It was pragmatic more than pretty but Liverpool kept their hopes of a cup treble alive with a workmanlike performance against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

In a game of few clear-cut chances Liverpool survived to take a vibrant Palace side back to Anfield for a replay on Wednesday week.

But manager Gerard Houllier had more to worry about after seeing young goalkeeper Chris Kirkland carried off on a stretcher after a sickening first-half collision with big Palace striker Dele Adebola.

Kirkland was immediately taken to hospital for X-rays on what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

And the incident seemed to disrupt Liverpool's early invention in a match in which Houllier was hoping his side would continue their recent rejuvenation.

As it was it turned into an exercise in survival with Liverpool being asked to shed bucketfuls of sweat as First Division Palace showed them scant respect.

Indeed, Palace goalkeeper Alex Kolinko had stirred up the pre-match hype by insisting Michael Owen was not the player he once was.

It was the sort of comment managers use to motivate their players by pinning up the Press clippings in the changing rooms.

If Houllier had done so then it had little effect on Owen who, despite having scored two goals in his last three games, was well shackled by a superbly organised Palace defence.

He struggled to use his lethal pace and though Emile Heskey was playing in his preferred spot alongside him there was still little menace from the England pair who have destroyed the odd international defence.

Much had been made of the psychological advantage of Palace's spectacular 4-3 triumph in the FA Cup semi-final 13 years ago - and too many Liverpool players did appear to be operating in a straitjacket.

There is no doubt, however, that Kirkland's injury paid a debilitating blow to their adventure.

It came in the 23rd minute when some dainty footwork from Adebola saw the Palace striker make a penetrating surge past Jamie Carragher and strike deep into the penalty area.

The fearless Liverpool goalkeeper, who took over from Jerzy Dudek as Anfield's number one in early December, threw himself bravely at Adebola's feet and while Andy Johnson then saw his left foot shot blocked on the goal line the Liverpool keeper lay motionless just outside the six-yard box.

He received treatment on the ground for two minutes, while a clearly concerned Houllier and Liverpool assistant Phil Thompson looked on from the touchline, before being carried away on a stretcher with what appeared a knee injury.

He was replaced by Dudek and Palace took heart from Liverpool's problems with a series of vibrant attacks.

The Londoners might easily have gone in at the interval with the lead after a first half in which they were often quicker to the ball and more creative than their illustrious Premiership opponents.

Adebola squandered an early chance when he allowed a header from Johnson's cross to slide wide of the far post.

And only a last-ditch block tackle from Djimi Traore halted the lively Julian Gray when the midfielder was bearing down on goal.

Indeed it was Palace favourite Tommy Black who was running the show for the First Division side in that first half and, for the most part, eclipsing such internationals as Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy.

For much of the match, in fact, the Palace defence handled the threat of Owen and Heskey with apparent ease and clear-cut chances were few and far between.

Owen did let fly with a right foot shot in the 63rd minute but it was struck straight at Kolinko and the Palace goalkeeper smothered the ball easily.

Adebola might have done better with a looping header in the 66th minute from Danny Butterfield's right wing cross but he failed to connect properly and the ball fell easily into the arms of Dudek.

Adebola, a constant menace to the visitors defence, was substituted in the 75th minute - Trevor Francis throwing on Ade Akinbiyi as Palace went for the victory.

They might have got it too if Tony Popovic's late header had found the net instead of being luckily deflected behind by Heskey.

But Liverpool survived and were glad to - and that was the height of pragmatism. Magnetism can wait for another day.

Teams:

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Fleming, Symons, Popovic, Butterfield, Mullins, Derry, Gray (Granville 81), Black (Routledge 65), Adebola (Akinbiyi 74), Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Berthelin, Borrowdale.

Booked: Fleming.

Liverpool: Kirkland (Dudek 25), Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Riise, Murphy, Gerrard, Cheyrou (Diao 90), Diouf (Biscan 85), Owen, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Baros, Mellor.

Booked: Carragher, Cheyrou.

Att: 26,054

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).