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By Mark Ashenden
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 Albert Riera unleashes a shot to unlock the Preston defence
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A stunning Albert Riera strike and a late Fernando Torres tap-in helped Liverpool to victory at Preston in a pulsating FA Cup third-round clash.
With Liverpool dominating, Riera's trickery opened up the defence on 23 minutes and his shot flew in the corner past goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.
Sean St Ledger looked to have equalised for Preston, but his header was ruled out because of a silly Jon Parkin foul.
Steven Gerrard unselfishly set up Torres in injury-time to seal the win.
Gerrard showed no signs of distraction after his arrest for assault last week, and his form fully justified Rafael Benitez's decision to keep faith with his captain with the England midfielder was at the heart of everything for Liverpool.
Preston went into the game in decent form, winning six of their last 10 games in the Championship, giving them every reason to fancy their chances against the side sitting at the top of the Premier League.
The form of Ross Wallace has been key to Preston's rise with the on-loan winger scoring three times since his move from Sunderland, and his sizzling free-kick after five minutes forced Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri into a plunging save.
The rest of the half involved a sea of red piling forward. The alarm bells were ringing for Preston after just 11 minutes when Riera's speed set up Robbie Keane who shot badly wide.
With a Gerrard volley falling into the grateful hands of Lonergan, it was not long before the visitors grabbed the lead on 24 minutes.
Despite a lucky bobble that enabled the ball to end up with Riera on the edge of the box, there was nothing lucky about the finish.
The 26-year-old Spanish international twisted and turned and with the defenders mesmerized, the ball was soon flying into the top right corner.
Keane should have had a hat-trick by half-time, but a combination of keeper Lonergan and wasteful shooting denied the Irish striker.
The second period began in similar fashion and Daniel Agger should have doubled the lead when he nodded a Gerrard corner shockingly wide.
On the hour, Gerrard's side-footed shot was tipped over by Lonergan, but it seemed to kick-start a Preston revival.
St Ledger headed the ball into the net with 17 minutes remaining, but the wild celebrations were curtailed with the impressive Parkin having been spotted hauling down Jamie Carragher on the goa-lline.
For the final 20 minutes, Liverpool looked a little wobbly with Parkin and Wallace proving a real menace.
As Alan Irvine's men poured forward in search of the equaliser Liverpool broke away and Gerrard capped off a fine display by selflessly setting up substitute Torres to tap in from three yards.
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson (Nolan 56), Sedgwick, Chaplow (Nicholson 81), McKenna, Wallace, Parkin, Mellor (Elliott 62).
Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Brown, Carter, Whaley.
Booked: Chaplow.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Insua, Alonso (Leiva Lucas 46), Mascherano (Aurelio 83), Babel, Gerrard, Riera, Keane (Torres 73).
Subs Not Used: Reina, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel.
Goals: Riera 25, Torres 90.
Att: 23,046
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
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