FA Cup – Liverpool thrash Brighton to progress, Stevenage force Spurs replay

Liverpool 6-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Liverpool ran riot as they notched up six goals against Brighton who helped the Reds by turning three into their own net.

It was the home side who made the perfect start to the FA Cup fifth round game, as they found themselves a goal to the good at Anfield after five minutes when Steven Gerrard whipped in a corner before Martin Skrtel headed home from the near post.

Liverpool dominated possession in the first-half but Brighton got themselves back on level terms on 17 minutes, when a free-kick routine saw Kazenga LuaLua strike from distance to beat Pepe Reina.

The home side once again piled on the pressure and took the lead just before the break when a scramble in the box saw Glen Johnson head goalward, before Sam Vokes cleared into his own man Liam Bridcutt who could do nothing but watch the ball go in his own net.

Liverpool continued their dominance in the second-half and increased their lead on 57 minutes, when Stewart Downing pulled the ball back for Andy Carroll who scored with a well controlled finish.

Bridcutt then knocked in another own goal on 71 minutes when he diverted a Gerrard effort into his own goal. Astonishingly it was another Brighton own goal on 74 minutes, when Lewis Dunk attempted to tee the ball up for himself to clear but instead played it into his own goal.

Liverpool capped off the win 85 minutes, when Carroll headed the ball across goal for Suarez to make up for his miss with a header from close range.

Stevenage 0-0 Tottenham

A resolute Stevenage secured a deserved FA Cup replay at Spurs after holding the Premier League side to a 0-0 draw at the Amex Stadium.

The League One promotion-chasers impressed throughout the fifth-round tie against Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham outfit and restricted them to handful of opportunities throughout and were not afraid to press for a goal themselves.

Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening half as a solid and well organised Stevenage more than held their own against a sloppy looking Spurs, while they looked every much as threatening as their opponents on the break.

The nearest Spurs came was when the lively Danny Rose crossed into the area from the left by-line but Jermain Defoe could not guide his near post effort the right side of the upright on 16 minutes.

Louis Saha had a hopeful shout for a penalty on 35 minutes when he chest a ball down in the area and turned to shoot but had his boot knocked off by Mark Roberts just as he was getting his effort at goal, but his appeals were waved away.

Spurs were denied a goal on 55 minutes when a rare mix-up in the Stevenage defence allowed Saha to fire in from close range after more good work down the left by Rose. However, the ball went in off Scott Parker in an offside position on the line and the assistant correctly put the flag up to deny them.

Stevenage had a few efforts on goal with Joel Byrom firing just over the bar on 61 minutes from 25 yards, while a second effort a minute later was spilled by Carlo Cudicini and Ryan Nelsen was on hand to clear the danger and spared the Italian’s blushes.

Michael Landon