Reds’ late goal beats Manchester United in FA Cup

LONDON - Reuters

Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt celebrates his goal against Manchester United during their FA Cup match. REUTERS photo

Substitute Dirk Kuyt struck two minutes from time to give hosts Liverpool a 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Manchester United on Jan. 28 with visiting captain Patrice Evra being booed throughout and making a mistake for the winner.

Mike Williamson was the fall guy for Newcastle United as his 76th-minute own goal meant Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion knocked out the Premier League side 1-0 in the late kickoff.

Fourth-tier Crawley Town stunned second division Hull City by the same score in the only other shock, while Chelsea also beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0.

United left back Evra was given a hostile Anfield reception after the Frenchman’s involvement in a spat with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez in October, which led to the Uruguayan forward’s current eight-match ban for racial abuse.

Kenny Dalglish’s side, still missing the verve offered by Suarez, took the lead on 21 minutes when Daniel Agger headed in a corner that struggling United goalkeeper David de Gea failed to collect after he was crowded out by the hosts.

United, without the injured Wayne Rooney, hit back through a crisp strike inside the near post from Park Ji-sung on 39 minutes and the visitors had other good chances, with Antonio Valencia hitting the post.

Liverpool had the last laugh, though, when Andy Carroll flicked on the ball to leave Evra out of position and Kuyt slammed it in when De Gea could again have done better.

Asked if Liverpool had merited victory, captain Steven Gerrard told ITV Sport: “Not on possession, probably not on general play; we’ve got to give Manchester United credit, they controlled large periods of the game today, but the most important thing was the result and we got there in the end.”

Liverpool was woeful in a league defeat at struggling Bolton last week but eliminated Premier League leader City to reach the League Cup final.