Liverpool thrashed

Jamie Redknapp was sent off as shell-shocked Liverpool crashed to their biggest defeat for more than 16 years.

They were losing 3-1 when the midfield player was given him marching orders for his second bookable offence in the 68th minute.

By that time Coventry were well on the way to victory and they made sure of their first win in 12 matches with two goals from new signing Mick Quinn who took his total to eight in five games since he joined them from Newcastle.

Liverpool, who had dominated for more than an hour, were left reeling. They were in complete control of the first half yet went 1-0 down through a penalty conceded by the unfortunate Redknapp.

He pushed over Lee Hurst after 37 minutes as they chased a Robert Rosario through pass. Referee Kelvin Morton pointed to the spot and old Evertonian Brian Borrows fired home from the spot kick.

Borrows made it 2-0 against the run of play in the 54th minute. Quinn was obstructed on the edge of the area and Kevin Gallacher knocked the ball sideways for Borrows to rocket home a shot from 25 yards.

Liverpool went 3-0 down when Rosario knocked the ball through and Gallacher squeezed it past the advancing Mike Hooper.

Redknapp, who had been booked in the 42nd minute, atoned for his earlier mistake when he shot home a 64th minute free-kick. But four minutes later he crudely hacked down Gallacher and was shown the red card by referee Morton.

Coventry went to town; Quinn headed home from Kenny Sansom's cross in the 71st minute and three minutes later he did it again, this time from Robert Rosario's knock-back into the goalmouth following a deep cross from John Williams.

The defeat equals Liverpool's worst since December 15, 1976 when they lost 5-1 at Aston Villa.
Two of the Coventry scorers had special reason to be delighted - Borrows started his career at Goodison while Quinn is Liverpool born and a fan of the Reds all his life.

Borrows said: "We've had some whackings from Liverpool so it's nice to put one over them. As an Everton fan it's superb for me."

Quinn had a coachload of family and friends at the match. "I am in a rich vein at present and I hope it lasts. I would have loved to have played for Liverpool but it was not to be. Scoring against them is the next best thing I suppose."

It was Coventry chairman Peter Robins' 50th birthday and cases of champagne were shipped into Coventry's dressing room. Manager Bobby Gould said: "We have been playing exciting football in recent weeks and the lads have been on the verge of a result like that for some time."

Graeme Souness, Liverpool's manager, complained that Bury St Edmunds referee Kelvin Morton treated them harshly in awarding the penalty, the Borrows free-kick and in sending off Redknapp. But he conceded: "By Liverpool's standards we were very, very poor."

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