On this day: Liverpool end six-year trophy drought

The 2000-01 season will always be fondly remembered by those of a Liverpool persuasion.

The once highly successful Reds had gone six years without winning a trophy, only to lift a trio of them within the space of four months.

Yet none of those three triumphs were anything like straightforward, starting with the League Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff 14 years ago today.

Division One Birmingham City were the opponents and while Trevor Francis's men had done ever so well to reach that stage of the competition, they were expected to be comfortably beaten.

It seemed that the final would go with the script when after a dominant start to the encounter, the Premier League Merseysiders broke the deadlock in the 30th minute.

Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld's punt forward found Emile Heskey, who flicked the ball on for his strike partner Robbie Fowler. Rather than take a touch, the forward sent an instant half-volley flying into the back of the Birmingham net.

As the clash wore on, Liverpool continued to carve out openings, but the likes of Vladimir Smicer and Heskey spurned good opportunities to extend their side's lead even further.

Those failings were then duly punished deep into stoppage time when Birmingham midfielder Martin O'Connor went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Stephane Henchoz. Blues centre-back Darren Purse stepped up to take the resultant penalty, which he sent beyond the reach of Westerveld to force extra time.

Bryan Hughes forced Westerveld into action during the added 30 minutes, while up the other end Liverpool's German international Dietmar Hamann struck the upright from distance.

Neither goalkeeper was beaten for a second time, though, which meant that a penalty shootout would be required to determine the winner of the 41st League Cup.

Hamann saw his kick saved by Birmingham goalkeeper Ian Bennett, but Westerveld would be the hero, denying both Martin Grainger and crucially a 20-year-old Andy Johnson to secure the trophy for Liverpool courtesy of a 5-4 shootout victory.

Speaking afterwards, defeated boss Francis said: "I thought we were going to win it. We were hungrier, stronger. Maybe their recent schedule had taken it out of their legs, but we were the dominant force.

"I said before the game that if we came off the field without any regrets I would be satisfied, and in that sense I am, but we're all bitterly disappointed to have lost on penalties."

Meanwhile, a victorious Gerard Houllier said: "They say the first trophy is always the hardest to win."

The Frenchman would go on to celebrate two more soon after as he guided his team to the FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

BIRMINGHAM: Bennett; Eaden, Grainger, Purse, M Johnson; McCarthy, Sonner (Hughes), O'Connor, Lazaridis; Horsfield (Marcelo), Adebola (A Johnson)

LIVERPOOL: Westerveld; Henchoz, Babbel, Hyypia, Carragher; Smicer (Barmby), Hamann, Gerrard (McAllister), Biscan (Ziege); Heskey, Fowler