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Liverpool destroy Birmingham 7-0 in FA Cup

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-22 08:34

LONDON, March 21 (Reuters) - Liverpool scored twice in the opening five minutes on the way to a club record 7-0 rout of Birmingham City in an embarrassingly one-sided FA Cup quarter-final at St Andrew's on Tuesday.

Lanky England striker Peter Crouch netted twice for six-times winners Liverpool, who joined West Ham United in the last four after the London club beat Manchester City 2-1 on Monday.

Chelsea are at home to Newcastle United on Wednesday and Middlesbrough visit Charlton Athletic on Thursday in the other quarter-finals. The semi-final draw is on Friday.

Liverpool have scored 15 goals in their last three matches after only two in their previous five and manager Rafa Benitez told Sky Sports: "Today, every time we shot it was a goal.

"Sometimes you need luck (to score). We have quality, the strikers are really good, we needed luck."

It was Liverpool's biggest away win in the FA Cup and equal second biggest at any ground after their 8-0 home victory over Swansea in January 1990.

Tuesday's match had barely started when Steven Gerrard floated in a free kick from the left, Mohamed Sissoko nodded the ball on and unmarked defender Sami Hyypia headed home for the visitors.

Mali midfielder Sissoko was making his first appearance, wearing protective glasses, since an injury to his right eye exactly a month ago that had initially threatened to end his career.

Crouch made it 2-0 when his header from Gerrard's right-wing cross was parried by Maik Taylor but the keeper could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.

The 25-year-old Crouch notched his fourth goal in three games seven minutes before the interval when he steered the ball past Taylor after Luis Garcia had slipped a perfect pass into his path.

"Once you get a couple they seem to go in a lot easier," said Crouch.