Preston 0 Liverpool 2: Albert Riera's first-half strike and substitute Fernando Torres' late effort saw Liverpool through an increasingly difficult FA Cup third round tie at Deepdale.
Liverpool dominated the first half but had only Riera's effort to show for a string of wasted chances.
But in injury time Gerrard set up Torres for a simple second to settle the tie, after Preston had mounted a brave rally that saw them just fail to force a replay at Anfield.
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