Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson blamed bad luck and missing key players for bowing out of the FA Cup on Saturday after losing to Liverpool. "You need an element of luck in the cup and we didn't have it," BBC Sport quoted Ferguson as saying in the post-match press conference. "We lost Rio Ferdinand after training on Friday then Mikael Silvestre got a knock." England striker Peter Crouch headed home in the first-half as United lost 1-0 and suffered their first defeat against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 85 years. "It has been 85 years since Liverpool beat us in the FA Cup and I was hoping it would be another 85 years then I wouldn't be around to see it," the Scot said.
Rio Ferdinand But Ferguson admitted that Liverpool succeeded in setting the rhythm and forced United to play the game in their opponents' way. "We found it hard to get our momentum going, but we stuck at it and I felt we dominated the second half," Ferguson said. "We started the game badly, but Liverpool can play for five minutes and win a game. They have got height up front, get balls into the box and make it an aerial battle. "They are dangerous at set-pieces and maybe we just didn't have enough height in our team and their goal emphasized that." The Carling Cup final against Wigan next week remains Ferguson's only chance to win a title this season after United lost hope to catch Chelsea at the top of the Premiership table and exit the Champions League from the group phase.
