Reds escape cup scare

Last updated : 27 January 2008 By Al Campbell
The Reds twice went behind to non-league Havant & Waterlooville before finally winning 5-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup yesterday.

Liverpool started well enough but Richard Paquette headed home from a corner after nine minutes to put Havant in front. The Reds huffed and puffed in front of goal without really creating until Lucas equalised from 25 yards with a fine dipping shot.

That should have been the point for Liverpool to go on and dominate the game but instead they fell behind again on 31 minutes when Alfie Potter took advantage of some dismal defending to put Havant back in front.

Yossi Benayoun levelled things up again three minutes before half time but with the exception of Jermaine Pennant, it was a shockingly below par performance from Liverpool.

Rafael Benitez must have laid down the law at half time as it was a far more professional performance from Liverpool after the interval. Yossi Benayoun turned home a Pennant cross after 54 minutes to finally put the Reds in front. The Israeli then completed his hat-trick when the Havant keeper spilled a Ryan Babel shot at his feet.

Peter Crouch put a bit more gloss on the win minutes from time when he converted subsitute Steven Gerrard's cross for his second goal in the competition this season.