Federico Chiesa’s first Liverpool aim seals FA Cup defeat of Accrington

They’ll at all times have the milk advert. Accrington Stanley got here looking for a momentous FA Cup upset at Anfield, a narrative to usurp their different well-known reference to Liverpool and Ian Rush, however there was no miracle to be discovered on a freezing afternoon on Merseyside.

Arne Slot’s much-changed however nonetheless recognisable Liverpool group had an excessive amount of high quality, nous and expertise for League Two opponents who did themselves justice over 90 minutes however couldn’t include the Premier League leaders for ever. Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa scored the objectives that took Liverpool into spherical 4.

The two-0 half-time scoreline was a little bit harsh on the League Two aspect. Liverpool dominated possession comfortably, as they need to, and within the debutant Rio Ngumoha they evidently have one other academy product worthy of the hype. The left-winger, prised from Chelsea final summer time, grew to become the youngest participant to begin a recreation for Liverpool at 16 years and 135 days. Fast-footed, quick and at all times keen to tackle his man, the younger ahead made an encouraging first impression. Accrington, nevertheless, have been removed from overawed of their elevated environment.

John Doolan’s group pressed man-to-man from the beginning and labored tirelessly to stifle Liverpool’s quite a few inventive choices. The important thing situation was how lengthy they might maintain it. Shaun Whalley, the captain, twice drew roars of encouragement from the 4,700 away followers when breaking down the left. A Liverpool defender intercepted his supply into the field on each events.

The distinction between Premier League and League Two ranges was laid naked by the opening aim. It was the primary time Accrington have been out of practice and susceptible to a counterattack, on account of having a harmful free-kick of their very own deep contained in the Liverpool half.

When Ben Woods’ set piece was headed clear by Kostas Tsimikas and Nelson Khumbeni floated the ball again in to Dominik Szoboszlai, the guests have been torn aside ruthlessly. Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold, named Liverpool’s captain for the day, mixed to launch Darwin Núñez down the best. He rolled an ideal cross behind the retreating Stanley defence for Jota to faucet residence.

Núñez had earlier skied a transparent opening after the Accrington goalkeeper Billy Crellin, on mortgage from Everton, blocked an Alexander-Arnold drive. In any other case, Liverpool discovered alternatives arduous to come back by towards a defence marshalled impressively by Faz Rawson.

Alexander-Arnold all however secured the Premier League leaders’ passage into spherical 4 with a pleasant end on the stroke of half-time. The defender underperformed on his final Anfield outing towards Manchester United however there was no repeat right here. Ngumoha was concerned within the aim, reducing in from the left and having a shot blocked. Tyler Morton and Szoboszlai labored the free ball to their captain, who swept an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into Crellin’s prime proper nook.

Accrington, to their credit score, refused to simply accept their destiny and twice went near lowering the arrears within the second half. Each alternatives stemmed from short-corner routines. From the primary,the lifelong Liverpool fan Josh Woods minimize inside Alexander-Arnold and Tsimikas earlier than unleashing a thunderous shot from 18 yards that cannoned off the crossbar. An “if solely” second to regale the grandchildren with. For the second Whalley floated a cross into the six-yard field for the unmarked Donald Love, who headed over from shut vary. He ought to have not less than hit the goal.

Liverpool’s spectacular 18-year-old substitute Danns doused Accrington’s hopes of an unlikely restoration late on. The academy striker broke away from Love on the midway line earlier than placing Chiesa via on aim. Crellin saved from the Italy worldwide however the rebound fell completely for Danns to ship an emphatic end into the roof of the online.

Chiesa labored tirelessly in pursuit of his first Liverpool aim. Crellin and a put up appeared destined to disclaim the summer time signing till he struck a tremendous drive into the underside nook within the ninetieth minute.