01/11/2000 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1 (aet) Emile Heskey was controversially sent off in the dying minutes of extra-time as Liverpool battled their way into the Worthington Cup fourth round. The incident overshadowed Robbie Fowler's winner, his first goal since December 1999. Heskey had been booked earlier in extra-time, but with two minutes left reacted angrily to a two footed tackle from Marcel Desailly. As Heskey waited in the box for the resulting throw-in, it looked as if he was caught by Winstone Bogarde's arm, and reacted by pushing the Chelsea player. The incident was spotted by a linesman who called over referee Rob Harris, who brandished a second yellow and then a red card. Heskey continued to argue with the official before being led away by colleagues. Earlier, Fowler chose the perfect time to end his 11 month goal drought to send Liverpool through in a match that threatened to boil over with several unsavoury incidents. Fowler has struggled back from long term injury and his attempts to rediscover his goal touch have been painful to watch in his previous eight barren games this term. After hitting the post during normal time, Fowler struck in the 113th minute to score his first goal since netting against Wimbledon in December '99. The strike clinched a hard fought victory for Liverpool and gave them a clash with Stoke in the next round. It also ensured a measure of revenge for the Merseysiders who had lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last month before embarking on their current run of five straight victories in all competitions. These Premiership giants declined to throw in the kids like some of their colleagues, but two big squads were shuffled and the respective managers would say not weakened for this third round tie. Liverpool brought in Pegguy Arphexad for his debut in goal, while Stephane Henchoz, Jamie Carragher and Djimi Traore all got a start. Chelsea gave Yugoslav star Slavisa Jokanovic his first start, with youngster John Terry getting a run-out. Liverpool opted to play with just Robbie Fowler up front and considerable inter-changing amongst Patrik Berger, Nick Barmby and Danny Murphy. Chelsea were equally mobile with Gianfranco Zola in a free role. At times the whole thing was hugely congested in midfield, but Liverpool had the edge with some highly competitive tackling and it took Chelsea a long time to get to grips with that element of the game, but when they did the match developed into a very entertaining affair. Liverpool's strength in the tackle was instrumental in them taking an 11th minute lead. Berger won possession, and although his forward pass was cut out, Dietmar Hamann reclaimed the ball and with a superb 30 yard pass, found Murphy clear on the left. The midfielder took two strides and lashed a low drive just inside the far post, leaving Ed de Goey well beaten. It was almost two on 18 minutes when Murphy, Vladimir Smicer and Barmby combined to create a clear opening for Berger, but from a range that he usually likes, the Czech's 15 yard drive swerved the wrong side of a post. But Chelsea found themselves level with their first chance of the match on 28 minutes. Celestine Babayaro was played in behind Carragher on the left, and his fine cross found Zola unmarked in the six yard box, and he rose to plant a firm header past Arphexad. Fowler, still searching for that elusive first goal of the season, had a couple of chances before the break. Liverpool hit back three minutes after Chelsea's goal when Barmby's ball found Smicer, the Czech's fierce shot across goal just eluding Fowler on the far post. Another Liverpool break saw Barmby and Murphy set up Fowler for an effort, an angled drive that flashed inches wide of the far post. Chelsea acquired a much higher level of possession after their goal, Zola's runs causing considerable problems in a game that developed into one of a very high standard of technique. Fowler could have recaptured the lead two minutes after the break when Smicer's clever turn and chip in the box sent the ball into the six yard area where Fowler only managed a clipped header straight into de Goey's arms. Where the first half had been clever, neat and skilled, the second had far more spite about it. Tackles got wilder, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Babayaro far from happy about late lunges by Hamann and Carragher. Former Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen came on for Babayaro after 64 minutes as Chelsea switched from a five to a four man defence in an attempt to break the deadlock. It almost came 60 seconds later when Zola twisted away from his marker and spun a delicate chip into the area for Hasselbaink to strike on the volley just wide of Arphexad's left hand upright. Hasselbaink sent a 25 yard free-kick wide of a post, and Berger scuffed a long range effort wide. But it was Fowler who almost put Liverpool ahead and broke his own duck on 76 minutes with a shot that smacked against the foot of a post from a fine Murphy pass. By now Emile Heskey was on in place of Smicer and both Traore and Jokanovic had been booked as the tackles got wilder. The big guns continued to role into the action, Gusatavo Poyet for Tore Andre Flo and Christian Ziege for Traore as both sides battled to avoid extra-time. Berger, then Carragher, from long range rattled in shots, but the target remained elusive, and even after a generous four minutes of added time, an extra 30 minutes could not be avoided. Extra time saw Murphy soon booked, and Gary McAllister replacing Barmby. Heskey was next in the book for a late tackle on Mario Melchiot that infuriated a posse of Chelsea players. Liverpool got their noses back in front on 113 minutes. Berger's astute pass into the box was collected by Fowler, and this time his low shot found the net before he was buried under a mass of delighted colleagues. Fowler even went to shake hands with the coaches on the bench, so pleased was he with his goal. But the incident with Heskey was still to come, and after he had left the field Liverpool were forced to defend desperately to hang onto their victory.