Source: Liverpool_Echo
From kings to clowns - Liverpool FC's most embarrassing Cup exits
LIVERPOOL'S Carling Cup defeat to Northampton Town ranks as one of the most embarrassing in the club's history - here we look back at some of those occasions when the Reds have not exactly covered themselves in glory.[LNB]15 Jan 1959 - FA Cup 3rd round, Worcester City 2 Liverpool 1[LNB] The Reds only ever Cup exit to a non-league side and arguably the most embarrassing in the club's history.[LNB] Phil Taylor's second division side had finished fourth and third (twice) in their attempts to recover top flight status since relegation in 1954 but were still expected to be able to comfortably negotiate their way past their part-time opponents.[LNB]A spell of bitterly cold weather forced the postponement of the initial tie but 15,000 fans still crammed into St George's Lane for the biggest game in Worcester's history, with a temporary press box being erected on girders above the ground's old main stand.[LNB]The harsh winter meant the pitch was largely a mixture of sand and salt with very little grass visible and Liverpool, who left out legendary striker Billy Liddell, were up against it from the kick off.[LNB]Worcester, led inspirationally by Roy Paul who had lifted the FA Cup at Wembley for Manchester City against Birmingham three years previously, tore into their illustrious opponents and took the lead after just ten minutes through 18-year-old striker Tommy Skuse.[LNB]The Reds, whose side boasted names such as Ronnie Moran, Alan A'Court and Jimmy Melia, struggled to impose their supposed superiority on the game and after Worcester keeper Kirkwood managed to keep out the handful of opportunities which were mustered, the home side doubled their advantage eight minutes from time when Liverpool centre half Dick White could only divert Harry Knowles cross beyond his own goalkeeper Tommy Younger.[LNB]Geoff Twentyman ensured an anxious finish for the home support when he reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Freddie Morris had been fouled but Worcester held on for a famous victory.[LNB]Reds boss Taylor said after the game, "Worcester deserved to win.[LNB]"They outfought us on a pitch that may have reduced the odds against them, but was still as good a playing surface as you can get in England right now.[LNB]"We lost because our forwards refused to fight.'[LNB]Liverpool were left to reflect on the worst possible start to 1959 - a year that will live forever in Anfield folklore following the arrival of Bill Shankly eleven months after that infamous day in the West Country.[LNB]21 February 1970 - FA Cup sixth round, Watford 1 Liverpool 0[LNB] Having gone four years without trophy, FA Cup quarter-final defeat to second division Watford is widely regarded as having heralded the break-up of Bill Shankly's first great Liverpool side.[LNB]Young blood like Emlyn Hughes and Alun Evans had already made their first-team breakthrough but the sands of time were beginning to run out of the core of the side which had swept all before them in the mid-1960s, with the likes of Tommy Lawrence, Ron Yeats and Ian St John soon finding themselves surplus to requirements at Anfield following defeat at Vicarage Road.[LNB]Barry Endean's second half header consigned the Reds to another year without a trophy as Mersey neighbours Everton swept towards the league title that year and persuaded Bill Shankly that he needed to blood more youngsters in his team, with Ray Clemence, John Toshack, Larry Lloyd and Kevin Keegan all signing in at Anfield over the course of the next twelve months.
