The 2000-01 season was one productive campaign for Liverpool in terms of trophies. Although they finished a respective third on the Premier League log that season, they went on to win League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League. And this was the day, back in 2001, they won their first honour: League Cup: of their aforementioned three by defeating a certain Trevor Francis managed Birmingham City. The Reds booked their place in the final by defeating Crystal Palace 6-2 on aggregate. Birmingham City, on the other hand, got the better of Ipswich Town by 4-2 on aggregate. Just in, both Liverpool and Birmingham lost their first leg against their respective opponents.
Liverpool were appearing in their eighth final and had already won five (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995) and lost two (1978, 1987). While for Birmingham, it was their second ever appearance in the final.
Liverpool got off to a flyer as their striker and captain Robbie Fowler found the net by the stroke of half an hour with a vicious left-footed volley. As the game approached its final minutes, Liverpool thought the game was won but little did they know that Sami Hyypiä’s tackle was giving Birmingham a penalty right at the end of the fixture. Centre-back Darren Purse converted from the spot and the game eventually headed towards the penalty shoot-out. The Reds scored in their first three attempts, while Birmingham missed their first and Liverpool finally emerged victorious by 5–4, claiming their first honour of the treble season.
