Liverpool boss Graeme Souness missed a party at Anfield today as his side thrashed Spurs 6-2 in their most comprehensive victory of the season.
A bumper 43,000 crowd were treated to a footballing carnival that included Ian Rush's 300th League goal for the club, two goals from the Welshman and John Barnes, and a penalty save from goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.
Souness was literally and sent to Coventry as his club played what is expected to be the last match of his controversial two-year tenure in the Anfield hot-seat.
As Souness ran the rule over Coventry vs Leeds United, the Kop faithful at Anfield demonstrated their mixed feelings, some of them booing and others chanting his name.
Rush struck his milestone goal after 21 minutes, latching on to John Barnes' pass from the left to beat 'keeper Ian Walker with a right footed drive.
A minute from the break Mark Walters crossed from the right, Rush failed to connect, but Barnes stole in to head down past Walker for Liverpool's second.
Spurs pulled a goal back after 46 minutes, Teddy Sheringham capitalising on hesitancy in the Liverpool defence to steer a low, close-range shot past Grobbelaar, back in the first-team after his widely publicised bust-up with Souness.
But a minute later Liverpool restored their two goal cushion following a David Burrows corner when Steve Harkness appeared to miscue an attempted cross, catching Walker by surprise as the ball flew past him at the far post.
After 77 minutes Tottenham's Darren Anderton crossed for Steve Sedgley who held off Mark Wright's challenge to score.
Liverpool was leading 2-0 at half-time but and later 3-1. Spurs narrowed the margin to 3:2
But five minutes later Spurs substitute Stuart Nethercott pushed Rush over as he shaped to meet a cross and Walters scored from the penalty spot.
Then Jamie Redknapp made a fine interception just outside the Spurs box, forced his way to the line and crossed for Rush to score his 301st Liverpool goal five minutes from time.
In the 88th minute Walters crossed for Barnes to side-foot home on the volley and complete the scoring.
But more drama was to follow in injury time when Liverpool's Rob Jones was adjudged to have fouled Danny Hill to concede a penalty.
Sheringham took the kick but Grobbelaar, who had made two magnificent saves in the first-half to thwart Anderton and Gary Mabbutt, dived to block Sheringham's shot and his follow-up.
Liverpool's regular stand-in boss Ronnie Moran said: "We've had a lot of inexperience this year and a lot of injuries. I've got to admit it's been a bad season for Liverpool but we finished on the right note and there are good signs with some of the lads who came in during the season."
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