Liverpool were level within two minutes when Sinama-Pongolle's neat turn drew Cunningham into a lunge and Barry pointed to the spot.

BBC: Liverpool brush away Blues

But it was Liverpool's youngsters who finished the opening 90 minutes strongest - as Florent Sinama Pongolle began to grow in confidence.

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But Pongolle, taking the fifth Reds spot-kick, needed to score to put his team in the last four and he held his nerve to put Spurs out.

BBC: SPORT | Football | League Cup | Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool

The duel between Sinama-Pongolle and Upson continued and on 50 minutes the Frenchman robbed Upson and sprinted away before laying the ball across for Heskey, who could not get a connection.

BBC: Liverpool brush away Blues

The opening chance of a first-half dominated by Liverpool fell to the unlikely figure of Traore, who could only shoot straight at Cech after being set up by Florent Sinama Pongolle.

BBC: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea

Spurs had one foot in the semi-finals, but after Robinson brilliantly kept out a Pongolle shot, the same Liverpool player took the corner and Kanoute handled it in full view of the referee.

BBC: SPORT | Football | League Cup | Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool

Heskey's strength in possession almost brought the breakthrough for Liverpol when he held off Cunningham to feed El-Hadji Diouf, whose low cross was punched away from Pongolle's lunge at full stretch by Ian Bennett.

BBC: Liverpool brush away Blues

Le Havre have an outstanding reputation in developing young players, nurturing players like Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra and Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia as well as Atletico Madrid's Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who moved from the French club to Liverpool, before going to Spain.

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In the 77th minute Pongolle was put through clear on goal but was hauled down by Anthony Gardner, who was inexplicably shown a yellow card rather than red, and then the striker set up substitute John Welsh whose shot was close.

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