The BURKS

Ian Rush entered football's hall of fame today by creating an FA Cup scoring record.

Liverpool's legendary striker set a new target of 42 goals in the competition by coming off the bench and getting the fifth against Rochdale.

That 61st minute strike, three minutes after he replaced Rob Jones, overtook the previous best by former Manchester United and Scotland star Denis Law. It was a day of personal triumph not only for Rush but also for strike partner Stan Collymore on a day when third division Rochdale were outclassed.

The £8.5million British record signing chalked up his first hat-trick in Liverpool colours after his summer switch from Nottingham Forest.

Collymore struck twice in the first half to kill off Rochdale after Robbie Fowler had opened the scoring.

Peter Valentine put through his own goal before Rush celebrated and Collymore completed his hat-trick

Rush's goal against Rochdale was a typical example of his craft. Fowler released him in the box and the Welsh international took the chance in an instant, giving keeper Chris Clarke no chance.

It took Liverpool 21 minutes to open the scoring with Fowler getting his 21st goal of the season after a flowing move involving Steve McManaman and Steve Harkness. It was Fowler's eighth goal in five games and it sparked Liverpool off.

Collymore added two more before half time, the first a shot into the corner after he was set up by Fowler.

He added a second a minute before half time to give Liverpool a comfortable lead at the break, heading home McManaman's cross.

Rochdale suffered a further setback three minutes after the break when Valentine steered a cross from Jason McAteer into his own net. Then came Rush's moment of glory as he grabbed the fifth.

It was just a question of how many Rochdale would concede and Collymore inflicted more misery on them in the 70th minute when he rounded keeper Clarke to get the sixth and his third.

McAteer completed the rout with five minutes to go, latching on to a pass from Thomas to score his first goal for the club after his £4.5 million move from Bolton earlier in the season.