Liverpool

1-0

Manchester United

Crouch 19

 

 


The FA Cup Fifth Round Proper
Anfield
12.30pm, Saturday 18 February 2006
Winning club receives £120,000



Peter Crouch ended an eight game goal drought - and in the process broke an 85 year FA Cup hoodoo previously held by Manchester United over Liverpool.

The Merseysiders had not beaten their fierce rivals in the competition since 1921, sufferingseven defeats in the intervening period. But they triumphed in this fifth round clash at Anfield as Crouch netted for the first time since New Year's Eve.

After a cagey opening 15 minutes the game burst into life as Liverpool carved out two glorious chances in quick succession. Harry Kewell must have thought he had scored with a neat flicked header from a pinpoint Steven Gerrard free-kick, but United keeper Edwin van der Sar produced a brilliant finger-tip save.

However, from the resulting corner the United defence was again found wanting in the air as Crouch was left unmarked to head goalwards.

Van der Sar made a superb attempt to push this effort wide as well, but could only divert the ball onto the post before watching helplessly as it trickled back across the goal-line and just inside the opposite upright.

Liverpool were buoyed by the goal and gradually took full control of the rest of the half. The key to their impressive display was the performance of their three battling midfielders with Gerrard, Didi Hamann and Momo Sissoko never giving their United counterparts time on the ball to build up attacks.

As a result, strikers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney were starved of service and their only slight opportunity in the opening 45 minutes saw the Dutchman rightly ruled a yard offside.

However, Liverpool could not translate possession into a bigger advantage before the break with Steve Finnan guilty of blazing wide from just a few yards out from another accurate Gerrard free-kick.

The home side began just as brightly after half-time with Crouch almost poaching another after some hesitation by Nemanja Vidic. But United finally came into the game and nearly fashioned an equaliser on 52 minutes with their first real move of the match.

Neville was released down the right and van Nistelrooy looked favourite to meet the cross, but instead Finnan made a vital interception before Reina hacked clear.

Liverpool struggled to repeat their dominant midfield display, but Kewell should still have eased the nerves when he found himself free in the box, only to drag his shot wide.

The anticipated grandstand finish never really materialised, with United's final opportunity to grab a replay flying just over the bar by way of a Ryan Giggs half-volley from 20 yards.

And United suffered a further blow in the final minute when Alan Smith was carried off on a stretcher with what looked to be a serious leg injury.