By Mark Thomas, PA Sport

   Liverpool moved comfortably into the fourth round of the FA Cup without
ever having to extend themselves against a Burnley side so devoid of
ambition that they did not force one save out of David James. 
   Liverpool took just 12 minutes to break the deadlock, Steve McManaman
stepping deftly over Stig-Inge Bjornebye's low centre for Stan Collymore to
rifle a low 20-yard drive into the bottom corner. 
   Despite this early setback, Burnley were content to play out most of the
match with just one man up front, rarely breaking out of their own half as
they sought to contain what could otherwise have turned into a rout. 
   As it was, the second division side could be grateful to keeper Marlon
Beresford for keeping them in with a glimmer of a chance that they never
looked like capitalising on. 
   Liverpool's Czech forward, Patrik Berger, launched a couple of promising
first-half charges into the heart of the Burnley box from the service of
John Barnes. 
   The second produced a brave block by Beresford, with the home fans
screaming in vain that he had handled outside the area.                           
   Collymore curled a fine free kick around the Burnley defensive wall, but
Beresford was equal to the challenge, producing a memorable save to palm
the ball away. 
   Berger's low shot from Collymore's 54th minute knock-down was creeping
just inside the post until Beresford leapt to his right to tip the ball wide. 
   Then Mark Wright surged into the attack, forcing his way through the
massed defensive ranks to the by-line, where Beresford half-blocked his
effort. 
   Wright fired the loose ball towards the empty goal, but Mark Winstanley
got back to clear off the line for the visitors. 
   Three minutes from time Liverpool could have had a second, Berger
setting up substitute Mark Kennedy for a shot that flew just wide of the
far post. 
   Then, with virtually the last kick of the afternoon, Collymore attempted
a Pele-style, long-range lob that bounced just a couple of feet wide as
Beresford scrambled back. 
   But it was a rare moment of excitement in a frustrating afternoon for
the spectators, who also witnessed the worrying sight of skipper Barnes
limping off with what looked like hamstring injury after 66 minutes.        


HEATH DEFENDS NEGATIVE TACTICS

   Burnley boss Adrian Heath tonight defended his side's negative tactics
in their 1-0 FA Cup third round defeat at Liverpool, claiming it would have
damaged his side's confidence if they had slumped to a heavy defeat. 
   "I am pleased with the performance. The lads did us proud  they worked
really hard and stuck to the game plan," said the former Everton striker. 
   "In a perfect world, we would have scored a goal in the last 10 minutes
but it wasn't to be. 
   "The gulf between the teams and squads at Liverpool's level and ours is
massive and you must be realistic. It would have been lovely to play three
up front and have a go at it, but unfortunately it's not the way football
is in the real world. 
   "I don't think it would have done my team's confidence any good to have
come here, enjoyed the game and been beaten by six." 
   Of his goalkeeper Marlon Beresford, Heath said: "He is a quality
goalkeeper who could play Premiership football." 
   Liverpool boss Roy Evans singled out Patrik Berger, who came in for
rested Robbie Fowler, for criticism as he bemoaned the fact Liverpool did  
not take more of their chances. 
   "We should have had one or two more in the first half. It was a tough
game but we made it a bit harder for ourselves," he said. 
   "On the day, Patrik Berger could have shared one or two rather than
shooting. Patrik got into situations today where a ball to the side could
have got us another three goals. 
   "From our point of view, we should have put it beyond doubt. Burnley
were always going to come here and make it difficult for us to play and I
was pleased with the way we moved the ball about. 
   "If we had been a bit more aware of the players around us we could have
scored a reasonable amount of goals." 
   Of Burnley, Evans said: "It was their cup final and they've given it a
great go. The work-rate and effort they put in was top class."    

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