Liverpool Overcome United
Liverpool recorded their first FA Cup win over rivals Manchester United in 85 years with an impressive Anfield victory.
Peter Crouch headed home Steve Finnan’s cross on 19 minutes to give Rafael Benitez’s side a deserved place in the quarter finals.
Edwin van de Sar had saved brilliantly from Harry Kewell seconds earlier as Liverpool dominated a poor United side.
United’s misery was further compounded when substitute Alan Smith suffered a broken leg defending a free kick late on.
“We deserved to win,” said Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
“We scored a goal and created more chances. You like to score more goals but sometimes one is enough.”
“I am pleased for Peter Crouch because strikers need goals, but it was a good team performance.”
“We have had three good games and three good results in a week when people were talking about how difficult it would be for us against the top teams.”
United’s disappointing season now rests on the consolotion of the League Cup final.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “It has been 85 years since Liverpool beat us in the FA Cup and I was hoping it would be another 85 years, then I wouldn’t be around to see it.”
“We started the game badly and found it hard to get our momentum going.”
“Liverpool are dangerous at set-pieces and maybe we just didn’t have enough height in our team and their goal emphasised that.”
