Cup exits spurred us on says Crouch

Last updated : 02 April 2007 By Al Campbell
Arsenal knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup 3-1 and out of the Carling Cup 6-3, both times at Anfield. Rafael Benitez used those earlier defeats to fire up the Reds on Saturday revealed Peter Crouch.

"The manager gave us a reminder of those two cup defeats against Arsenal by sticking the scores up on a board in the dressing room," said the hat-trick hero.

"He didn't say much, but he didn't really need to.

"It hurt us as players to get turned over at home like that, and looking at the scores again reminded us all how disappointing we had been against Arsenal this season and how we owed it to our supporters to make amends. You could sense the mood of determination.

"We all agreed we had to put things right, as we gazed up at the board and saw 1-3 and 3-6, and I think that showed in the way we played."