Crouch intent on making United pay

REVENGE will be in the air when Liverpool try to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup for the first time since 1921.

Liverpool are still smarting from an injury-time defeat in the league at Old Trafford last month when Rio Ferdinand’s flying header prompted a damaging spell of four Barclays Premiership matches without a victory for the Anfield side.

Rafael Benitez’s men felt they were the better team that day and did not deserve to lose. Tomorrow’s game gives Liverpool the chance to redress the balance and Peter Crouch is determined to end United’s dreams of a Carling Cup and FA Cup double.

“I am sure the fans will relish the chance for us to play United again,” he said. “We shouldn’t have lost at Old Trafford, it is as simple as that. I’d love another crack at them because I fancy us to get the result this time.”

Crouch has missed the last two matches with a heel injury but was close to making the squad for Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.

However, with Robbie Fowler ineligible for tomorrow Benitez opted not to take any risks with Crouch.

Liverpool took a lot of criticism for the league defeat by United after dominating for long spells but failing to create enough chances to finish off the game.

“We were worth at least one point from that game, probably three given how much possession and territory we had, but you don’t get anything for nothing in football,” said Crouch.

“We had chances, didn’t take them and paid a heavy penalty for switching off for a second at the end.

“We want to win the FA Cup so it maybe would have been better to get a home draw against one of the smaller sides left in the competition,” said Crouch.

“But I suppose if you want to win the FA Cup you have to beat whoever they put in front of you.”

A trophy at the end of Crouch’s first season at Liverpool would make up for all the personal abuse he received during his goal drought following the £7m move from Southampton.

And the giant striker believes his game has improved enormously in his time under Benitez.

To put Manchester United out of the cup in front of Liverpool’s own fans would no doubt make all the hard work justified as far as Crouch is concerned.