Sheffield United dumps Liverpool 2-1

Sheffield:

Michael Tonge's two goals in the span of seven minutes gave Sheffield United a 2-1 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday over Liverpool in the first-leg semifinals of the English League Cup. Tonge, with Liverpool leading as Neil Mellor scored his first senior goal in the 35th minute, struck in the 76th just as the match seemed in the hands of the Premier League side. Tonge, who is being watched by Liverpool and other top English teams as a prospect, got his second in the 82nd as he scored from just outside the penalty area. The loss to the first-division Blades is sure to put even more pressure on Liverpool's French manager Gerard Houllier, who has watched his side go winless in 10 straight Premier League games. Houllier benched his top two strikers Michael Owen and Emile Heskey and started Mellor, Vladimir Smicer and Salif Diao up front. The move seemed to pan out when Mellor found the back of the net off a free kick, heading in a ball from point-blank range and justifying his start at striker in place of slumping Owen and Heskey. Heskey and Owen both came on as second-half substitutes. The two teams will play the second leg on January 21 at Anfield. Premier League sides Blackburn and Manchester United, who drew 1-1 on Tuesday in their first-leg game, meet again on January 22. (AP)