adminLONDON. – Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice to rescue Liverpool from FA Cup embarrassment and led them into the fourth round after a tricky 2-1 win at fourth-tier AFC Wimbledon on Monday night.In the night’s other cup match, Premier League strugglers Burnley fought back from a goal down at Turf Moor to draw 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur and force a replay to decide who then takes on Leicester City.
Liverpool will move on to play second-tier Bolton Wanderers in the next round but only after a night of living dangerously with determined League Two opponents who looked far from overawed.
“That was a very tough game,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the BBC. “We lost our sort of shape within the game and presented them with chances by giving the ball away.
“We had to defend right the way through to the end.”
Rodgers also believes an FA Cup birthday present would be the perfect send-off for Gerrard.
The 34-year-old showed just what Liverpool will miss next season in his first game since confirming he will leave his boyhood club in the summer.
And Rodgers backed the Reds to chase FA Cup glory in his honour, with the May 30 final the same day the Anfield skipper turns 35.
Meanwhile, fourth-tier Cambridge United, the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup, will host 11-times winners Manchester United after Monday night’s draw for the fourth round of the competition.
Holders Arsenal will travel to Championship (second tier) Brighton & Hove Albion while joint English Premier League leaders Chelsea will face Championship Millwall or third tier Bradford City on January 24 or 25.
Champions Manchester City are at home to Championship side Middlesbrough and Birmingham City entertain West Bromwich Albion in a Midlands derby.
Draw for the fourth-round of the English FA Cup on January 24 and 25
Southampton or Ipswich Town (II) v Crystal Palace
Cambridge United (IV) v Manchester United
Blackburn Rovers (II) v Swansea City
Chelsea v Millwall (II) or Bradford City (III)
Derby County (II) v Scunthorpe United (III) or Chesterfield (III)
Preston North End (III) v Sheffield United (III)
Birmingham City (II) v West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa v AFC Bournemouth (II)
Cardiff City (II) v Reading (II)
Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers (II)
Burnley or Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
Brighton & Hove Albion (II) v Arsenal
Rochdale (III) v Stoke City
Sunderland v Fulham (II) or Wolverhampton Wanderers (II)
Doncaster Rovers (III) or Bristol City (III) v Everton or West Ham United
Manchester City v Middlesbrough (II). –AFP.
Online Reporter