Blackburn 0-1 Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho winner sends Reds into FA Cup semi-finals after nervy quarter-final replay at Ewood Park
- Philippe Coutinho scored in the 70th minute for Liverpool at Ewood Park
- The Brazilian found the bottom corner of Simon Eastwood's goal in FA Cup quarter-final replay
- The first tie between the two sides at Anfield last month ended in a goalless draw
- Liverpool to face Aston Villa in semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, April 19
If Liverpool are to present Steven Gerrard with an FA Cup Final at which to say his goodbyes and, in doing so, save their season, it seems they will do it the hard way.
At a lively Ewood Park, Liverpool’s modern frailties were on show once again. Huge swathes of possession but too few real chances and, of course, the occasional moment of rather odd defensive work.
It was the same as Liverpool struggled past Bolton in February. Indeed it was the same when they won at AFC Wimbledon in the round before that.
Brendan Rodgers does have quality in his squad, though. There is no doubt about that. And when you have players like the terrific Brazilian Philippe Coutinho then the keys to get you out of jail are always within reach.
Here in Lancashire, Coutinho’s timing was perfect. With Blackburn having just thrown on their muscular forward Rudy Gestede for the final 25 minutes, the home crowd had become excited and the team from the Championship were threatening to build some momentum.
Liverpool celebrated a place in the FA Cup semi-finals after beating Blackburn, setting up a Wembley encounter with Aston Villa
Philippe Coutinho scored the decisive goal for Liverpool with 20 minutes to play in their quarter-final replay at Ewood Park
Jordan Henderson, Kolo Toure and Joe Allen celebrate after Liverpool secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates with Henderson after his team ousted the Championship outfit
Blackburn players look dejected while Liverpool celebrate their progression after a hard-fought quarter-final replay
Blackburn defender Matt Kilgallon sinks to the floor at the final whistle after Blackburn's elimination
In the 70th minute, however, Coutinho introduced some real craft, exchanging passed with Jordan Henderson at a corner and advancing to drive a low shot past Simon Eastwood and in to the far corner.
At the time one wondered if it would be enough. This, after all, is a Liverpool team running low confidence. It was enough, though. Just about.
Gerrard is going to Wembley for a semi-final against Aston Villa a week on Sunday. The possibility of a remarkable finale for the Liverpool captain remains.
Given all the talk about Liverpool’s use of a three-man defence during the middle part of the season, it was a surprise to see Rodgers’ team revert to a more regular back four here. Perhaps that said as much about the Liverpool manager’s dwindling confidence in Kolo Toure as it did anything else.
With Toure beginning the night on the substitutes’ bench, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren started but it was perhaps indicative of Liverpool’s current problems at the back that, during a first half that they dominated, Blackburn still managed to fashion the two best opportunities.
Liverpool certainly saw a lot of the ball over the first 45 minutes, just as they did at Anfield in the first game a month ago. Once again, though, Blackburn were organised and efficient and that was that it took to keep Liverpool where they wanted them to be.
With Daniel Sturridge lacking in form and touch, there was too little focus to much of what Liverpool did. As such, Blackburn were able to sit back and break on the Barclays Premier League team when they did manage to secure some possession.
Coutinho watches his shot find the bottom corner of the Blackburn goal to give Liverpool the lead with 20 minutes to play
The Brazilian's shot flicks the inside of the far post before nestling in the back of the net at Ewood Park
Coutinho was mobbed by his team-mates after scoring what proved to be Liverpool's winner in the tie
Blackburn goalkeeper Simon Eastwood had a chance in the dying stages to force extra-time, but his shot was saved
Daniel Sturridge, pictured being closed down by Blackburn's Adam Henley, returned to the Liverpool starting line-up
Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling tries to elude the challenge from Blackburn's Henley
Blackburn's Ben Marshall beats Henderson to the ball as he forces a header towards the Liverpool goal
In the first game it was the French-born forward Rudy Gestede who troubled Liverpool with his physicality. Injury kept him out of the starting XI here but Jordan Rhodes and Tom Cairney looked capable of causing Sakho and Lovren some discomfort also and it was a mistake by Sakho that almost undid Liverpool after quarter of an hour last night.
Sakho seemed keen to shepherd a through ball back to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet but pressure from Craig Conway forced the Liverpool defender in to a mistake and ultimately he had to recover ground to block the low shot that followed.
Not long after it was Sakho again who was struggling as a cross from Ben Marshall was headed over by Rhodes. Immediately Sakho signalled that he had a hamstring problem and was replaced by Toure.
On the touchline Rodgers must have wondered when something was going to go his way. Certainly not much was on the field where his forwards — for all their possession — were being let down by a lack of patience and a ball that didn’t seem to want to bounce their way at crucial moments.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet makes a save onto the post to deny Marshall giving Blackburn the lead
Blackburn's Tom Cairney is clipped by Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno after evading the Spaniard's challenge
Liverpool tried to play their football and look for openings. The Brazilian Philippe Coutinho was at the heart of most of their better football but there was a lack of surety in Liverpool’s football in the final third of the field and as such Blackburn goalkeeper ended the first half far from overworked.
Raheem Sterling, jeered throughout by the Blackburn supporters, drove one early shot over and was then outmuscled by Conway as he looked to scamper on to a through pass from Jordan Henderson.
Moments later, Coutinho peeled away intelligently at a corner but only volley against a defender while Sturridge dropped a shot on to the roof of the net from distance and was then betrayed by a poor first touch when Coutinho looked to play him through.
Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Coutinho tries to unlock the Blackburn defence as Kilgallon stands him up
Toure watches on after Blackburn goalkeeper Eastwood makes a save during the first half at Ewood Park
Jordan Rhodes attempts a shot at goal in the second half, but it was blocked by Liverpool defender Toure
Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet punches the ball clear as Blackburn's Rudy Gestede attempts to head the ball
For Liverpool fans it was all rather familiar. Too much of their team’s play has been like this in the last three weeks. From the moment they began their game against Manchester United at Anfield two-and-a-half weeks ago everything has looked a little one-paced.
Glen Johnson did bring a low save from Simon Eastwood with a poked shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 32nd minute before the goalkeeper combined with defender Alex Baptise to smuggle way a shot from Coutinho three minutes later after the ball dropped invitingly from a corner.
Coutinho looked to the heavens after that chance and it probably was the best his team had created in the half. In the opening moments of the second period, however, Blackburn showed rather more penetration as Mignolet was forced to save a Cairney shot from distance and then a Marshall header from the ensuing corner. The second was a very good save indeed.
Cairney steps away from a challenge from Liverpool midfielder Allen during the quarter-final replay
Liverpool manager Rodgers and Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer talk in the technical area
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3031019/Blackburn-0-1-Liverpool-Philippe-Coutinho-winner-sends-Reds-FA-Cup-semi-finals-nervy-quarter-final-replay-Ewood-Park.html#ixzz3WlTFa3WZ
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