AFC Wimbledon vs. Liverpool: Score, Grades, Reaction from FA Cup Game

AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Liverpool

Steven Gerrard scored twice to ensure there would be no repeat of the 1988 FA Cup final defeat for Liverpool at the hands of AFC Wimbledon.

The Anfield captain, who announced on Friday his exit from the club at the end of the season, headed Brendan Rodgers' team in front in the 12th minute.

But Wimbledon hit back when a strong spell of pressure resulted in Adebayo Akinfenwa forcing the ball home after a Simon Mignolet error from a corner.

The interval came as a relief for the Premier League team who had been under the cosh, but Gerrard remained calm in the 62nd minute when he curled home a free-kick to see Liverpool through to the fourth round.

Javier Manquillo was left hobbling in the first minute after a challenge from Sean Rigg, but the Spaniard attempted to run off the ankle problem.

Wimbledon had an early chance to test Mignolet in the eighth minute when Akinfenwa and Matt Tubbs both flicked on to set up Rigg, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

But in the 12th minute, Liverpool took the lead through their captain. Gerrard sent the ball wide for Manquillo, whose cross was met by the Reds skipper to head home past James Shea.

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Steven Gerrard scores to put Liverpool 1-0 ahead of Wimbledon in FA Cup; Goal number 181 for #LFC https://t.co/jGTmx7dh62

— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) January 5, 2015"

Philippe Coutinho set Lazar Markovic free down the left in the 19th minute, but Barry Fuller did enough in shadowing the Reds player to force him to shoot wide from a tight angle.

However, there were few other chances in the opening half hour of the game, with the home side failing to pressurise their Premier League rivals until Martin Skrtel cut out a dangerous George Francomb cross and Mignolet produced a great tip-over to deny Rigg.

A long ball forward from Shea almost had Liverpool reeling in the 33rd minute. Akinfenwa touched the ball on for Tubbs, but the striker hooked his effort wide when he could have caused Mignolet a serious problem.

In the 36th minute, the home side were rewarded for that spell of pressure with an equaliser. Francomb's corner was missed by Mignolet and Fuller forced the ball against the crossbar. The rebound dropped invitingly for Akinfenwa, who bundled home.

The Wimbledon goalscorer was then cautioned moments later when referee Jon Moss noted the number of illegal challenges he had made already and penalised the striker for a clash with Skrtel.

The half-time whistle came as a relief for the Anfield club, but Wimbledon were on the attack early in the second period and Gerrard needed to be alert to head an Adam Barrett header off the line.

Rigg took advantage of an Emre Can error to chase in on the Liverpool goal in the 52nd minute, but fired wide of the target.

Liverpool were appealing for a 57th-minute penalty when the ball struck Fuller on the arm, but it was clear there was no intent on the part of the Dons defender. And on the hour mark, Fuller entered the referee's notebook for a foul on Coutinho.

But the resulting free-kick produced an even worse outcome for the Wimbledon vice-captain and his team-mates when Gerrard placed the ball beyond the diving Shea to make it 2-1.

Within a minute, though, the home side almost levelled once more when Dannie Bulman shot just over from 10 yards out.

Gerrard led a 68th-minute breakaway for Liverpool, but Shea saved comfortably from Rickie Lambert's shot after the striker was found by the Reds captain.

Manquillo eventually left the field in the 71st minute due in part to his early knock and was replaced by Jose Enrique.

After Coutinho had been cautioned, Brendan Rodgers replaced Lambert with Mario Balotelli, while Rigg was switched for Ade Azeez for Wimbledon.

With five minutes remaining, Liverpool looked set to seal the tie when Coutinho broke clear and found Markovic inside the Dons' area. But the winger's effort was tame and straight at Shea.

Mignolet was criticised over the Wimbledon goal, but he spared Liverpool in injury-time when he denied Azeez with a tackle.

Gerrard was denied a hat-trick in the closing stages by a clearance off the line, but his work for the night had already proved decisive.

Selected Player Ratings

Steven Gerrard: A-

It had to be the Liverpool captain to open the scoring after announcing his end-of-season departure from the club before the weekend, while his winning strike was a perfect free-kick. Not his greatest display but still an inspirational figure when required.

Simon Mignolet: B

Produced a great tip-over in the first period to keep Wimbledon at bay, but his lack of command and presence for the home side's equaliser was woeful. Redeemed himself with a late tackle to thwart a second Dons equaliser, though.

Sean Rigg: A

An excellent display from the Wimbledon man. Always looking for an opportunity for goal, he was a lively presence who Liverpool struggled to handle.

What's ahead

AFC Wimbledon will return to action on Saturday when they make the relatively short trip to Stevenage in League Two.

Liverpool open the Premier League weekend with a Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Sunderland, where Brendan Rodgers is likely to alter his starting XI to keep players fresh.

The Reds will also now play host to Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup fourth round.

Post-Match Reaction

Gerrard and Rodgers both commented on the skipper's two-goal display, via This Is Anfield: