Liverpool 0-0 Blackburn: Frustrated Reds forced into FA Cup replay

Gary Bowyer's men produced an obstinate
defensive display at Anfield as Brendan Rodgers'
men ran out of ideas after losing Martin Skrtel to
injury in the opening minutes
Liverpool must win at Ewood Park to secure their
place in the FA Cup semi-finals after being
frustrated by a resilient Blackburn at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers' men headed into the quarter-
final tie with six wins from their last seven
matches in all competitions.
But they endured a frustrating afternoon against
their Championship opponents, creating little of
note in the first half after their defender Martin
Skrtel required extended medical attention
following an aerial challenge with Blackburn
frontman Rudy Gestede. Kolo Toure, on in place of Skrtel, hit the post as
Liverpool increased the pressure during the
second period but they must now head to Ewood
Park to maintain their hopes of giving club
captain Steven Gerrard - an injury absentee once
more on Sunday - a memorable Wembley send-
off.
Skrtel landed heavily and momentarily lost
consciousness following a second-minute aerial
duel with Gestede and the Liverpool man left the
field on a stretcher - gesturing positively to the
crowd following a worryingly long period of
treatment.
Gestede made his presence felt once more in the
13th minute, climbing powerfully to beat Simon
Mignolet to the ball but heading wide.
Liverpool were still struggling for their usual
fluency as Adam Lallana had a 19th-minute
penalty claim rejected - Rovers defender Matt
Kilgallon completing a risky last-ditch challenge.
Raheem Sterling got back to block Gestede as the
striker wound up a volley, the ball striking the
England man's hand but prompting no penalty
appeal from Blackburn.
The clearest opening of the first half fell to the
visitors in the 32nd minute as the impressive
Gestede dummied cleverly for Craig Conway to
slice wastefully off target.
Toure was caught out of position on that attack
and he was soon involved at the other end,
converting Daniel Sturridge's set-piece knockdown
from an offside position.
Blackburn goalkeeper Simon Eastwood was under
employed during the first half but reacted sharply
to beat away a venomous shot on the turn from
Sturridge during the seventh of eight minutes
added on for Skrtel's injury.
It was announced on the Anfield public address
system at half-time that the Slovakia
international, who went to hospital for a
precautionary scan, had suffered no serious
damage but his team-mates still grasped
unconvincingly for their best form when the
action resumed.
Mignolet needed a save of the highest quality to
keep out Alex Baptiste’s header from Conway's
49th-minute corner.
The game's latest marginal penalty shout arrived
in the 55th minute as Kilgallon put his arm
across Sturridge and the England striker went
down. Again, referee Andre Marriner was
unmoved.
Toure almost broke the deadlock as the hour
approached, heading Philippe Coutinho's free-kick
from the left into the turf and against the right-
hand post.
In the 73rd minute, Baptiste misjudged a
defensive header but Sturridge could only blast
wide of the near post.
There was relentless Liverpool pressure during the
closing stages but, aside from a save on the
angle to deny Jordan Henderson in the 83rd
minute, Eastwood was well protected.
As they did in round four after being held by
Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool must now travel to a
Championship club to progress, while Blackburn
retain hopes of repeating their giant-killing feats
of two seasons ago against Arsenal.

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