Liverpool's cup drought is over...just

After Robbie Fowler's sensational strike - his 10th of the season and sixth in the Worthington Cup - had put the Reds in front, they should have wrapped it up long before the end.

Fowler himself, Vladimir Smicer and Emile Heskey were all culprits, as Liverpool played as if they thought it was all over with 20 minutes left, sitting back and inviting Birmingham on.

The price was paid dramatically three minutes into stoppage time, as Henchoz cut Martin O'Connor in half to give David Elleray no option but to point to the spot.

Darren Purse's immaculate and courageous finish sent the game into an additional 30 minutes, with Trevor Francis apoplectic when Henchoz made the slightest of contacts as substitute Johnson surged goalwards.

On the occasions it mattered most, though, Liverpool remained calmer and when Westerveld, whose hesitancy had helped give Blues hope, plunged to his left to break Johnson's heart, that six-year trophy drought was over.

The reaction was relief as much as joy, for it should have been so much easier.

Fowler, the only survivor of the 1995 win over Bolton and preferred to Michael Owen as the aerially-dominant Heskey's strike partner, was as sharp as a tack.

His goal represented sheer class and a glorious reminder to Sven Goran Eriksson, whom he had greeted for the first time before kick-off.

Heskey outjumped Purse after Westerveld pumped the ball forward and as the ball bounced up, Fowler spotted Ian Bennett out-side his six-yard box and arced the most deliberate of first-time left-footers beyond the goal-keeper's sprawling dive.

Even before then, Fowler had gone close and only an errant flag prevented O'Connor seeing red after bringing down the clear-on-goal Steven Gerrard.

While Birmingham's Jon McCarthy had fired at Westerveld, Liverpool were in command. One should have been two before the break. Heskey again rose, this time to meet Henchoz's ball forward, and Smicer had time to steady himself before side-footing wide of the left-hand upright.

It was the shape of things to come.

Francis' half-time switch, sending Johnson on for the lumbering Dele Adebola, gave Birmingham directness and pace, with the substitute close to turning home Nicky Eaden's cross 30 seconds after the restart.

But Liverpool carved out all the openings, without taking them. Fowler hit the side-netting after an adroit turn from Gerrard's cross and Heskey blazed over when Igor Biscan sent Smicer down the left.

Then when Fowler delicately played over the top for Smicer, the Czech blasted at Bennett.

Michael Johnson escaped when he handled as Fowler pushed passed him but even when the Liverpool skipper twice failed to hit the target late on, it seemed unlikely to matter.

Henchoz's folly altered that but Purse's brave penalty, after waiting for three minutes as O'Connor received treatment, was remarkable.

Suddenly it was all different as Birmingham saw glory. Only Westerveld's fingertips prevented Bryan Hughes scoring from fully 40 yards before Henchoz tempted fate once again, although Dietmar Hamann's late drive rebounded to safety off the woodwork with Bennett beaten.

So to the finale, in front of the travelling Kop. Martin Grainger put his fingers in his ears but still had his shot saved, and although Hamann proved Germans can miss from 12 yards, the crucial act came from Westerveld.

The wait has been so long that Liverpool celebrated as if they had won the European Cup rather than the Worthington variety. Yet, 1995 was a false dawn. This must be only the beginning.