Crystal Palace earned an FA Cup replay against Liverpool after they held the Premiership side to a goalless draw.

Division One outfit Palace's fans made for an exciting atmosphere at Selhurst Park and there were fireworks before the game.

But, even though the match threatened to mirror the pre-match entertainment, it ultimately failed to catch the imagination.

Palace's Tony Popovic came closest to winning the game but his late header was sent just over the crossbar by Emile Heskey.

KEY MOMENTS

5 mins: Adebola puts a free header wide 23: Kirkland stretchered off for Liverpool 85: Popovic almost wins it for Palace

The home side began with the swagger of a side confident of causing an upset and emphasised that after five minutes.

Andy Johnson crossed for strike partner Dele Adebola and he should have done better when he glanced his near post header wide.

Liverpool striker Heskey had a shot and Bruno Cheyrou put an effort over for Liverpool, although Palace had more of a threat on goal.

After 22 minutes Adebola knocked the ball past central defender Djimi Traore in a burst towards the visitors' goal only forLiverpool keeper Chris Kirkland to bravely block at his feet.

Johnson almost scored from the loose ball but Sami Hyypia was on the line to crucially clear the danger.

Liverpool keeper Chris Kirkland was taken to hospital for an X-ray

Kirkland was worryingly injured making the save and Jerzy Dudek came on as his replacement - the Pole's first appearance since 4 December.

Palace were showing the confidence of being unbeaten in their last six matches with Heskey more at note for his defensive duties than his exploits at the other end.

Heskey had to make an important lunging block on a Julian Gray shot.

Gray almost scored an own goal just after the interval when his back-pass went narrowly wide of an empty home goal.

Liverpool then almost took then lead midway through the second half.

A quickly taken Danny Murphy corner caught Palace unawares and Riise stole in to strike a shot which was touched narrowly wide.

Popovic's late header seemed goalbound until Heskey's interception as the match ended goalless.

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.

Attendance: 26,054

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).