Liverpool reached the FA Cup fifth round with an entertaining victory over Norwich in their first sport. When you consider that manager Jurgen Klopp introduced himself, he’s going to go away on the last day of the season.
Klopp, who found out his approaching departure on Friday, was given a rousing reception by using the house supporters earlier than kick-off, and his group wasted little time in moving through the gears in opposition to the Championship play-off hopefuls.
Darwin Nunez had already struck the post with extraordinary curling power by the time Curtis Jones nodded the hosts in front from complete debutant James McConnell’s cross.
The Canaries equalized towards the run of play while Ben Gibson recommended in Gabriel Sara’s corner; however, Nunez restored Liverpool’s lead with a calm end after high-quality work from full-again Conor Bradley.
And it became 3-1 early inside the second half when Diogo Jota latched directly to a wayward header from Gibson before thumping a low shot beyond goalkeeper George Long.
Second-half replacement Virgil van Dijk, left completely unmarked from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner, headed domestic Liverpool’s fourth earlier than a superb Borja Sainz strike gave Norwich wish—moments after Christian Fassnacht’s finish changed into disallowed for offside.
The handiest other bitter word for the home aspect was overdue damage for teen McConnell, who needed to get replaced by means of Luis Diaz with 12 minutes left; however, there was still time for Ryan Gravenberch to complete the scoring with a near-range header.
The Reds will host Watford or Southampton within the fifth spherical after the Championship clubs performed a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road in advance on Sunday.
Klopp bowled over the soccer world by pronouncing he’ll call time on his 9-year Liverpool tenure at the end of the season, bringing up dwindling strength levels because of the purpose of his go-out.
However, there was no loss of electricity from his side on an afternoon of heightened emotions at Anfield.
Klopp’s opposite range and near pal David Wagner had jokingly requested the Liverpool boss for a large rotation before the game; however, the hosts had little trouble overpowering their combatants regardless of leaving Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, and Diaz out of the starting line-up.
20-yr-vintage Bradley became a chronic threat down the right-hand facet and became heavily concerned about Liverpool’s second goal, winning the ball again near the halfway line and playing a neat one with Jota earlier than releasing Nunez.
McConnell, who exceeded his senior debut in the latter stages of a 3-0 victory over Brentford in November, added a peach of a go for Jones’ opener and changed into calm in ownership till his enforced departure was overdue within the second half.
Norwich, who have been without pinnacle scorer Jon Rowe because of injury, struggled to check Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson no matter a few neat passages of build-up play, with Gibson’s intention coming from their handiest try of the primary 45 minutes.
Jota’s clever finish 7 minutes into the second half allowed Klopp to introduce a few fresh legs, with Andy Robertson coming off the bench for his first look since struggling with shoulder damage in Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifying defeat by Spain in October.
Sainz’s fantastic strike gave the journeying supporters something to cheer about approximately inside the second period; however, Van Dijk’s header six minutes earlier had left the Canaries with too huge a mountain to climb.
And Gravenberch’s overdue header delivered gloss to a dominant display from the Premier League leaders, who can now sit up for another domestic tie against Championship competition within the next round.
