Steven Gerrard brace downs AFC Wimbledon

Steven Gerrard scored twice as Liverpool battled to a 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon in the third round of the FA Cup this evening.

Sean Rigg threatened early on for the hosts when he latched on to a flick down the left, before drilling a strike across goal and just wide of the far post.

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However, it was Liverpool who took the lead just moments later, as Steven Gerrard arrived to meet Javier Manquillo's cross and powered a header into the corner.

Lazar Markovic was close to grabbing a second for the Reds when he burst into the box and fired a strike just past the top corner.

Wimbledon eventually grew into the game and Simon Mignolet had to be alert to tip Rigg's powerful drive over the bar, before Jake Goodman headed the resulting corner behind.

The hosts came close again as Liverpool failed to deal with a ball over the top, allowing Matt Tubbs time to turn and fire a shot inches wide of the post.

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In the 36th minute the Dons finally made the breakthrough, as Adebayo Akinfenwa poked home from inside the six-yard box after Mamadou Sakho had headed the ball onto his own bar.

Wimbledon went into the break on level terms and they started the second half full of confidence, with Rigg driving clear and firing an effort just over.

The Reds then felt that they should have been awarded a penalty when Barry Fuller appeared to handle the ball inside the box, but the referee waved away their appeals.

Liverpool began to take command of the tie and they retook the lead just past the hour mark when Gerrard curled a free kick into the top corner.

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The Dons responded well to that setback and they almost found an immediate response when Dannie Bulman lashed a strike inches over the bar.

As the hosts pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser, they left themselves open to the counter and Rickie Lambert had a chance to grab Liverpool's third on the break, but his low shot was stopped at the near post by the legs of James Shea.

Gerrard curled a free kick just wide and Philippe Coutinho fired straight at the keeper from close range, as the Reds wasted a number of chances to make the game safe.

Liverpool came close again in stoppage time when Gerrard's shot was cleared off the line, but their slim advantage proved to be enough as they held on to win and book a fourth-round tie against Bolton Wanderers.