Full Time, United 1-0: Liverpool gets the ball down the left, but they give it up to United, who switches fields to their left. After moving the ball up, Giggs sends it back right, and Berbatov goes in to the corner. It does, though, come back to Liverpool after Smalling concedes a free kick in the Liverpool half. Reina sends it long, but nobody can do anything with it in the area. United build again The teams exchange in midfield, and United win it. The whistle blows — full time. 1-0 United.
90′, United 1-0: United continues to hold the ball and to create chances. Owen, though, is coming back very deep to get the ball. Anderson runs forward and shoots from the left. His shot is deflected for a corner. Giggs’ corner results in an Evra bicycle-kick attempt, but he can’t pull it off. Liverpool clears, but United, of course, get it right back. Rafael runs up the right, but Skrtel clears for a throw. Three minutes of added time.
87′, United 1-0: Liverpool wins a corner, and Agger’s header is soft and right to Kusczak. Smalling, though, was immediately beaten by Agger. United keep possession, letting the clock tick. After a spell, Giggs’ pass misses Evra, but the throw is given right back to United. Owen gets the ball in space and makes a run forward. He takes a shot from above the box, and it hooks wide.
84′, United 1-0: A longball from Aurelio to Ngog is cleared, and Liverpool again gets it in midfield. It is given back to United, and Giggs slashes forward down the center — being cut out by the last man. United keeps it on, and Giggs sends a cross in. It is cut out, but Evra makes a run to the touch line and gets a cross to the far post. Berbatov hits it, but his shot was a pass, and Reina gets it. Smalling on for Evans.
81′, United 1-0: United are back on the front foot, having Liverpool backed into the final third. Liverpool clears, and United’s poor throw gives Liverpool the ball back. It comes back to United, and a through ball finds Owen on the left. He beats Skrtel and sends a cross in for Berbatov, but Agger cuts it out for the corner — well played by Owen. The corner comes out high, and Liverpool clears. The Reds in a free kick in midfield, and Shelvey tries to catch Kusczak off his line, but he can’t pull off the trick.
78′, United 1-0: Liverpool has another chance on the ball, but they have trouble getting it forward, and they send it back to Reina. His kick is too wide for Torres, and United wins a throw. Torres comes off for David Ngog — he has been poor in the second half. Berbatov puts a long range effort on net, and Reina saves low. Liverpool comes forward, and Babel works the right side and sends a cross in for Kelly. He gets his head on it at the near post, but can’t get near the target.
75′, United 1-0: United continue the waves forward, holding the ball at will. Anderson tries to slip a pass through to Berbatov, but his ball in the box is slightly too heavy for the Bulgarian. United then sit on the ball for another spell. Eventually, they move their lines forward, and Nani makes a run down the middle. He beats two defenders before losing out to challenges at the top of the box. Michael Owen comes on for Javier Hernandez.
72′, United 1-0: Shelvey wins a ball from Rafael by the left corner, but he can’t center for Torres. United counters with Giggs and Hernandez, but after dancing around Chicharito has to pull out. He eventually crosses to Berbatov, but his header has nothing on it. Liverpool gets a run forward, but Rafael cuts out the run. United again counters dangerously, but Evra’s cross is cleared.
69′, United 1-0: Liverpool enjoy a little more possession — by far their best stretch of the half. Eventually, though, the ball is sent well long for a Kusczak goal kick. Berbatov sends a little flick for Hernandez, but he can’t get him on the run. Still, United keep it in and Giggs flicks it to Berbatov in the area. It is deflected, and Berbatov tries to poke it in — saved by Reina. Berbatov could have scored. Off the corner, Berbatov, Giggs and just about everybody on United has a shot at goal, but somehow, it stays out. United should have scored. The corner is long, but Berbatov gets to it on the far side and puts a shot on net — saved by Reina.
64′, United 1-0: Babel makes an impact immediately, putting an effort on goal from above the area — low and to the right. Kusczak, though, collects the save. Anderson comes on for Darren Fletcher. United continues to casually pass the ball about in midfield — less than a half hour left to waste. Anderson loses it in midfield, and Torres almost has a breakaway, and Anderson has to foul him right above the area. Yellow card for Anderson — seconds after coming on. Aurelio set piece is on-goal to the top corner, but Kusczak saves. The corner kick leads to a United counter, but Hernandez is offside.
60′, United 1-0: Liverpool enjoy a spell of possession in their own half before releasing to Kelly up the right. They set up shop dangerously, and Torres has an opportunity to shoot from the top of the area on the left. His effort is blocked out by Ferdinand, but Liverpool get it back in midfield. Skrtel concedes a ball in midfield that allows for a 4-3 United counter, but the through pass was too wide and made Berbatov slow up. Maxi Rodriguez off for Ryan Babel and Raul Meireles off for Jonjo Shelvey.
57, United 1-0: After the clearance, United bring it back up to the final third. The pressure is beginning there now. Hernandez wins a header in the area against Reina. It falls to Berbatov with Reina out of position, but he can’t put it away. He shoots high, and Liverpool still has a chance. Nani makes a great little move and finds Rafael, but the cross is too long and forces Giggs to concede a goal kick.
54, United 1-0: United continues to keep the ball and the pressure in the final third. Kelly, who is having a nice game, cuts out Giggs, and Liverpool comes forward. Meireles attempts a tricky ball for Torres, but it goes to Kusczak. United build up casually from midfield — Liverpool has nearly everybody behind the ball. United falter in combination play, and Aurelio clears. They go right back up the right side, and a cross in for Berbatov comes to nothing — goal kick.
51, United 1-0: Evra goes down in the box, but nothing is given. Still, United keeps the pressure on and a cross in is almost own-goaled by Aurelio, but Reina saves at the far post. In the other direction, Meireles takes a shot from distance, but he can’t keep it down.
48, United 1-0: Giggs opens up the second half with a dangerous run down into the area. Thereafter, a cross is sent in for Hernandez that requires clearance for a corner. Nani’s corner rattles around the area dangerously, but is cleared. Lucas fouls Rafael, and United continue the pressure. They try to combine at the top of the area, but they bunch up. It comes wide to Fletcher, who sends a cross across goal, but Hernandez heads it slightly wide.
Half Analysis: With the exception of the should-have-scored header from Johnny Evans, Liverpool was rather unlucky in the first half. The initial penalty conceded by Agger was correct in the letter of the law, but was in the side of the area and featured minimal contact. It was surprising that Howard Webb called for a penalty. Steven Gerrard’s challenge on Michael Carrick was reckless, two footed and heavy, but he was going for the ball and he did have an angle. It could have been a yellow card, or even just a foul. Still, the letter of the law justified the call.
Otherwise, Liverpool has limited United’s chances — containing Nani to just one dangerous on-goal effort, and coping with Giggs and the two forwards pretty well too. In midfield, though, United has been the far better team.
There were, however, major positive differences between Liverpool’s first-half performance and what had been displayed under Hodgson. Gerrard and Torres linked very well, Kuyt looked somewhat dangerous and the team pressured the ball and had forward impetus.
Meireles and Lucas have been poor in the holding role, and Skrtel and Agger have made mistakes at the back, but otherwise, it really has been a solid effort.
If Liverpool can eek out a goal and a 1-1 draw to send the competition back to Anfield, it would be quite a moral victory for the Reds and Kenny Dalglish.
Half, United 1-0: United is again going forward from the left. They cross right, and win a series of throws deep in Liverpool’s side. Three minutes of stoppage time to be had. The ball is kept in the right corner until a corner kick is won. Giggs’ ball is cut out short again, and Nani commits a foul. Of course, he protests.
Liverpool wins the ball in midfield, but they give it right back and Nani is fouled by Lucas. Off the kick, Liverpool gets it back and Kuyt makes a little run forward. Liverpool keep inching up the field down the right, but Skrtel commits a dumb foul on Berbatov in midfield. United looks content to kick it around and go to half. Giggs gets the ball on the left, and he wins a corner. The corner is well taken, and Johnny Evans gets his head to it. It goes off the inside of the post, and rattles out. Thereafter, Liverpool clears. Half time.
42‘, United 1-0: Liverpool come forward on the right side, winning a throw in the United half. Kelly’s cross is cleared, but kept by Liverpool. Rodriguez takes an ill-advised long shot from way out — it goes well high. United builds from the back. They loiter in midfield, and then Carrick sends a ball too long for Chicharito — goal kick.
39‘, United 1-0: United casually come forward — Liverpool is no longer pressing. Nani makes a dangerous run off the right — combining with Rafael. He goes 5-hole on Agger, but his shot can’t beat Reina at the near post. On the longball counter, Kuyt misfires. Rafael pushes Maxi in the back, and Rodriguez embellishes the injury somewhat.
36‘, United 1-0: Liverpool now has quite the hill to climb with only 10 men — and without their most important player. Gerrard had been creating opportunities for Torres, a duty that others will have to fill. United’s fans are getting noisy. A sloppy play at Liverpool’s back nearly results in a Berbatov breakaway. Liverpool wins a foul in midfield.
33‘, United 1-0: Michael Carrick is challenged hard by Gerrard in midfield, diving two footed from Carrick’s blind side. The foul could be a yellow, a red, or nothing — depending on how you see it. Webb hands Gerrard a red. Red Card — what a call. Liverpool is down to 10 — without the captain. Carrick hobbles off.
30‘, United 1-0: Liverpool comes forward down the right from midfield. They switch fields at the top of the final third. They try to work Torres free with some combination passing at the top of the box, and though it looks promisin,g United win it back. Torres is fouled by Ferdinand in midfield, and Liverpool builds from there. Kelly takes it up the right and gives to Kuyt. Kuyt finds Gerrard on the side of the box, but his low shot is right at Kucszak — no worry. United are awarded the ball in midfield off the clearance. Gerrard sends a longball for Torres, but he misses long. There’s a lot more of Gerrard-Torres action in this match than in matches past.
27‘, United 1-0: Giggs sends a cross towards Nani, but it is thwarted — but Skrtel’s defense is nervy thereafter and he has to pass back to Reina under pressure. United get the ball back off the clearance, but eventually, a through pass lands in Reina’s hands. They win the ball off the clearance, but a longball for Giggs goes awry. The teams exchange long kicks thereafter.
24‘, United 1-0: United continue to pressure, with Evra making a run forward from the left. Liverpool counter after his cross is cut out, but Gerrard’s through pass to Torres is flagged for offside. United casually build from the back, but Liverpool offer some pressure, and force United to start all over again. They switch fields to the left, and win a throw in the final third.
21‘, United 1-0: The corner is cut out at the near post, sent back in, and cleared long by Rafael. United win the throw on the right and come forward, but a ball for Fletcher is sent long and Liverpool build up from midfield. Aurelio’s cross is deflected, but Liverpool keeps possession. An effort from Maxi is saved relatively easily by Kusczak, and it is cleared out. The next effort forward results in a dangerous cross, but Ferdinand cuts it out. Liverpool keeps the pressure on, but Gerrard’s shot from distance is well high. United come forward themselves, and a cross results in a corner. The cross is cleared partially, but United’s next ball back in goes to nobody.
18′, United 1-0: Giggs’ corner is short at the near post and cleared to the left for a United throw. Berbatov gets a low cross in, but it is cut out. United rebuild from center. A ball is sent for Rafael on the right, but it is too heavy for the Brazilian to catch up to. United again build from the back, but lose out in midfield. Evra concedes a corner to Kelly.
15′, United 1-0: United holds in midfield until Hernandez curls into space in the center, but his second touch lets him down. Seconds later, Hernandez nearly makes a great run on a ball from Fletcher, but he was slightly offside. Liverpool come forward and set up shop in the final third. A cross in to Torres results in United claiming the ball in the air and eventually winning a goal kick. Carrick finds Giggs off the goal kick, and Giggs wins a corner.
12′, United 1-0: United build from the back down the left, but Liverpool force throws on the side twice. Glen Johnson is apparently out because he is in the maternity ward. Liverpool have a minor chance, getting a cross in from the right, but Kusczak collects it easily. United build from the back, but Liverpool is applying more forward pressure than they did in games past. Nani wins a throw up the left, but United retreats back into their own side. They are already shortening the game.
9′, United 1-0: United keep the possession in midfield until Carrick concedes a free kick. Liverpool try to build right but concede a throw. The teams exchange the ball in that area til Johnny Evans commits a foul at the top of the final third. Liverpool comes forward, but the free kick is headed out and cleared. The teams trade it in midfield with some physical play, and Darren Fletcher is awared a yellow for his foul on Kuyt.
6′, United 1-0: Liverpool make a decent effort forward as Gerrard beats Johnny Evans. His pass to Torres at the top of the area isn’t quite right, and Torres misfires. United control in midfield, but a pass to the right to Berbatov is overhit. Still, United get it right back in the same area.
3′, United 1-0: So, in a matter of seconds, United have won a penalty. Berbatov receives a longball in the box and controls. Daniel Agger puts a hand on his back — barely pushing — and Berbatov goes to ground and claims the penalty. Howard Webb points to the spot. Giggs converts. 1-0 United.
8 a.m.: Dalglish looks to be fielding a lineup much more like those seen during the Benitez era — Aurelio and Agger starting and Kuyt up top with Torres.
United will be without Wayne Rooney or Edwin Van der Sar.
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Martin Kelly (34), defender
Martin Skrtel (37), defender
Daniel Agger (5), defender
Fabio Aurelio (6), defender
Maxi Rodriguez (17), midfielder
Lucas (21), midfielder
Raul Meireles (4), midfielder
Steven Gerrard (8), midfielder
Fernando Torres (9), forward
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
Substitutes
Peter Gulacsi (42)
Danny Wilson (22)
Sotirios Kyrgiakos (16)
Jonjo Shelvey (33)
Christian Poulsen (28)
David Ngog (24)
Ryan Babel (19)
Manchester United
Tomasz Kusczak (29), goalkeeper
Johnny Evans (23), defender
Rafael (21), defender
Patrice Evra (3), defender
Rio Ferdinand (5), defender
Nani (17), midfielder
Darren FLetcher (24), midfielder
Ryan Giggs (11), midfielder
Michael Carrick (16), midfielder
Javier Hernandez (14), forward
Dimitar Berbatov (9), forward
Substitutes
Anders Lindegaard (34)
Fabio Da Silva (20)
Chris Smalling (12)
Anderson (8)
Darron Gibson (28)
Gabriel Obertan (26)
Michael Owen (7)
5 a.m.: The new decade has started in the most tumultuous of manners at Anfield, but after a final dismal result at EWood Park on Wednesday, Kenny Dalglish will return to replace Roy Hodgson as Liverpool manager after two decades off the job.
In what is just the third round of the competition, Liverpool has drawn the most challenging — but rewarding — task available, a trip to Old Trafford to face their fiercest rivals — who haven’t lost in the Premier League since April 2010.
Prior to leaving Liverpool, Hodgson had called on the club to rally for the match and achieve the upset. Now, with Dalglish at the helm, the Reds will be looking to make such a statement for totally different reasons.
Wayne Rooney had been expected to miss the match with an ankle injury, but he has proved fit in time for the competition. Paul Scholes, though, does remain sidelined for United. For Liverpool, no new injuries should play significant roles in squad selection.
United have lost in the third round of the cup once in Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure began in 1986 — last season to Leeds United. They’ll be out to prevent a repeat performance.
Liverpool is 3-4-8 in the competition all-time against United.
Lineups will be posted prior to kickoff, which is at 8:30 a.m. ET.