Sunday March 18, 2012 6th Round Finished Anfield
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Downing books Liverpool return to Wembley
Liverpool are off to Wembley for the second time this season after they beat Stoke City 2-1 in their FA Cup quarter-final at Anfield. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Liverpool
- Stoke City
90+5' Liverpool defend one final Delap throw and the final whistle blows. Liverpool will be returning to Wembley!
90+3' Wilson catches Kuyt on the ankle as he slides in on the dutchman. Free-kick for Liverpool and a booking for Wilson.- 90+2' Delap hurls it in, but Reina claims it well.
- 90+1' Liverpool defend the corner, but at the expense of a throw. It's Delap's first, and perhaps last, opportunity to launch one in.
- 90' Stoke win a corner as five minutes of added time are signalled.
89' Liverpool substitution: Jordan Henderson replaces Suarez.- 89' Liverpool substitution: Sebastian Coates replaces Kelly.
- 88' Suarez is down receiving treatment on his ankle after a clash with Huth. The Stoke fans chant "Luis Suarez, you know what you are!" at him as he is on the ground. Anyone know what they mean?
- 86' Pennant gets penty of bend on his delivery but not enough height, and Liverpool clear.
- 85' Martin Skrtel climbs on the back of Crouch as the two jump for a header. Stoke have the chance to lump it into Huth and co in the area.
- 83' Kelly is receiving treatment in the Stoke area following that solid but fair tackle from Shawcross.
- 82' Kelly bursts into the Stoke area now, but Shawcross makes a vital and well-timed tackle.
- 81' Jerome bursts into the Liverpool box fromt he left, and Kelly makes a vital block on the shot that sees the bounce over the area and away to safety.
- 79' Suarez tees up Spearing for a shot from the edge of the box... fired over the bar. Spearing still awaits his first goal in Liverpool colours.
- 77' Round three: this time Shawcross is booked for hauling Suarez down from behind.
- 76' Suarez v Shawcross again, and this time the foul goes Stoke's way as the striker pulls back on the defender's shoulder.
- 75' Liverpool pour men forward ont he counter, but Suarez is cleanly tackled by Shawcross as the Uruguayan slips.
- 74' Stoke substitution: Rory Delap replaces Whitehead.
- 73' Crouch is penalised for impeding his marker as several players jostle for a throw-in into the Liverpool box. Ironic cheers from the home fans as such a decision goes their way for once.
- 72' Stoke substitution: Cameron Jerome replaces Etherington.
- 70' Carroll is back in his own box to stop Whitehead's cross going to a Stoke player.
- 69' Stoke try the clever free-kkick routine as the ball is tapped to Wilson, seemingly for Whelan the hit on the run. wilson then tries to take it on himself, but the wall had already charged out and he loses possession.
- 68' Gerrard bundles Walters over, and Stoke have a free-kick in a very promising position for the strike. Several candidates to hit this one.
68' This time Gerrard does find Suarez, who launches a rasping effort at the Stoke goal but Sorensen is equal to it.- 67' Good work from Downing on the left as he evades his amrker before playing inside to Gerrard, whose pass forward to Suarez is easily intercepted.
- 66' Sorensen catches the ball and tries to release it quickly but gives it right to Kelly! The Liverpool right-back is shephered wide, and huth hacks the low cross away. Lucky escape there for Stoke, and Sorensen in particular.
- 65' No one closes down Kuyt 20 yards from goal. The Dutchman accepts the invitation, but his effort is right at Sorensen.
- 64' Plenty of pressing in midfield from Stoke, forcing Liverpool to twice play back to reina in quick succession.
- 62' Suarez stands over a dead ball some 30 yards from goal. He goes for the shot, but the ball rebounds off the Stoke wall.
- 62' Liverpool substitution: Dirk Kuyt replaces Maxi.
- 61' Stoke substitution: Jermaine Pennant replaces Shotton. Another former Liverpool player on the field now.
- 59' That's only Downing's second goal for Liverpool, and his first since the 5-1 win over Oldham in the third round.
58' GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 2-1 STOKE!! Downing's short ball to Gerrard rebounds off the back of the captain's heel. Downing pounces on it, surges into the box and bangs a finish past Sorensen!- 57' Suarez and Gerrard try a one-two inside the box, but it's too congested in there.
- 55' Good move forward along the ground by Stoke, but Wilkinson is robbed of the ball as he prepares to cross.
- 54' Kelly shepherds Etherington to the byline,a nd the Stoke man's eventual cross hits the sidenetting.
- 53' Downing whips in a great delivery and Suarez glances his header wide of the far post! Great opportunity for his and Liverpool's second of the game!
- 52' Maxi goes down very easily under the challenge of Wilkinson. Liverpool have a promising free-kick on the left.
- 51' Shotton throws short to Wilkinson this time, and his cross from the return pass is caught by Reina.
- 50' Maxi tackles Shotton, who will take the subsequent throw. Huth comes up for it. Shotton hurls it in but Liverpool head clear.
- 48' Liverpool play the free-kick short. gerrard's eventual ball into the box is cleared by Huth.
- 47' Carroll is fouled by Huth, who goes in late from behind on the striker.
46' The second half is underway!- 45+3' Half-time is called, and the final FA Cup tie of the weekend is nicely poised.
- 45+2' Gerrard hits a strike that canons off Sorensen. The ball comes back into the Stoke area but Suarez handles.
- 45' Two minutes of added time to be played.
- 44' Suarez taps it across for Gerrard to strike it over the bar! It never had enough dip to get over the wall and down again quickly enough.
- 43' Huth is penalised for a foul on the edge of the area. Gerrard looks like he might have a pop from here.
- 42' The name of Fabrice Muamba is being chanted around Anfield. His critical condition has overshadowed this weekend.
- 41' Decent spell of pressure from Liverpool. Suarez tries a cheeky chip but it is caught easily by Sorensen.
- 40' Carroll gets a little nudge from Wilkinson as he leaps for a high ball. the Kop isn't happy with that, but any defender would have done the same.
- 39' Walters does well to keep the ball in play, and it ricochets off Kelly for a Stoke throw inside the Liverpool half.
- 37' More indignation from Suarez as he believes he should have a throw-in now!
- 36' Huth gets the last touch as he shields the ball from Suarez, but the linesman gives a goal kick. the look on suarez's face is priceless! He looks inconsolable!
- 34' Wilson intercepts Kelly's sloppy pass inside for Downing, who dives in and fouls the Stoke man.
- 33' Dean Whitehead releases Walters down the right. The striker storms forward into the area. He has no other options so goes for goal, but fires wide of the near post.
- 32' Long ball up for Suarez to chase, but sorensen is out of his area to clear the danger.
- 30' Wilkinson goes into the book for a foul on Suarez, who made the most of the challenge.
- 29' In the aftermath of that goal, Reina was booked for his vehement arguing with the referee that he was being impeded. He can add that the corner should not have been given, too!
- 28' That's the 150th goal of Crouch's club career, and his 11th for Stoke this season.
- 27' GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 1-1 STOKE!! Shotton stands in Reina's way, allowing Crouch to steam in and head home against his former club!
- 26' Enrique puts the first corner behind for a second. This one flashes across the face of goal and out of play. The officials give another corner, although it was Ryan Shawcross who got the slight touch rather than Gerrard.
- 25' Great cross from Wilkinson and jon Walters leaps for it... Carragher gets a vital touch just as the forward was about to power it home! Corner to Stoke.
- 24' That's Suarez's 11th of the season, and his first since the 6-1 thrashing of Brighton in the last round, a month ago.
- 23' GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 1-0 STOKE!! Lovely finish from Suarez1 He plays the one-two with Rodriguez and passes a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box!
- 21' Shotton, with nothing else on, has a pop from range that never looked like troubling Reina.
- 20' Jose Enrique tries to suarez through down the left, but the ball runs too far ahead of the Uruguayan.
- 19' Andy Wilkinson is judged to have fouled Maxi Rodriguez. The Argentine midfielder is only too happy to go down and win the free-kick, as he was going nowhere.
- 18' Stoke backing themselves to go up against Liverpool with the ball at their feet. Plenty of one and two-touch stuff on the deck from the visitors.
- 16' Wonder what the yellow card count will be at the end of this game. If it's fewer than the number of goals I'll be very surprised!
- 15' Glenn Whelan sees Jay Spearing miscontrol and lunges for the loose ball, but he trips the Liverpool midfielder and gets a booking.
- 14' Great vision from Steven Gerrard to spy Martin Kelly's run and square the ball to the right-back, whose attempted cross is blokced for a throw.
- 12' Liverpool have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight FA Cup sixth round games at Anfield, including replays.
- 11' Liverpool's defence prepares for Ryan Shotton to hurl in a long throw. Instead it's played short and given back to him. The cross comes to Peter Crouch at the far post, but the striker's tame header is an easy catch for Pepe Reina.
- 10' Stewart Downing allowed to get down the right too easily by Matthew Etherington, but Robert Huth clears the winger's cross.
- 9' Andy Carroll and Marc Wilson collide in mid-air, and referee Kevin Friend gives a free-kick to Stoke. Seemed a fair, 50/50 really.
- 7' Former Liverpool winger Pennant warms up as Etherington gingerly gets to his feet. Whelan, meanwhile, sends in a poor free-kick that Gerrard clears. Etherington returns to the field.
6' Etherington is in some trouble here. It was a rotten hack from Kelly, catching his knee and shin. I didn't see a twist or anything so probably just heavy bruising.- 5' Etherington takes on Kelly, beats him and draws a late tackle from the Liverpool defender, who is booked.
- 4' Searching crossfield pass from Enrique but too long for Downing, who is playing on the right wing today.
- 3' Great ball in from Gerrard AND MAXI FLIES IN but he flicks his header just over! One of the smallest men on the pitch but he got a super touch on it, unlucky!
- 2' Liverpool have an early free-kick on the left which Gerrard will take, everyone up for this.
1' The first half is underway!
15:5 Tony Mabert is your match commentator for this clash. Any comments, predictions or grave personal affronts, you can Tweet him @tony_mabert. Simples. FOLLOW ON TWITTER!- 15:50 MATCH ODDS: Liverpool 5/12, Stoke City 33/4, Draw 15/4
- 15:45 FACT: Luis Suarez has scored three goals in three appearances against Stoke in all competitions; Robert Huth has netted in five of his last seven FA Cup games; Jonathan Walters has scored seven goals in his last nine appearances in the FA Cup.
- 15:40 FACT: Liverpool have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight FA Cup sixth-round games at Anfield, including replays; Stoke City have never kept a clean sheet in an FA Cup sixth-round game.
- 15:35 FACT: Of teams to have made it to the sixth round of the FA Cup at least four times, Liverpool have the best progression rate, winning 79.2% (19 of 24).
- 15:30 Tony Pulis (Stoke City): "We know how difficult it's going to be. It's a very tough game for us. Liverpool are a very good side, especially at home. We've watched them the last few weeks and they were desperately unlucky to lose to Arsenal, that game should have been over in the first 45 minutes. I went and watched the derby on Tuesday night and I thought they were outstanding."
- 15:30 Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool): "We know it's going to be difficult, we know they're going to be very well organised and we know they're going to be a threat at set-plays. In some quarters Tony Pulis' team are criticised for the way they play but they won't get any criticism from us. They play the way that's best suited to them, they play within the rules and they're a credit to that football club."
- 15:25 Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller is suspended, sitting out the first of a three-match ban for violent conduct. Second-choice keeper Thomas Sorensen replaces Asmir Begovic in goal as is the custom for boss Tony Pulis, while Peter Crouch starts having been surprisingly dropped for the match at Chelsea.
- 15:25 Craig Bellamy fails to make the squad after missing the Merseyside derby through injury, while Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger are both out. Maxi makes a return to the starting XI while Andy Carroll partners Luis Suarez up front, Dirk Kuyt benched.
- 15:20 Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
- 15:20 TEAMS - Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Maxi, Gerrard, Spearing, Downing, Suarez, Carroll; Subs: Doni, Henderson, Coates, Kuyt, Adam, Flanagan, Shelvey /// Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Shotton, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Walters, Crouch; Subs: Nash, Jones, Pennant, Upson, Delap, Jerome, Palacios
- 15:15 Hello and welcome of our LIVE coverage as Liverpool face Stoke City in an FA Cup sixth-round clash at Anfield, kick-off at 4pm.
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Summary
- 68' This time Gerrard does find Suarez, who launches a rasping effort at the Stoke goal but Sorensen is equal to it.
- 58' GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 2-1 STOKE!! Downing's short ball to Gerrard rebounds off the back of the captain's heel. Downing pounces on it, surges into the box and bangs a finish past Sorensen!
- 53' Downing whips in a great delivery and Suarez glances his header wide of the far post! Great opportunity for his and Liverpool's second of the game!
- 44' Suarez taps it across for Gerrard to strike it over the bar! It never had enough dip to get over the wall and down again quickly enough.
- 33' Dean Whitehead releases Walters down the right. The striker storms forward into the area. He has no other options so goes for goal, but fires wide of the near post.
- 27' GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 1-1 STOKE!! Shotton stands in Reina's way, allowing Crouch to steam in and head home against his former club!
- 25' Great cross from Wilkinson and jon Walters leaps for it... Carragher gets a vital touch just as the forward was about to power it home! Corner to Stoke.
- 23' GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 1-0 STOKE!! Lovely finish from Suarez1 He plays the one-two with Rodriguez and passes a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box!
- 3' Great ball in from Gerrard AND MAXI FLIES IN but he flicks his header just over! One of the smallest men on the pitch but he got a super touch on it, unlucky!
- 15:20 TEAMS - Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Maxi, Gerrard, Spearing, Downing, Suarez, Carroll; Subs: Doni, Henderson, Coates, Kuyt, Adam, Flanagan, Shelvey /// Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Shotton, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Walters, Crouch; Subs: Nash, Jones, Pennant, Upson, Delap, Jerome, Palacios
Team Line-up & Ratings
LiverpoolManager: Kenny Dalglish
Stoke CityManager: Tony Pulis
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- J. Reina
- M. Kelly
- M. Škrtel
- J. Carragher
- José Enrique
- S. Gerrard
- J. Spearing
- M. Rodríguez
- S. Downing
- L. Suarez
- A. Carroll
Subs
- J. Shelvey
- D. Kuyt
62′ - C. Adam
- Doni
- J. Henderson 89′
- S. Coates 89′
- J. Flanagan
- J. Reina
Starting line-up
- T. Sørensen
- A. Wilkinson
- R. Shawcross
- R. Huth
- M. Wilson
- D. Whitehead
- G. Whelan
- R. Shotton
- M. Etherington
- J. Walters
- P. Crouch
Subs
- M. Upson
- J. Pennant 61′
- R. Delap 74′
- C. Nash
- C. Jerome 72′
- K. Jones
- W. Palacios
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