Robbie Earle earned Wimbledon a replay at Selhurst Park with a goal six minutes from the end of this Coca-Cola Cup fourth round clash. And it was no more than the Londoners deserved - in fact, Joe Kinnear's side dominated Liverpool and created enough chances to have won comfortably.
Liverpool's only shot on target all night was Jan Molby's 15th minute penalty after John Scales had upended Ian Rush in the area following a quick one-two between the Welsh international striker and John Barnes. Molby sent Wimbledon goalkeeper Hans Segers the wrong way from the spot to put the home side ahead - but from then on it was one-way traffic.
Wimbledon should have been level within eight minutes but Mossley referee Roger Dilkes infuriated the Wimbledon players and travelling supporters by disallowing John Fashanu's header. Earle had headed down in the area and, although Fashanu mistimed his first header, he sent his second beyond Bruce Grobbelaar for what looked a perfectly good goal.
Warren Barton had a shot saved by Grobbelaar moments later and a slip by Neil Ruddock allowed Dean Holdsworth to pick out Fashanu eight yards out. This time, the tall striker got his legs in a tangle and only managed to prod a shot wide.
Then there were Wimbledon appeals for a penalty when Ruddock and Fashanu collided but again the visitors were disappointed.
Fashanu limped out of the action two minutes into the second half to be replaced by Andy Clarke and he quickly took up the gauntlet to continue the assault on rocky Liverpool.
Earle had a header saved in the 53rd minute and then a Grobbelaar mis-kick let in Clarke - only for Mark Wright to spare his goalkeeper's blushes with a last-ditch block. Dean Holdsworth shot straight at Grobbelaar before it was Ruddock's turn to save the day. Clarke burst into the area, prodded the ball under Grobbelaar's dive and looked certain to equalise when Ruddock suddenly intervened to protect his team's advantage.
When Earle headed a Vinny Jones cross straight at Grobbelaar from just six yards in the 75th minute it looked as if Liverpool were going to steal through to the quarter-finals.
A minute later Jones was the provider again but Holdsworth headed wide as Anfield began to vent its frustration against the home team.
And that increased after Earle equalised in the 84th minute. This time he made no mistake as Brian McAllister centred and the former Port Vale midfielder glanced the ball beyond Grobbelaar's dive.
Liverpool fans booed the side off the pitch at the end while Wimbledon's supporters taunted them with "what's it like to be outclassed?"
Joe Kinnear summed up Wimbledon's dominance when he said: "It would have been an injustice if we had been beaten."
Kinnear said: "I don't recall Liverpool having a shot on target apart from the penalty. We created plenty of chances and we were the better team and the Liverpool fans realised that. It's not often you get an ovation from the Kop like that but our football deserved it. We got three here last year and three the year before and we could have had three more tonight but the referee didn't give us too many favours."
Kinnear added: "Fashanu told me that Grobbelaar missed it completely and that the pair of them did not make contact."
It certainly looked a perfectly good goal but luck certainly favoured Liverpool on the night.
Anfield manager Graeme Souness was amazed by his team's dismal display, especially coming after the thrilling win over Aston Villa at Anfield.
He said: "I'm dumbfounded. I can't understand how we can play so well three days ago and then put on a performance like that. I wish I had an explanation for the fans. Wimbledon make it difficult but we were at home and it was up to us to make the running."
"We got a penalty early on and you would have expected us to go on from that but it was a very disappointing display."
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