Sir Alex Ferguson was unable to mask
the shattering disappointment of crashing out of the FA Cup to
Liverpool.
His Manchester
United side batted back from falling behind to Daniel Agger's header but
were undone by Dirk Kuyt's late strike.
And Ferguson did not think it was possible United would fail once Park had levelled.
'To lose the game is hard to
believe,' said the Scot. 'We dominated the game and we were comfortable.
'Our movement off the ball was good and I thought we were in the driving seat.'
Indeed, so much in command did Ferguson think the visitors were that he introduced Javier Hernandez in an effort to avoid a replay.
'I was looking to win it,' he said. 'I thought Javier's pace around the edge of the box would be difficult to handle.
'To lose it is a real sickening blow.'
Ferguson defended goalkeeper David de
Gea, who seemed to be at fault for Agger's opener.
'Our own players created a problem for the first goal,' he said.
'They didn't give him enough room to deal with it.'
With hopes of winning either of the two domestic cup competitions now at an end and qualification for the Europa League only coming out due to a failure in the Champions League, the Premier League now takes on even greater significance.
Trips to Chelsea and Tottenham, plus a home game against Liverpool must be negotiated over the next month.
However, before that, Stoke visit Old
Trafford on Tuesday, with Ferguson desperately hoping to get at least
one of the nine players missing this afternoon back on the pitch.
'Rio only had one training session yesterday and we couldn't gamble with that,' said Ferguson, of Rio Ferdinand, who remained on the bench after recovering from a back spasm.
'He will train tomorrow and Monday. He could be right for Tuesday.'
Slumped: Manchester United were knocked out of
the FA Cup
And Ferguson did not think it was possible United would fail once Park had levelled.
'Our movement off the ball was good and I thought we were in the driving seat.'
Indeed, so much in command did Ferguson think the visitors were that he introduced Javier Hernandez in an effort to avoid a replay.
'I was looking to win it,' he said. 'I thought Javier's pace around the edge of the box would be difficult to handle.
'To lose it is a real sickening blow.'
Part time: Liverpool celebrate scoring the
winning goal
'Our own players created a problem for the first goal,' he said.
'They didn't give him enough room to deal with it.'
With hopes of winning either of the two domestic cup competitions now at an end and qualification for the Europa League only coming out due to a failure in the Champions League, the Premier League now takes on even greater significance.
Trips to Chelsea and Tottenham, plus a home game against Liverpool must be negotiated over the next month.
Shocked Sir Alex Ferguson watches his side lose
to Liverpool
'Rio only had one training session yesterday and we couldn't gamble with that,' said Ferguson, of Rio Ferdinand, who remained on the bench after recovering from a back spasm.
'He will train tomorrow and Monday. He could be right for Tuesday.'
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