Kuyt punished poor Manchester United defending in the 88th minute, lashing a low shot past David de Gea to send Anfield into raptures after United had failed to deal with a Pepe Reina goal kick.
The Dutch forward's late winner was the dramatic final act of a largely trouble-free first meeting between the clubs since the acrimony of the Luis Suarez racism affair earlier this season.
The game had seemed set for a replay at Old Trafford after South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung had swept in a deserved equaliser for United to cancel out Daniel Agger's opener for Liverpool.
"It's been a fantastic week for the players. Everyone realises the history of the football club and the players want to be part of it," said Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, whose side had reached the League Cup final on Wednesday.
"It was a magnificent effort from them. After the game on Wednesday, to come back on Saturday morning and win showed tremendous commitment and great heart.
"United might have been the better side and had more possession but other than them hitting the woodwork once Pepe (Reina) didn't have that much to do."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was adamant his side had not deserved to lose. "I don't know how we lost it," Ferguson said. "But I think in the context of an FA Cup game it can happen. One bad breakaway and you can lose a game.
"It was a bad goal because we didn't deserve to be beaten. We were the better team. But that's FA Cup football. It can happen."
The build-up to the match had been marked by appeals for calm from both Dalglish and Ferguson.
United captain Patrice Evra, who Suarez had been found guilty of racially abusing during their league game in October, was booed relentlessly throughout.
But the contest was played out in a good spirit, with referee Mark Halsey brandishing only one yellow card throughout.
Liverpool had taken the lead on 21 minutes when a corner from Steven Gerrard was nodded home by defender Agger.
United's Spanish goalkeeper de Gea was at fault for the goal, stranded in no-man's-land as Agger headed in.
But United, who dominated possession throughout the opening half, drew level six minutes from half-time.
A deft flick from Antonio Valencia released Rafael down the right who crossed for the byline for Park, the midfielder driving in a low shot first time to beat Reina for 1-1.
With a replay looming, Reina launched a hopeful long goal-kick forward. Andy Carroll got the flick-on and Kuyt pounced to rifle home only his second goal of the season.
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