Goals from Albert Riera and the returning Fernando Torres saw Liverpool book their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 victory in Preston.

Riera hit an unstoppable drive midway through the first half before substitute Torres tapped in from close range with seconds to go to ensure the Cup shocks suffered by Manchester City, Chelsea and Stoke earlier in the day were not repeated in Lancashire.
 
Equally as pleasing was the return to footballing matters of Steven Gerrard, who set up El Nino to renew their prolific partnership after the Spaniard's hamstring injury.
 
Rafael Benitez's selection reflected both the strength of the opposition (Preston are just outside the Championship play-off positions) and the importance of the FA Cup to Liverpool's season after two years without a trophy.
 
Of the 11 who started, just two could be described as fringe players: Dutch winger Ryan Babel and second choice goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri.
 
It took 13 minutes for Liverpool's class to show when Riera twisted past two defenders before cutting back to Robbie Keane, who skewed his shot wide.
 
Seconds later a right-foot drive from Steven Gerrard was fumbled by Andy Lonergan, but the Preston goalkeeper recovered before any of those in red could capitalise.
 
The visitors were not having it all their own way, mind. Midfielder Richard Chaplow, who starred for Burnley when they knocked Liverpool out of the Cup in 2005, made Cavalieri work from range on 22 minutes. Moments later Wallace drove down the left before curling into the grateful palms of our Brazilian goalkeeper.
 
The travelling Reds were keeping themselves busy with chants of Shankly, Shankly. The legendary Liverpool manager did enough in his time as a Preston player to have a stand named in his honour; one fittingly given over to the visiting supporters for this third round tie, and one which was about to erupt.
 
Few in the Shankly Kop were holding their breath on 25 minutes when Riera collected possession on the right-hand side of Preston's box. But the Spain international quickly manoeuvred the ball onto his left foot before tricking his way into a yard of space and smashing beyond the helpless Lonergan.
 
It would have been two on 40 minutes but for a superb save from Lonergan when Keane weaved his way into a scoring position on the edge of the six-yard box.
 
Five minutes later Keane again had his head in his hands when Gerrard put a goal on a plate with a fine cross to the back post. A volley was the Irishman's only option but his connection was poor and the ball whacked the hoardings.
 
Perhaps it affected his confidence. Seconds before half-time Keane was again presented with a golden opportunity to double Liverpool's lead. But, with the goal at his mercy, the striker instead chose to cut back to Riera, whose shot was bravely blocked.
 
The enforced change of Lucas for Xabi Alonso didn't stop the Reds picking up where they left off when the second half got underway, with Gerrard sending in a devilish ball to Keane, whose shot was deflected out of play. Agger headed wide from the subsequent corner.
 
It was turning into a busy afternoon for Lonergan, whose acrobatic save denied the excellent Gerrard from 20 yards.
 
All these chances were doubtless whetting the appetite of Torres, sitting on the Reds bench after seven games out with a hamstring tear.
 
Preston were creating little in return, though they did have the ball in the back of the net through substitute Stephen Elliott midway inside the second period. Sadly for Alan Irvine's men, Jon 'The Beast' Parkin had been bear-hugging Jamie Carragher for the previous 10 seconds at least.
 
Still, it roused the hosts, who proceeded to bully and harass Liverpool for the next 10 minutes. A let off arrived when a teasing ball across the face of Cavalieri's goal reached Sean St Ledger, but the centre-back couldn't connect with sufficient bite. Time for Torres.
 
It seemed El Nino would have just one run and shot to show for his 15 minutes on the pitch until Gerrard burst clear in injury time before unselfishly passing to his old mate, who tucked into an empty net.
 
Teams

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Hyypia, Agger, Carragher, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Gerrard (captain), Keane. Subs - Skrtel, Torres, El Zhar, Ngog, Leiva, Aurelio, Reina
 
Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, St Ledger, Jones, Wallace, McKenna (captain), Chaplow, Sedgwick, Parkin, Mellor. Subs - Nolan, Brown, Carter, Whaley, Nicholson, Elliott, Neal
 
Referee: Martin Atkinson
 
Conditions: Freezing
 
Attendance: 23,046
 
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Daniel Agger

source: Liverpoolfc.tv

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