ROTHERHAM UNITED v LIVERPOOL
Matt Smith (MS): It's this time of year again. The FA Cup is back in full swing and you join me today watching 2 teams flying high in their divisions. Liverpool are currently 2 points clear of Chelsea at the top of the division and are hoping to have another FA Cup run and do one better than last season and win the cup. However don't discount the underdogs, Rotherham United are also doing well in the league below. Rotherham are currently lying in a play-off spot.
Roy Keane (RK): I actually reckon we are about to witness a very good game today. You have to teams out wanting to carry on good form and even though Liverpool are undeniable favourites you can't discount Rotherham because they definalty have players that can hurt you.
Gareth Southgate (GS): Well I discounted Rotherham last season against West Ham and they proved me wrong but I really, really cannot see them doing well this time. I think that with the quality that Liverpool have, they can win this one very easily.
RK: It's all about whether they come out with the right menatility and I bet that Brendan Rodgers has watched a few of Rotherhams games and thought to himself, hey this is not a bad side and we can't underestimate them. I think Brendan will play to his strengths and Liverpool will win this.
MS: Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 8 games, do you think that this will maybe make Liverpool a little bit complacent?
GS: Not at all, Liverpool want to win this FA Cup you just know that. They want to evenge their final defeat last year and they won't underestimate anyone or get complacent you would think.
K: Liverpool know that Rotherham aren't push-overs and they have the quality, I really think they will easily win.
GS: I think they will to.
Line-Ups
The Game
2' Lars Bender makes a good run into the Rotherham half and finds Suarez who darts into the penalty box and has a shot, however Bunn gets enough onto it to parry it away. The resulting corner is headed over by Skrtel
15' GOAL!!! Rotherham 0 - 1 Liverpool. Reece Brown holds up the ball outside the area and finds Suarez who knocks it straight on towards Borini. Borini sprints into the box taking on 2 players and slots it past a stranded Bunn.
22' A Liverpool throw-in lands to the feet of Lennon. Lennon holds onto the ball and finds Lars Bender who, from 30 yards out, decides to hit a shot. It is curling into the top corner but out of nowhere Bunn comes up with an unbelievable save to keep the score as it is.
40' Suarez makes a break through the Rotherham defence and is in clear on goal, however, Jordan Spence somehow manages to catch up to the Uruguayan and put in a textbook tackle.
42' GOAL!!! Rotherham 0 - 2 Liverpool. A corner is taken by Liverpool and it is fumbled around in the box and Rotherham miss a few chances to clear it. It falls to Skrtel who keeps his head calm and slots it home from 2 yards out.
44' A chance goes begging for Rotherham. A brilliant passing move instigated by Tom Lawrence ends up with Nicky Adams running into the box. Adams finds youngster Ismail H'Maidet running in on the opposite side to the box with a beautiful ball and all H'Maidet has to do is pass it in and yet somehow he has put it wide.
HT
Substitution (RTM): Ismail H'Maidet off, Michael O'Connor on.
Substitution (LVP): Joe Allen off, Steven Gerrard on.
72' GOAL!!! Rotherham 1 - 2 Liverpool. A fantastic counter-attack by Rotherham. Spence picks it up in the full-back position and puts in a wonderfull ball into on-rushing Nicky Adams. Adams finds his way past Jose Enrique and puts in a cross to the backpost and 20 year-old Tom Lawrence is there to poke it in. Is this comeback time?
Substitution (RTM): Conor Newton off, Jack Price on.
84' GOAL!!! Rotherham 1 - 3 Liverpool. A promising attack by Rotherham turns into despair. Tom Lawrence is dispossesed on the edge of the Liverpool box by Bender who lumps the ball up the field. Byran Webster looks as if he is easily getting the ball but somehow manages to mishead it straight into the path of Suarez who as the easiest of finishes. Comeback off.
Substitution (RTM): Byran Webster off, Craig Morgan on.
FT