Lucas Leiva played the whole ninety minutes as a controversial Luis Suarez goal left non-leaguers Mansfield fuming as Liverpool secured passage into the next round after a 2-1 win in the FA Cup third round tie at the Field Mill.
Daniel Sturridge, making his debut after signing from Chelsea for £12m, scored the opening goal before Suarez netted Liverpool’s second, a goal mired in controversy as TV replays showed that the goal should have been disallowed as the Uruguayan handled the ball in the process.
Sturridge took just three minutes to notch his first goal in a red shirt, latching onto Jonjo Shelvey’s pass and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper, and could have had a second but the former Chelsea striker was denied by the advancing Alan Marriott.
Mansfield struggled to cope with the Liverpool attack and their only glimpse of goal was Matt Green’s low drive from outside of the box but Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones was equal to the effort.
The non-leaguers raced out of the blocks in the second half and very nearly found an equaliser but Jamie Carragher got across in time to block Anthony Howell’s effort.
Liverpool quickly struck back for the second goal of the evening as Suarez, on for Sturridge, scrambled the ball into the net but TV replays showed the striker handled the ball.
Mansfield made it a nervy last ten minutes for Liverpool as a Green strike deflected off Carragher and Jones for an own goal but the Reds held on for the win.
