TORRES BACK WITH A GOAL AS REDS PROGRESS Goals from Albert Riera and the returning Fernando Torres saw Liverpool book their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 victory in Preston. Riera hit an unstoppable drive midway through the first half before substitute Torres tapped in from close range with seconds to go to ensure the Cup shocks suffered by Manchester City, Chelsea and Stoke earlier in the day were not repeated in Lancashire.
Equally as pleasing was the return to footballing matters of Steven Gerrard, who set up El Nino to renew their prolific partnership after the Spaniard's hamstring injury.
Rafael Benitez's selection reflected both the strength of the opposition (Preston are just outside the Championship play-off positions) and the importance of the FA Cup to Liverpool's season after two years without a trophy.
Of the 11 who started, just two could be described as fringe players: Dutch winger Ryan Babel and second choice goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri.
It took 13 minutes for Liverpool's class to show when Riera twisted past two defenders before cutting back to Robbie Keane, who skewed his shot wide.
Seconds later a right-foot drive from Steven Gerrard was fumbled by Andy Lonergan, but the Preston goalkeeper recovered before any of those in red could capitalise.
The visitors were not having it all their own way, mind. Midfielder Richard Chaplow, who starred for Burnley when they knocked Liverpool out of the Cup in 2005, made Cavalieri work from range on 22 minutes. Moments later Wallace drove down the left before curling into the grateful palms of our Brazilian goalkeeper.
The travelling Reds were keeping themselves busy with chants of Shankly, Shankly. The legendary Liverpool manager did enough in his time as a Preston player to have a stand named in his honour; one fittingly given over to the visiting supporters for this third round tie, and one which was about to erupt.
Few in the Shankly Kop were holding their breath on 25 minutes when Riera collected possession on the right-hand side of Preston's box. But the Spain international quickly manoeuvred the ball onto his left foot before tricking his way into a yard of space and smashing beyond the helpless Lonergan.
It would have been two on 40 minutes but for a superb save from Lonergan when Keane weaved his way into a scoring position on the edge of the six-yard box.
Five minutes later Keane again had his head in his hands when Gerrard put a goal on a plate with a fine cross to the back post. A volley was the Irishman's only option but his connection was poor and the ball whacked the hoardings.
Perhaps it affected his confidence. Seconds before half-time Keane was again presented with a golden opportunity to double Liverpool's lead. But, with the goal at his mercy, the striker instead chose to cut back to Riera, whose shot was bravely blocked.
The enforced change of Lucas for Xabi Alonso didn't stop the Reds picking up where they left off when the second half got underway, with Gerrard sending in a devilish ball to Keane, whose shot was deflected out of play. Agger headed wide from the subsequent corner.
It was turning into a busy afternoon for Lonergan, whose acrobatic save denied the excellent Gerrard from 20 yards.
All these chances were doubtless whetting the appetite of Torres, sitting on the Reds bench after seven games out with a hamstring tear.
Preston were creating little in return, though they did have the ball in the back of the net through substitute Stephen Elliott midway inside the second period. Sadly for Alan Irvine's men, Jon 'The Beast' Parkin had been bear-hugging Jamie Carragher for the previous 10 seconds at least.
Still, it roused the hosts, who proceeded to bully and harass Liverpool for the next 10 minutes. A let off arrived when a teasing ball across the face of Cavalieri's goal reached Sean St Ledger, but the centre-back couldn't connect with sufficient bite. Time for Torres.
It seemed El Nino would have just one run and shot to show for his 15 minutes on the pitch until Gerrard burst clear in injury time before unselfishly passing to his old mate, who tucked into an empty net.
Please note that due to FA rules, we are unable to show highlights of the game on Liverpoolfc.tv until midnight on Sunday night. Teams Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Hyypia, Agger, Carragher, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Gerrard (captain), Keane. Subs - Skrtel, Torres, El Zhar, Ngog, Leiva, Aurelio, Reina
Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, St Ledger, Jones, Wallace, McKenna (captain), Chaplow, Sedgwick, Parkin, Mellor. Subs - Nolan, Brown, Carter, Whaley, Nicholson, Elliott, Neal
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Conditions: Freezing
Attendance: 23,046
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Daniel Agger
Breakdown 17:27 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool get the tie underway at Deepdale
1 min : Parkin turns in the area but is flagged offside as he turns and shoots for goal
3 mins : Jones crosses from the right for Preston but Cavalieri is able to watch the ball drift wide
5 mins : Agger concedes a free kick 30 yards from goal in a central position
5 mins : Wallace takes the kick and forces Cavalieri into a save. Corner to Preston
6 mins : Mawene wins the ball in the air from the corner but directs it off target
10 mins : Liverpool have their first spell of pressure but Preston defend resolutely
12 mins : Riera does well on the left and crosses for Keane but the Irishman can't get a shot on target from a good area
13 mins : Gerrard turns and shoots at goal but Lonergan is well placed to stop the effort from the skipper
17 mins : Alonso bends in a dangerous looking cross which St Leger heads clear
21 mins : Chaplow strikes for goal but it's an easy stop for Cavalieri
23 mins : Good run from Gerrard wins Liverpool their first corner of the match
25 mins : GOAL! Albert Riera: Riera fires a brilliant shot into the roof of the net to break the deadlock
31 mins : Babel has a great chance to double the lead but totally mis-kicks in front of goal. We're in total control now
34 mins : First Booking: Richard Chaplow:
36 mins : Agger tries his luck and wins a corner as his shot is deflected behind
38 mins : Perfect pass from Alonso to find Keane, but Lonergan makes a smart stop as Keane tries to clip the ball over him
43 mins : Carragher thinks he should have a corner and is furious as the referee instead awards a goal kick
44 mins : Keane somehow shoots wide in front of goal after a great cross from Gerrard. Should be 2-0
18:13 GMT : Half Time Reached
18:28 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Substitution: Lucas Leiva for Xabi Alonso:
46 mins : Early free kick for Preston on the left - but it comes to nothing
47 mins : Another chance goes begging as Agger heads wide from Gerrard's corner into the area
49 mins : Gerrard wins a corner off St Ledger - second half continuing in same pattern as first period
50 mins : No news on Alonso's injury - but he limped off gingerly at end of first period
51 mins : Preston threaten as Parkin and St Ledger combine but Cavalieri is out quickly to collect
55 mins : Substitution: Eddie Nolan for Callum Davidson:
56 mins : Liverpool win a free kick in centre of the field which leads to Mascherano smashing a shot just over
58 mins : Gerrard is in space but Lonergan holds onto his long range drive
59 mins : Better stop from Longeran to keep out the skipper this time - but it's another corner
61 mins : Riera drives a low cross into the danger zone but can't find a red shirt
61 mins : Substitution: Stephen Elliott for Neil Mellor:
64 mins : St Ledger has the ball in the net but the goal is ruled out for a foul in the box
65 mins : Babel crosses from the right to Gerrard who directs a header wide
65 mins : Billy Jones is well off target with an ambitious drive from distance
67 mins : Wallace wins a corner as Preston look for an equaliser
69 mins : Best spell of the game for Preston - can our defence hold firm?
72 mins : Substitution: Fernando Torres for Robbie Keane:
75 mins : Great chance for St Ledger who misses in front of goal after a Wallace free kick
75 mins : Torres gets his first touch and turns superbly before blasting wide
80 mins : Substitution: Barry Nicholson for Richard Chaplow:
80 mins : We're ten minutes away from a place in the fourth round
81 mins : Substitution: Fabio Aurelio for Javier Mascherano:
86 mins : Lonergan makes another stop from another Gerrard shot
90 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Gerrard charges forward and squares for Torres to slot the ball home
19:19 GMT : Match Over
Info and Credit by : www.liverpoolfc.net |
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