Liverpool stun Leeds

Liverpool's Vladimir Smicer goes close at Leeds

Leeds United 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool's knock-out specialist Nick Barmby delivered a late FA Cup sucker punch to send Leeds United reeling at Elland Road.

Barmby - who has made a habit of scoring in Liverpool's cup exploits this season - emerged from the subsitutes' bench to tilt a closely-fought tie in favour of Gerard Houllier's men.

And fellow substitute Emile Heskey finished Leeds off with a stunning injury time strike to make it a perfect week for Liverpool after they clinched a place in The Worthington Cup Final.

Leeds had wasted opportunities to breathe fresh life into their season, but Liverpool pounced late on to make it another miserable day on home territory for Leeds boss David O'Leary.

And O'Leary was left cursing the rejection of late penalty claims when Lee Bowyer tumbled under challenge from Gary McAllister.

We could see there was contact on Lee Bowyer from the dug-out and it was a penalty

  Leeds United manager David O'Leary

O'Leary recalled goalkeeper Nigel Martyn after a 22-game absence in place of the impressive Paul Robinson.

Liverpool were without the injured Steve Gerrrard, while Heskey's thigh injury restricted him to a place on the bench.

Leeds should have taken the lead inside the first minute, when Robbie Keane broke on to Lee Bowyer's pass.

He looked certain to score, but goalkeeper Sander Westerveld took the pace off his finish and Stephane Henchoz cleared off the line.

Keane was instrumental in creating an opportunty for Mark Viduka - who scored all four goals in Leeds' 4-3 Preniership win at Elland Road earlier this season - three minutes later, but Westerveld blocked again.

Fowler takes control

Liverpool spent much of the first half on the defensive, but Vladimir Smicer wasted a glorious opportunity to set up Robbie Fowler right in front of goal, selfishly choosing to go alone and allowing Leeds to recover.

Former Leeds star Gary McAllister was booked for kicking the ball away after 25 minutes - and was then at the centre of the first half's biggest talking point six minutes before the interval.

McAllister looked to be a clear victim of an elbow in the face from Bowyer, but as he received treatment for a bloody nose, referee Andy D'Urso chose to take no action.

It was a decision that clearly angered the Liverpool backroom team - and Bowyer was very fortunate to escape a red card.

Liverpool had posed little attacking threat in the first half, but had clearly been given orders by Houllier to step up the pace after the break.

Hamann watches Viduka

It was Leeds, however, who created the next opening, Viduka firing across the face of goal from an angle.

Liverpool goalkeeper Westerveld had a remarkable escape on the hour, when he inexplicably dropped a routine catch at the feet of Eirik Bakke, but Sami Hyypia came to his rescue on the goal-line.

Fowler instantly showed his threat when he turned inside Jonathon Woodgate, but only found the side-netting.

Former Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo had the ideal chance to punish his old club after 65 minutes, but he somehow headed wide when he stole in unmarked on to Bowyer's cross.

Thumping strike

Both managers made positive substitutions with 18 minutes left, Liverpool replacing Smicer with Heskey, while Leeds sent on Alan Smith in place of the tiring Keane.

Liverpool were forced to send on Christian Ziege two minutes later, when Danny Murphy was stretchered off with a knee ligament injury following Rio Ferdinand's strong, but fair, block tackle.

It was a difficult game for us, a difficult tie, but we knew if we had chances we would take them

  Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier

Ziege was instrumental in Liverpool's winner four minutes from time, when he cut in front the left to set up Fowler.

The striker rolled his finish against the post, but Barmby rammed home the rebound from close range.

Liverpool's joy was complete in injury time, when Barmby set up a thumping Heskey strike to send the 5,000 Merseysiders inside Elland Road into ecstasy.

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Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Harte, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Bowyer, Bakke, Batty, Matteo, Keane, Viduka. Subs: Dacourt, Robinson, Wilcox, Smith, Mills.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Hyypia, Carragher, Henchoz, Murphy, Hamann, McAllister, Biscan, Fowler, Smicer. Subs: Ziege, Heskey, Barmby, Nielsen, Litmanen.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)