hapless marking as Liverpool swept into a three-goal lead that one incensed supporter ran on to the pitch and tried to throw his season-ticket at Bruce.
Fortunately for Birmingham's manager, his stewards were quicker than his centre-halves had been in averting danger. Bruce cannot be blamed for the individual errors of his defenders, for their chronic lack of concentration as Crouch helped himself to a first-half brace after Hyypia's 54-second opener.
Handsomely-paid Premiership defenders simply cannot switch off when faced with intelligent movement like Liverpool's attacking forces. Gerrard was outstanding, enjoying the freedom afforded him with Sissoko and Xabi Alonso anchoring diligently.
With Crouch as the focal point, Gerrard and Luis Garcia buzzed around inventively, left to their devices by Birmingham's players. And so Liverpool tore Birmingham to pieces, slicing them open with rapier thrusts.
When David Dunn took Alonso's legs, the scene was set for Liverpool's first. Gerrard clipped over the free-kick, Sissoko nipped in ahead of Kenny Cunningham and flicked the ball on for Hyypia to score with a simple header. Why Martin Taylor did not get closer to Hyypia will be the first question Bruce asks in today's lengthy and painful inquest. Taylor's display was deemed so disappointing by Bruce that the tall defender was removed at the interval.
For a former centre-half of Bruce's noted calibre, such defending was unforgivable. It got worse for the Blues - much, much worse. Three minutes after Hyypia's goal, Sissoko worked the ball right to the omnipresent Gerrard.
Exhausted
Liverpool's captain clearly had not been reading all the suggestions that he must be exhausted having begun his season back in the distant days when the sun shone. Gerrard was energy personified, cutting inside and lifting over a cross. Crouch, eluding Cunningham, headed past Maik Taylor, whose attempts to keep the ball out lacked conviction.
Crouch wasted two good opportunities before collecting his 11th in 24 games. Garcia was again allowed too much space as he weaved his way in from the left, slipping the ball to Crouch, who stroked his shot confidently past Taylor.
So numbed had Birmingham fans become that they briefly forgot to boo the former Aston Villa striker, although they raised a smile when the Tannoy announcer inquired: "Are you all going to the replay?"
Birmingham had moments of hope, mainly when Jermaine Pennant did what he does best, racing down the right flank and showing a touch and self-belief lacking in his colleagues, Birmingham sought to raise their game after the interval, but Liverpool remained in charge and Benitez soon removed Crouch.
Morientes loped on and made it four. Steve Finnan drilled the ball down the inside-right channel, Garcia dummied and Gerrard raced through before squaring the ball for Morientes to score with ease.
Descent
Birmingham's descent into darkness accelerated. With 20 minutes remaining, Gerrard eased the ball into the path of Riise, who unleashed another of his trademark left-footed pile-drivers into the roof of the net. Police and stewards immediately formed a protective cordon in front of Bruce's dug-out, which tightened when Harry Kewell's cross was turned in by Tebily and then Maik Taylor fumbled in a Cisse blast.
"I'm delighted with the final result and the performance of the players," Reds boss Benitez said.
"Sometimes you cannot score goals after 30 attempts - as against Charlton - but tonight every time we shot it was a goal. We have quality. The strikers are really good, and in this case we had a lot of luck."
The observation by Birmingham's chairman, David Sullivan, that this has been "the most depressing season since I joined" will have been echoed by many fans as they left the ground, emotionally dazed, and wondering when the pain will end.
__________________
I saw this in a movie about a bus that had to speed around a city, keeping its speed over 50, and if its speed changed, it would explode! I think it was called, "The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down."
A GAME of two spectacles, Momo Sissoko's glasses and Birmingham City's defending, ended with Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and police guarding Steve Bruce's dug-out on an extraordinary evening at St Andrew's.
Sissoko swiftly discarded his protective goggles, ordered by the doctor after his recent eye injury, as Liverpool charged forward to plunder goals at will against opponents whose defending bordered on the suicidal.
Humiliation
Sami Hyypia began the rout after 54 seconds, before Peter Crouch added two more in the first half. Fernando Morientes' tap-in, a John Arne Riise special, Olivier Tebily own goal and Djibril Cisse strike completed Birmingham's humiliation.
So angered did Birmingham's fans become at the hapless marking as Liverpool swept into a three-goal lead that one incensed supporter ran on to the pitch and tried to throw his season-ticket at Bruce.
Fortunately for Birmingham's manager, his stewards were quicker than his centre-halves had been in averting danger. Bruce cannot be blamed for the individual errors of his defenders, for their chronic lack of concentration as Crouch helped himself to a first-half brace after Hyypia's 54-second opener.
Handsomely-paid Premiership defenders simply cannot switch off when faced with intelligent movement like Liverpool's attacking forces. Gerrard was outstanding, enjoying the freedom afforded him with Sissoko and Xabi Alonso anchoring diligently.
With Crouch as the focal point, Gerrard and Luis Garcia buzzed around inventively, left to their devices by Birmingham's players. And so Liverpool tore Birmingham to pieces, slicing them open with rapier thrusts.
When David Dunn took Alonso's legs, the scene was set for Liverpool's first. Gerrard clipped over the free-kick, Sissoko nipped in ahead of Kenny Cunningham and flicked the ball on for Hyypia to score with a simple header. Why Martin Taylor did not get closer to Hyypia will be the first question Bruce asks in today's lengthy and painful inquest. Taylor's display was deemed so disappointing by Bruce that the tall defender was removed at the interval.
For a former centre-half of Bruce's noted calibre, such defending was unforgivable. It got worse for the Blues - much, much worse. Three minutes after Hyypia's goal, Sissoko worked the ball right to the omnipresent Gerrard.
Exhausted
Liverpool's captain clearly had not been reading all the suggestions that he must be exhausted having begun his season back in the distant days when the sun shone. Gerrard was energy personified, cutting inside and lifting over a cross. Crouch, eluding Cunningham, headed past Maik Taylor, whose attempts to keep the ball out lacked conviction.
Crouch wasted two good opportunities before collecting his 11th in 24 games. Garcia was again allowed too much space as he weaved his way in from the left, slipping the ball to Crouch, who stroked his shot confidently past Taylor.
So numbed had Birmingham fans become that they briefly forgot to boo the former Aston Villa striker, although they raised a smile when the Tannoy announcer inquired: "Are you all going to the replay?"
Birmingham had moments of hope, mainly when Jermaine Pennant did what he does best, racing down the right flank and showing a touch and self-belief lacking in his colleagues, Birmingham sought to raise their game after the interval, but Liverpool remained in charge and Benitez soon removed Crouch.
Morientes loped on and made it four. Steve Finnan drilled the ball down the inside-right channel, Garcia dummied and Gerrard raced through before squaring the ball for Morientes to score with ease.
Descent
Birmingham's descent into darkness accelerated. With 20 minutes remaining, Gerrard eased the ball into the path of Riise, who unleashed another of his trademark left-footed pile-drivers into the roof of the net. Police and stewards immediately formed a protective cordon in front of Bruce's dug-out, which tightened when Harry Kewell's cross was turned in by Tebily and then Maik Taylor fumbled in a Cisse blast.
"I'm delighted with the final result and the performance of the players," Reds boss Benitez said.
"Sometimes you cannot score goals after 30 attempts - as against Charlton - but tonight every time we shot it was a goal. We have quality. The strikers are really good, and in this case we had a lot of luck."
The observation by Birmingham's chairman, David Sullivan, that this has been "the most depressing season since I joined" will have been echoed by many fans as they left the ground, emotionally dazed, and wondering when the pain will end.
I mentioned a few weeks back about the killer instinct that some teams like Man Unt and Arsenal have , when they get 1 or 2 they always push on to get more , During the Rafa reign its always been get the 1 or 2 and then relax. Goodd to see them eager for more goals.
On the other hand B'Ham were awful and I fear for them on Sunday at Old Trafford , can easily see saha and rooney getting a couple each while Brucy waves to the home fans and thinks of Happier times
I mentioned a few weeks back about the killer instinct that some teams like Man Unt and Arsenal have , when they get 1 or 2 they always push on to get more , During the Rafa reign its always been get the 1 or 2 and then relax. Goodd to see them eager for more goals.
On the other hand B'Ham were awful and I fear for them on Sunday at Old Trafford , can easily see saha and rooney getting a couple each while Brucy waves to the home fans and thinks of Happier times
It'd be typical of us to fuck up a game like this.
But saying that we are in good form and if we get an early goal it should be curtains.
I'd love to see us do a 5 or a 6 job in some game, should have against Newcastle.
__________________
I saw this in a movie about a bus that had to speed around a city, keeping its speed over 50, and if its speed changed, it would explode! I think it was called, "The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down."
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