Wembley (England), Apr 14: Written off as Liverpool's most expensive flop, record signing Andy Carroll is finally starting to deliver and his team has an FA Cup appearance to show for it.
For the first time since arriving 15 months ago for 35 million pounds (then $56 million), the striker has scored in consecutive games.
An 87th-minute header completed a comeback against Everton and clinched a 2-1 victory that kept the League Cup winners on course for a cup double.
"It's the best feeling ever," Carroll said. "I've had some criticism but I've just kept on going. I get the winner here and it's a great feeling. I believe in myself every day."
But the Wembley winner was only Carroll's tenth goal in 51 Liverpool appearances, dismal form that has been a key factor in his side's Premier League struggles.
Saturday was also fruitful for another divisive striker. Carlos Tevez scored a hat trick in the Premier League as Manchester City thrashed Norwich 6-1 to keep the heat on Manchester United in the title race.
But with the leaders not in action until Sunday, the spotlight on Saturday was on the FA Cup and whether Liverpool would be affected by the sudden firing of director of football Damien Comolli two days before the semifinal.
Comolli paid the price for a wretched league campaign despite presiding over the spending of more than $180 million on players in a little more than a year.
The most expensive player was Carroll, who also netted the league winner at Blackburn on Tuesday night.
But against Everton, the England international hesitated with the goal in his sight after just three minutes, instead teeing up Jay Spearing, who swept the ball over.
With both Liverpool goalkeepers Alexander Doni and Pepe Reina suspended, Brad Jones had to make his first start of the season. While the Australian was picking the ball out of his goal after 23 minutes, his dithering defenders were at fault.
Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger both hesitated as the ball landed between them, and Carragher's eventual attempted clearance rebounded off Tim Cahill. The ball fell at the feet of Nikica Jelavic, who shot under Jones.
Despite dominating the game, Steven Gerrard's long-range strike was the closest Liverpool got to an equalizer but Carroll squandered a golden opening at the start of the second half.
An inviting cross from the right presented Carroll with a free header but he flicked it wide before pulling his shirt over his head in frustration.
Everton responded to its opener by also gifting Liverpool an equalizer. Sylvain Distin's attempt to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Tim Howard was far too weak and Luis Suarez nipped in to seize possession and score.
And in the 87th minute, Carroll rose above Marouane Fellaini to meet Craig Bellamy's free kick and send the ball into the net with the back of his head.
"I had a few chances and should have probably scored earlier," the former Newcastle player said. "But I kept at it and it was a great ball in by Craig, and I just had to score with that one and I did."
While Liverpool is below Everton in eighth in the Premier League, the title race is still on between the Manchester rivals.
City is two points behind United ahead of its neighbor's match against Aston Villa. But City's players will be wondering where they might be had Tevez not gone to Argentina on an unsanctioned six-month break.
In only his second start since returning, the striker stunned Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy with a swerving strike from the right edge of the area to open the scoring in the 18th, and then set up Sergio Aguero with a playful backheel pass for the second goal in the 27th.
Tevez and Aguero added their second goals in a two-minute span in the second half before Tevez completed his hat trick by slotting the ball into an empty net in the 80th.
Aguero was denied his own hat trick when he hit the post in injury time, but Adam Johnson added the sixth moments later.
