London: This season's FA Cup favourites Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0-0 draw at third tier Stevenage Sunday but Liverpool laid their claim to be the real frontrunners with a 6-1 fifth-round thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool, whose win came thanks to an early Martin Skrtel goal, a neat Andy Carroll finish, three own goals and a late Luis Suarez header, next host last term's runners-up Stoke City in the quarter finals after they prevailed 2-0 at Crawley Town.
Louis Saha had the ball in the net but his shot clipped an offside Scott Parker on the line to sum up a bad day for Spurs, the best-ranked team left in the Cup after holders Manchester City lost in an earlier round like Manchester United.
Gareth Bale had a superb shot tipped around the post by Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, a Spurs fan who started his career at the north London club.
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"At the end of the game it got stretched and we were on the front foot. I think we did our homework, they had possession but we had a couple of chances," Day told ITV.
Joel Byrom had two decent efforts for a hard-working Stevenage on a bumpy pitch and they now have the carrot of a home tie with Bolton Wanderers in the quarter-finals on March 17 or 18 to urge them on in the replay on March 7.
Liverpool, facing Cardiff City in next Sunday's League Cup final, took a fifth-minute lead when Skrtel headed in Steven Gerrard's corner but a Kazenga LuaLua cracker from a free kick brought second tier Brighton level.
Liam Bridcutt conspired to put into his own net twice on 44 and 71 minutes either side of striker Carroll, starting with Gerrard and Suarez for the first time, finishing with aplomb to silence critics of his lacklustre form.
Liverpool, whose win came thanks to an early Martin Skrtel goal, a neat Andy Carroll finish, three own goals and a late Luis Suarez header, next host last term's runners-up Stoke City in the quarter finals after they prevailed 2-0 at Crawley Town.
Louis Saha had the ball in the net but his shot clipped an offside Scott Parker on the line to sum up a bad day for Spurs, the best-ranked team left in the Cup after holders Manchester City lost in an earlier round like Manchester United.
Gareth Bale had a superb shot tipped around the post by Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, a Spurs fan who started his career at the north London club.
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"At the end of the game it got stretched and we were on the front foot. I think we did our homework, they had possession but we had a couple of chances," Day told ITV.
Joel Byrom had two decent efforts for a hard-working Stevenage on a bumpy pitch and they now have the carrot of a home tie with Bolton Wanderers in the quarter-finals on March 17 or 18 to urge them on in the replay on March 7.
Liverpool, facing Cardiff City in next Sunday's League Cup final, took a fifth-minute lead when Skrtel headed in Steven Gerrard's corner but a Kazenga LuaLua cracker from a free kick brought second tier Brighton level.
Liam Bridcutt conspired to put into his own net twice on 44 and 71 minutes either side of striker Carroll, starting with Gerrard and Suarez for the first time, finishing with aplomb to silence critics of his lacklustre form.
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