Liverpool: James, McAteer, Harkness, Wright, Matteo
(Babb 45), Bjornebye, Barnes, Redknapp, McManaman, Berger
(Collymore 59), Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Ruddock, Thomas.
Goals: Fowler 26 pen, 77, Collymore 60.
SK Brann: Bahus, Eltevaag, Helland, Skjaelaaen (Johannessen 86),
Hasund (Guntveit 66), Flo, Ludvigsen, Pedersen, Mjelde, Paldan,
Moen.
Subs Not Used: Hollund, Tenden, Gylfason.
Agg (4-1)
Att: 40,326
By Simon Mullock, PA Sport
Stan Collymore calmed Liverpool's European nerves with the strike that killed off the plucky Norwegians of Brann -- and sent out a "sell me if you dare" message to Anfield boss Roy Evans. Speculation is rife that Liverpool are about to cut their losses by off-loading the £7million striker, with Aston Villa boss Brian Little and his Wolves counterpart Mark McGhee declared admirers of Midlands-based Collymore. Both were in the crowd tonight to see Collymore secure Liverpool's ticket into the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup with the vital second goal in the 62nd minute, just 120 seconds after entering the fray as a substitute. And with the transfer deadline looming, his stunning contribution was surely enough to convince boss Evans that Stan is still the Man as Liverpool maintain their chase for honours on both the domestic and continental fronts.
Robbie Fowler, whose partnership with Collymore produced 55 goals last season, netted twice to take his tally over the two legs to three as Liverpool joined Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Fiorentina in an intriguing last-four draw that will take place in Geneva tomorrow. The hard work had, of course been done with the 1-1 fist leg draw in Liverpool, but it was shades of the Liverpool side that picked up seven European trophies during the 1970s and 80s as the Reds slipped straight into their slick, short-passing game.
The Merseysiders did have one early scare when Morten Pedersen sped past Jason McAteer and Steve McManaman down the left before whipping in a cross that arced between Mark Wright and Stig Inge Bjornebye only for Eirik Skjaelaan to direct his header woefully wide from 10 yards. But with Jamie Redknapp spraying accurate passes to all corners of the field and McManaman running riot from deep, the home side soon took charge. McManaman warmed Vidar Bahus' hands with a 20-yard drive that brought the Brann keeper to his knees and Per Ove Ludvigsen was lucky that Italian referee Alredo Trentalange didn't spot him handle Redknapp's pass into the box.
Fowler then shrugged off the shackles of Skjaelaan to slice the perfect pass through the visitors' square defence for Patrik Berger only for the Czech international to run out of pitch after being forced wide by Bahus. Berger suffered again when McAteer galloped clear down the right before swinging over a cross that looked meat and drink to the pony-tailed striker but he missed his kick five yards out. But Liverpool have long known that patience is the most valuable virtue in Europe and their persistence was finally rewarded in the 26th minute. John Barnes prised open the Norwegians with a toe-poked pass to Fowler and the striker's first touch took him past Claus Eftevaag only for the visitors' skipper to send him tumbling with a horribly mistimed lunge. Referee Trentalange was perfectly placed to award the penalty and Fowler dusted himself down to send Bahus the wrong way from the spot.
Barnes almost added a second moments later, only to see his flick from Redknapp's inswinging free-kick drop into Bahus' grateful arms. Brann, sensing that the tie would be beyond them before half-time, managed to stem the Red tide well though -- and as the first period came to an end it was Liverpool who were on the defensive with Tore Andrč Flo leading the line to great effect. And they could even have been level when David James' weak punch fell to Skjaelaan 16 yards out but the midfielder wasted a second chance to silence Anfield by slicing wide.
Liverpool were forced into a change at half-time when Phil Babb replaced the injured Dominic Matteo, and the defender's first duty was to block a drive by Mons Ivar Mjelde after miskicking straight to the Brann attacker. And although McManaman responded with a powerful run and low drive that was tipped behind by Bahus, the Anfield crowd began to get restless as the visitors continued to give as good as they got.
The frustrated Kop even began to demand the introduction of Collymore, but Berger almost relieved the tension with a skidding drive that flashed a fraction wide. That was Berger's final contribution, with Collymore coming on for the Czech on the hour -- and within two minutes he had done the trick. He fed off Barnes' short pass some 40 yards out and powered through the middle beyond as posse of defenders. Ludvigsen attempted to halt his progress, but the ball ricocheted off Collymore's shins and bobbled beyond Bahus for his 14th goal of a roller-coaster season.
The Norwegians, not surprisingly since this was only their second competitive game in three months with their domestic league in winter hibernation, visibly began to wilt. Fowler completed their night of misery by sweeping home his sixth goal in four games and 28th of another highly-productive season 12 minutes from time after Bjornebye had eased the ball into his path from the flank.
Roy Evans faced up to the challenge of a European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final against one of the continent's big guns and insisted he was happy to put Liverpool's last four fate in the hands of Lady Luck. Robbie Fowler struck twice lifting his shirt above his head, Fabrizio Ravanelli-style, to reveal a message in support of the striking Liverpool dockers and Stan Collymore also found the target as the Reds secured a second leg 3-0 win over the Norwegians of SK Brann to secure a 4-1 aggregate success. And with Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Fiorentina also through to the semi-finals, the Merseysiders will have to plot a path past top-quality opposition if they are to keep alive their dream of securing the one European trophy that has eluded them.
Evans admitted he could expect no favours from the luck of the draw, saying: "We have no choices about who we want to face. "At this stage of the competition you get no easy fixtures and, to be fair, the teams we have played so far have all given us hard games. "There's no doubt that we will have to play at the best of our ability regardless of who we play, but we have done that all the way through to the semi-finals anyway."
Fowler's whose glorious goal in Bergen secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg a fortnight ago, once again proved the scourge of the Norwegians. He slotted home a 26th-minute penalty after being floored by Claus Eftevaag and then completed the scoring 12 minutes from time after Collymore had settled the jangling nerves of the Anfield crowd by hitting the net two minutes after joining the fray on the hour. It took Fowler's tally to six in four matches and 28 for the season, and he wheeled away in front of the Kop to reveal a tee-shirt that read:'Support the Liverpool Dockers'. It was a reference to the long-running industrial dispute at the local docks and Fowler said: "Macca (Steve McManaman) asked me to wear it and he had one on as well."
There was certainly nothing wrong with Fowler's striking or that of Collymore, whose roller-coaster season has fuelled rumours that Evans was ready to cut his losses on the £8.5million ace. Aston Villa boss Brian Little and his Wolves counterpart Mark McGhee have both declared themselves admirers of the midlands-based striker and both were interested spectators as Collymore bagged his 14th goal of the season. But Evans said: "We needed that second goal because one is never enough - and Stan got it. "I heard the crowd calling for him, but I had already decided to bring him on for Patrik Berger great minds think alike! "He had a bit of luck with it, but he deserved it for the way he went at them and fortune favours the brave." Evans added: "There is no pressure to sell anyone at this stage of the season. It is a squad game. Stan knows that and tonight he played his part."
Brann coach Kjell Tennfjord refused to back Liverpool to lift the trophy but insisted that his men were beaten by the best team in England. He said: "Liverpool are in the semi-final, so of course they have a good chance of winning the Cup. "I don't know if they will win it but I think they are the best team in England, certainly better than Manchester United." And Tennfjord added: "We got tired, but that was to be expected because we are in pre-season in Norway. "Maybe if we come to Liverpool in six months' time we will see if we are a better match for them. "I was happy with the performance, but not the result because I never like losing."