Next hurdle won't be so easy

It is sometimes difficult to remember that Vale Park was once dubbed the Wembley of the North. Old-timers from these parts wistfully recall that the ground was built in the inner sanctum of Burslem to rival the Twin Towers as a national stadium.

Yesterday, however, the wide spaces and vast playing surface served only to contribute to Port Vale's downfall as Liverpool's superior passing game emphatically exposed the gulf in status between Premiership and First Division basement to secure a comfortable passage into the fourth round.

But getting into the fifth round will be more problematic as Liverpool must overcome the challenge of Manchester United after being pitted against their arch rivals in a cruel twist of fate which took the gloss off their victory.

"It will be a tough game. We know of their pedigree but if want to win the competition we will have to beat these teams at some stage, so why not now?" said Liverpool's manager Gerard Houllier.

With Vale Park resembling a building site, Liverpool were forced to overcome the culture shock of using a Portakabin as a dressing-room because of a £4 million redevelopment of the stadium's Lorne Street stand.

The reputation of John Rudge's mischief-makers made for grim reading for the visitors beforehand. Since Terry Venables watched his Tottenham side sink without trace in Vale Park's ankle-deep mud in 1988, several teams including Everton, Leeds and Liverpool themselves had undergone harrowing examinations at the hands of the Potteries' hoi polloi.

Only last season Arsenal got the greatest scare of their ultimately successful Double campaign when they were held to a goal-less draw by Vale at Highbury before winning the replay courtesy of the final kick of a penalty shoot-out.

In the build-up to another potential banana skin, Houllier had wisely sought the advice of his fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, for the lowdown on Vale's posse of journeymen and up-and-coming hopefuls.

It was a wise move by Houllier. Liverpool wasted no time in taking a firm grip on affairs, with Jamie Redknapp and Patrik Berger dictating the midfield play.

Berger's vision created the first opportunity, the Czech shrugging off Brian McGlinchey's attentions before sending a raking pass from inside his own half to send Michael Owen scampering clear. In a flash the England striker had evaded the home defence, but Vale's goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington was equally alert.

The visitors continued to dictate the pattern of the game and it was no surprise when Owen, whose father Terry is a former Vale player, gave Liverpool a 34th-minute lead from the penalty spot.

Jason McAteer released Owen who, after skipping past Paul Beesley's initial challenge, was flattened by the considerable frame of Dave Barnett, the referee Rob Harris pointing to the penalty spot for a decision reminiscent of the penalty Owen won for England during the World Cup game against Argentina.

Owen picked himself up to dispatch the kick low to Kevin Pilkington's right and in so doing created a club record for scoring on his debut in every senior competition.

Four minutes later Liverpool scored their second. Berger's free-kick was headed across goal by Phil Babb and Paul Ince pounced from close range with a glancing header.

It was apparent that Vale's only hope was to reduce the arrears soon after the interval. Tony Naylor was afforded that opportunity when he was sent clear by Allen Tankard's exquisite through-ball but the striker was denied at the last moment by Babb's saving tackle.

In a desperate attempt to salvage at least a draw, Rudge shuffled his pack midway through the second half. But increasing his attacking options by introducing a third striker served only to give Liverpool greater space to exploit.

Robbie Fowler, a 61st-minute substitute for Karlheinz Riedle, struck the side netting on two occasions before he settled the tie in the dying seconds with a powerful left-foot drive after the irrepressible Owen had flummoxed Michael Walsh on the left flank.

Port Vale: Pilkington, Walsh, Tankard, Beesley (Horlaville 70), Barnett, Aspin, Brisco (O'Callaghan 87), Bogie, Beadle, Naylor, McGlinchey (Corden 84). Subs Not Used: Musselwhite, Snijders. Booked: Beesley, McGlinchey, Barnett, Brisco.

Liverpool: James, McAteer, Staunton, Babb, Owen, Redknapp, Riedle (Fowler 61), Berger, Ince, Bjornebye (Harkness 70), Carragher. Subs Not Used: Kvarme, Friedel, Thompson. Booked: Riedle. Goals: Owen 34 pen, Ince 38, Fowler 90.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).