The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
5.25pm, Saturday 3 January 2009
Deepdale, Preston North End FC
Winning clubs will receive £75,000 from The FA
Liverpool made hard work of their Third Round tie with Preston North End at Deepdale but are through thanks to goals from Spanish pair Albert Riera and Fernando Torres.
Try as they might Preston North End couldn't add their name to the list of Third Round giant-killers, and although the 2-0 scoreline might suggest that the Reds cruised into the Fourth Round, Alan Irvine's side pushed them all the way.
After Albert Riera had given Liverpool an 25th-minute lead with a screaming left-foot drive, it looked as if Rafael Benitez's team would go on and rack up a few goals.
Robbie Keane came close on three occasions, once when Andrew Lonergan pulled off a good stop to deny the Irishman, while another guilt edged chance went begging when Keane sent his six-yard effort wide.
But Preston, twice winners of the world-famous Cup competition, stormed back and gave the Premier League leaders a real scare in the last half-hour of the match.
The game missed out on an obligatory FA Cup romance story after former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor was substituted in the second half, but Preston were intent on making the headlines with their quality of football alone.
Sean St Ledger ran away in celebration with 17 minutes to go, believing he had equalised, but Preston's celebrations were cut short when Jon Parkin was spotted by the linesman pulling Jamie Carragher to the ground on the goalline.
Liverpool breathed a sigh of relief and Benitez decided to bring on Fernando Torres in a bid to kill off the match.
He showed touches of the brilliance that has made him a favourite with the Liverpool faithful since his move from Atletico Madrid in 2007, while Steven Gerrard had a couple of attempts from distance.
But in truth, they failed to match their first half dominance as Preston began piling forward in search of the elusive equaliser.
With seconds left on the clock, however, Liverpool broke free with Gerrard and Torres racing into the Preston half unmarked. The England midfielder carried the ball into the area with only Lonergan to beat and squared for his team mate to slide home his first ever FA Cup goal.
Liverpool deserved their win but will know they were made to fight by Irvine's men for a place in the hat for Sunday's draw.
Teams
Preston North End
Andrew Lonergan, Billy Jones, Youl Mawene, Sean St. Ledger, Callum Davidson (Eddie Nolan, 57), Chris Sedgwick, Richard Chaplow (Barry Nicholson, 82), Paul McKenna, Ross Wallace, Jon Parkin, Neil Mellor (Stephen Elliott, 62)
Subs Chris Neal, Chris Brown, Darren Carter, Simon Whaley
Liverpool
Diego Cavalieri, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Daniel Agger, Emiliano Insua, Xabi Alonso (Lucas Leiva, 46), Javier Mascherano (Fabio Aurelio, 84), Ryan Babel, Steven Gerrard, Albert Riera, Robbie Keane (Fernando Torres, 73)
Subs Pepe Reina, David Ngog, Nabil El Zhar, Martin Skrtel.
Match Officials
Referee M Atkinson
Assistants D Richardson, RJ West
Fourth Official A Mariner
Attendance 23,046