Tony Cottee returned to haunt his old enemies Liverpool with a 77th-minute winner against Liverpool at Filbert Street.

BBC Radio 5 Live final whistle match report

The former Everton striker struck 13 minutes from time following great work by Emile Heskey and Neil Lennon.

The sides had looked equally matched until Steve Walsh replaced Theo Zagorakis in the 56th minute after which Leicester seized the advantage.

Tony Cottee allows himself a smile after scoring Leicester's winner

Cottee struck his seventh of the season when Heskey floated a ball from the by-line following a great pass by Lennon.

To add to Liverpool's woes, Jason McAteer was dismissed five minutes from time for a bad challenge on Muzzy Izzet.

Liverpool had shown the early promise in the game and after just three minutes Michael Owen tried his luck from 20 yards but his save was comfortably held by Kasey Keller.

In the 16th minute Karlheinz Riedle produced a lovely piece of skill to turn the Leicester defence but his shot flew wide.

Three minutes later Heskey produced Leicester's first strike on target from a Steve Guppy cross but David James held comfortably.

In the 23rd minute substitute Robbie Fowler was involved in an exchange of words with a fan as he warmed up until a steward intervened.

Leicester dominate

But it was the home side who were beginning to shade the contest and Heskey flashed wide a header in the 31st minute.

Three minutes later Steve McManaman found his way into the book after a foul on Theo Zagorakis.

Liverpool captain Paul Ince argues as colleague Mcateer is given his marching orders

It was Leicester who started the second half more aggressively. Guppy punctured the Liverpool defence with two telling crosses in the opening minutes. But Heskey and Cottee were unable to convert.

Five minutes after the break, James was forced to come off his line to clear off the foot of Heskey after a wonderful 40-yard pass from Neil Lennon.

In the 53rd minute, Paul Ince was guilty of a clumsy challenge on Zagorakis but Guppy's carefully floated free-kick was cleared by the impressive Carragher.

As a result, the Greek midfielder was forced off the field and replaced by Walsh, who returned for the first time in two months after a rib injury.

Heskey almost struck for City in the 61st minute when he turned Steve Staunton and Carragher on the edge of the area but his powerful shot was palmed away by James.