Fowler hails Reds renaissance

Fowler lifts the Worthington Cup

Liverpool captain Robbie Fowler hopes his side's Worthington Cup victory over Birmingham can be a platform for future glory.

The nail-biting win was a personal triumph for Anfield golden boy boy Robbie Fowler.

Fowler proved he is back to his lethal best with a superb solo strike from 30 yards although it ultimately needed penalties to separate the two sides.

In lifting his first trophy as skipper for his boyhood team, Fowler showed he has left his dark days behind him.

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"I'm delighted and so is everyone else," said Fowler.

"It gives us a stepping stone so I hope we can go on and win a few more trophies.

"It's a major final so I'm very pleased with the goal. I'm not sure if it's the best of my career but to do that in a final means it's up there with the best of them."

Manager Gerard Houllier felt his side had shown great character to come through such a tough final.

"The team has reached another dimension in the fact that there is a unity in the squad, even the injured players wanted to come here to support the team," he said.

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"It was a great final and you have got to give credit to Birmingham.

"I thought we were very professional and created many chances, but were not clinical enough.

"Then when it came to penalties, I thought it's mainly the legs that we will have a problem with because we have played so many games'."

This was Liverpool's fourth game in 10 days, and the shoot-out only ended when Sander Westerveld saved Andy Johnson's sudden-death spot kick.

Westerveld dodged credit for the win and paid tribute to the rest of his team-mates instead.

Purse (left) scored a last-minute penalty to take the game to extra-time

"I was delighted to make the two saves - but I don't think I'm the hero.

"When you save a penalty they always look at the keeper - but credit to the boys.

"I was hoping we'd finish it in the 90 minutes but conceding a penalty in the last seconds was a big blow for us."

The Reds are now quoted at 10/1 by bookmakers William Hill to add the Uefa Cup and FA Cup to their League Cup triumph.

Next month they play in the quarter-finals of both competitions - over two legs against FC Porto in the Uefa Cup and away to First Division Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup.