FA Cup - Liverpool scrape past Preston

Eurosport - Sun, 04 Jan 19:37:00 2009

Liverpool qualified for to the fourth round of the FA Cup after Albert Riera's spectacular first-half strike and a late Fernando Torres tap-in gave them a 2-0 win over Preston North End at Deepdale.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 FA Cup Liverpool Preston-Liverpool Riera - 0

Midway through the first half, Spaniard Riera curled a superb left-foot shot in to the top left corner after the hosts failed to clear a Xabi Alonso free-kick.

It was a spectacular goal worthy of winning any match, but Liverpool's failure to convert their easier chances almost allowed Preston to grab an equaliser.

Lone forward Robbie Keane was particularly wasteful in front of goal.

Despite his impressive work-rate, the Ireland striker scuffed three straightforward opportunities well wide, while Dan Agger and Steven Gerrard also missed good chances.

Andy Lonergan was also in inspired form for the hosts, saving well twice from Gerrard and from one of Keane's efforts.

Liverpool's profiligacy almost cost them dear, as Sean St Ledger saw an equaliser disallowed after a needless foul by Jon Parkin on Jamie Carragher.

St Ledger then fired straight at Diego Cavalieri from close range after a Paul McKenna free-kick.

Torres came on as a late sub after his injury lay-off and he added a gloss to the result with a breakway goal seconds before the full-time whistle after Gerrard gave him an open goal to tap into.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 141 - 160 of 160

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  1. Anyone abusing the Liverpool fans, are a bit­ short-sighted. Both myself and my son enjoyed a good­ drink with quite a few of them before the match, and­ what is more important, the only ejections from the­ ground, were a couple of mindless idiots, who werre­ purporting to be Preston fans. Good luck to Liverpool­ in the next round, But here's hoping Moyesies boys­ can do, what his old club couldn't.

    From ANDREW H, on Mon 5 Jan 8:10AM

  2. we obliterated newcastle but stumbled thru PNE. But a­ win still a win. Great to have torres back.­ Liverpool's no.9!

    From AsianFootie, on Mon 5 Jan 5:24AM

  3. As a PNE fan even I will agree that scraped is a bit­ harsh. However, "eased" is not right either.­ We didn't perform particularly well in the first­ half but then neither Liverpool's strikers (Keane­ in particular). In the last 30 mins though I felt we­ showed what we can do - it did, however, highlight our­ lack of a prolific striker (such as previous strikers­ Nugent, Fuller and (dare I say it) Macken).

    If only­ Carra's blatant foul on Parkin had been spotted by­ the Ref then it could have changed the whole course of­ the game. Likewise if only Parkin hadn't been­ stupid enough to try and be clever... It was only­ because PNE were getting desperate that Torres was­ given the opportunity to score.

    Fair play to­ Liverpool, you did what needed to be done but you are­ going to have to improve if you are going to go much­ further.

    As for PNE - Promotion here we come!

    From DaveM, on Sun 4 Jan 9:20PM

  4. RE Comment , Get out of the Dark Ages and wake up to­ reality you prat, that is the biggest load of @#$% i­ have heard in a long time.
    If you want to be thick and­ bitter then do it in your own time, of which you must­ have plenty with a billy no mates attitude like­ that.

    Go on the Reds...

    From stan, on Sun 4 Jan 6:02PM

  5. IAN C re comment 90 HOW RIGHT YOU ARE but you missed­ out scroungers

    From U R SOLES, on Sun 4 Jan 5:34PM

  6. JAMIEQURAI re comment 27 everything you said is true­ shame they dont have the guts to shop those that caused­ it

    From U R SOLES, on Sun 4 Jan 5:12PM

  7. IAN C that prat SLAPPERCOMMANDO would never even make­ it into the pioneers hes just a dreamer & a prat

    From U R SOLES, on Sun 4 Jan 4:50PM

  8. Teletext headlines on Sky sports (This is a sports­ channel run by sporting journo's) Liverpool ease to­ victory! Twice as many shots ..corners and almost 60%­ posession! Lets hope we scrape through every match like­ that! Blue noses...YOU ARE NEXT OUT OF THE CUP!

    From D, on Sun 4 Jan 3:50PM

  9. The Telegraph headline is "FA Cup: Liverpool­ cruise through to the next round against­ Preston"

    Scrape or Cruise?

    Which one?

    YNWA

    From ALI J, on Sun 4 Jan 3:16PM

  10. would gerrard av passed the ball if it was keane there­ instead of torres? personally i dont think he would.­ just interested to see what u all think

    From darren d, on Sun 4 Jan 2:45PM

  11. 151 maryanne. marry me please.xxxxx

    From NatalieW, on Sun 4 Jan 2:39PM

  12. 2-0 is not a scrape.you lot are so chelsea. who by the­ way, scraped a replay. lol.

    From NatalieW, on Sun 4 Jan 2:37PM

  13. comment 144 dont come to ireland too soon you racist­ f~~k.U wont know a good player if he kicked you in the­ crotch, u bigoted bast~rd

    From lfc7772, on Sun 4 Jan 1:36PM

  14. I see old crappercommandos back.trying with all his­ might to sound intelligent.poor old codger.
    Get a site­ of your own crapper then intelligent footy fans wouldnt­ have to see what you think.
    Im with you rc- lets get­ one of the two no prob teams.MU/Chelsea

    From Marge Simpson., on Sun 4 Jan 1:05PM

  15. well! I am a 64yrs old grandmother and I happened upon­ this site and thought I would get some good banter. ­ However, what a shock. It is like a gang of little boys­ trying to outdo each other..."scouse scum"? ­ thats a bit rich is it not coming from one whose mental­ capacity is obviously impaired. Why cant you all grow­ up and give credit where it is due? I am sure young­ lads read this and you are just perpetuating­ animosity..there is enough of that in the real world­ without encouraging it in the football world. Is it­ really so hard to say that 'x' played really­ well unless he happens to be in your team? ..what a­ shower...

    From maryanne.c, on Sun 4 Jan 11:54AM

  16. Who is top of the League again?! :-)

    From ck2311, on Sun 4 Jan 11:02AM

  17. LFC play with confidence for the first time for­ years................coz we knowths could be our­ year.................3 points clear and top players­ back from injury!!!

    UTD & CHELSEA aint much this­ year­ so......................

    KEANE....BABEL........LUCAS..­ ...........Hmmmmmmmmmmm when is RAFA gonna say enough­ is enough??

    Glen Johnston would be a good buy in the­ transfer window!!!

    From Richie, on Sun 4 Jan 10:53AM

  18. We beat Michael Owen and Newcastle without him, but it­ is so great having the the lad back! Torres is the­ best!

    From GA, on Sun 4 Jan 10:51AM

  19. f man u fans nothing but bigots worse than rangers fans

    From colint, on Sun 4 Jan 9:30AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    No you scraped past, and whats all this talk of the­ treble? The scouse scum will win nothing this season­ AGAIN, so get used to it and stop dreaming ffs.

    From as2204, on Sun 4 Jan 9:24AM
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