Milwall - 0 Liverpool - 3: Milan Baros came off the bench last night to fire Liverpool into the fourth round of the English League Cup with a classy double against Millwall. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had made 10 changes for the clash at the New Den, but it was not until the second-half introduction of first-team regular Baros that their passage was secured.
The visitors led at half-time through Salif Diao's well-taken goal, but they had twice been indebted to goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek for saving from Neil Harris.Baros replaced the injured Florent Sinama-Pongolle in the 53rd minute, and 17 minutes later he kept his nerve to settle the tie with a strike that oozed class and composure. And, in stoppage-time, the Czech Republic striker raced on to Darren Potter's through ball and beat Matt Lawrence for pace before steering another precise effort into the left corner.
Defender Djimi Traore was the only member of the Liverpool starting XI who began Saturday's game against Charlton while Millwall playermanager Dennis Wise surprisingly left himself out as one of three changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Cardiff.
The Lions should have gone ahead with the game less than five minutes old. Harris beat the offside trap to race on to David Livermore's long ball down the left, but the striker's first touch was woeful and Jerzy Dudek came out quickly to claim the ball.
That move appeared to spark Liverpool into life, and it took a fine block from Kevin Muscat to prevent Neil Mellor's shot troubling goalkeeper Graham Stack.But Liverpool did go in front in the 18th minute. The ball fell to Diao from a corner and the Senegal midfielder drilled the ball into the right corner from 10 yards.
The home defence always looked vulnerable against the pace and trickery of Sinama-Pongolle, and it took three defenders to stop him after Morris' tackle on Diao had rebounded into the French striker's path.
Sinama-Pongolle's insidious run after Adrian Serioux had been dispossessed should have resulted in a second goal for Rafael Benitez's team, but Mellor could only steer the ball into the arms of Stack after his team-mate had set him up 10 yards from goal.
Sinama-Pongolle squandered a fantastic chance to put the game beyond Millwall straight after half-time when he raced on to Potter's through-ball and rounded Stack - only to steer the ball into the side-netting after over-running it.
The young forward fell awkwardly and was hurt after an accidental tangle with Muscat after shooting and had to be replaced by Baros in the 53rd minute. And Baros made certain of Liverpool's passage into the fourth round with the second goal 20 minutes from time.
Stack came out to push the ball away from the feet of the marauding Potter, but unfortunately for the Millwall goalkeeper the ball fell to Stephen Warnock, who switched it right for Baros to evade Livermore and supply a classy finish into the unguarded net from the edge of the penalty area.
With little more than 10 minutes remaining, some supporters in the lower tier of the away end clashed with police guarding the perimeter of the pitch, but the officers managed to prevent the situation from escalating.
Then, in stoppage-time, Baros outpaced Lawrence for a 3-0 scoreline that was a little harsh on Millwall.
MILLWALL: Stack, Muscat, Ward, Lawrence, Livermore, Dunne (Healy 79), Elliott, Morris, Serioux (McCammon 77), Tessem, Harris. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Simpson, Cogan. Booked: Serioux, Muscat.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Josemi, Henchoz, Traore, Whitbread, Potter, Biscan, Diao, Warnock (Riise 81), Mellor (Finnan 65), Sinama Pongolle (Baros 52). Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Carragher. Booked: Diao, Mellor, Baros. Goals: Diao 18, Baros 70, 90.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
