Liverpool 1 Manchester United 0

Last updated : 18 February 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Liverpool broke an 85-year losing streak in the FA Cup against fierce rivals Manchester United to march on to the quarter-finals.

The atmosphere inside Anfield was electric before the kick-off as the fans made United captain Gary Neville run a gauntlet of hate for his goal celebration during their last meeting at Old Trafford.

Neville, who was celebrating his 31st birthday, sliced two passes early on much to the delight of the baying crowd.

United certainly started the game with a lot of nervous energy, sending many wayward passes out of touch instead of building moves.

Liverpool dominated the game physically from the outset with John Arne Riise upending Wayne Rooney and winning the ball in one clash of bodies.

The home side had United back on their heels. Harry Kewell drew silence from the crowd with a glancing header from a Stevie Gerrard free-kick, but Edwin Van der Sar produced a fine save to push it out for a corner.

But the Anfield faithful erupted when Peter Crouch's towering header beat the Dutchman to put them in the lead from the resulting play.

Steve Finnan placed a deft cross at the perfect height for Crouch's lofty frame to nod the ball just too far for Van der Sar's outstretched glove and in off the post on 19 minutes.

And the 6,500-strong army of United fans had even less to cheer about moments later when Rooney hobbled off for the magic sponge treatment after a clash with Kewell.

The 20-year-old hot-head had been covering the length of the pitch to help defend Kewell's free runs forward when he caught the Aussie's boot in a clumsy challenge.

But Rooney soon rejoined play and courted controversy by reacting to the home fans' taunts.

Ex-Evertonian Rooney mimicked Neville kissing his United badge and gave a two-fingered salute to The Kop as he retrieved the ball for a free-kick just before the break.

Sir Alex Ferguson must have read his players the riot act during the break because they came out for the second half all guns blazing.

United looked more coherent in midfield and produced some good moves and their first real chances of the game.

Liverpool's physical advantage gave way to a series of scrappy challenges, with Dietmar Hamann, Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher all picking up yellow cards in quick succession.

And it was the home team that squandered the next real chance when Finnan managed to hold the ball up well on the right side against two blue shirts.

He whipped the ball over his head into the box and past a flailing attempted punch from Van der Sar but there was no reaction from Crouch or Kewell.

Liverpool were momentarily reduced to ten men when Crouch had to leave the pitch for treatment to a gash on his forehead. But United failed to capitalise and minutes after he was whistled back on substitute Alan Smith had to be stretchered off with a broken leg.

Smith's knee buckled when his studs got caught in the turf as he rushed to defend John Arne Riise's free-kick and play was stopped for five minutes.

But the added injury time only gave The Kop more chance to sing their heroes' praises as Liverpool banished United's devils and advanced to the quarter-finals.