Liverpool 4-0 Accrington (Jan 11, 2025) Game Analysis

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a shocking purpose to assist Liverpool beat League Two aspect Accrington Stanley 4-0 within the third spherical of the FA Cup at Anfield.

The England worldwide — who’s out of contract on the finish of the season and has been the topic of intense switch curiosity from Actual Madrid — netted the second purpose in a cushty win for the Premier League leaders on the finish of per week which has as soon as once more been dominated by hypothesis over his future. His strike got here after Diogo Jota had opened the scoring on Merseyside, with academy graduate Jayden Danns and summer time signing Federico Chiesa each coming off the bench to seal the victory within the second half.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot made eight adjustments to the aspect that was narrowly overwhelmed by Tottenham Hotspur within the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinals on Wednesday evening, handing a senior debut to Rio Ngumoha who, at 16 years and 135 days outdated, grew to become the youngest participant within the membership’s historical past to function within the FA Cup.

Liverpool dominated the opening levels, with Darwin Núñez heading over the crossbar from a fantastic Harvey Elliott cross inside seven minutes. Alexander-Arnold, captaining the aspect within the absence of Virgil van Dijk, got here near breaking the impasse minutes later when he compelled a save from Everton loanee Billy Crellin, earlier than Núñez blazed the rebound over the bar.

The Uruguay worldwide did have a hand in Liverpool’s opener, nevertheless, latching on to Alexander-Arnold’s by means of ball and laying it off for Jota, who turned dwelling from shut vary after half-hour. Elliot nearly doubled the hosts’ benefit after one other slick Liverpool counter-attack, however the ahead’s effort was comfortably saved by Crellin, earlier than Alexander-Arnold rifled dwelling an outstanding effort from the sting of the penalty space on the stroke of half-time.

The 26-year-old capped off a first-half through which Liverpool had 84.6% of the possession, taking a singular contact earlier than whipping the ball into the highest nook. He was all smiles as he celebrated in entrance of the house assist, simply six days after he discovered himself the topic of intense scrutiny for his disappointing show within the 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Italy worldwide Federico Chiesa, making solely his fifth look for the membership since becoming a member of from Juventus in the summertime, changed Dominik Szoboszlai on the break and nearly had an on the spot influence, seeing his strike deflected narrowly extensive minutes after the restart.

Accrington did threaten to halve the deficit by means of boyhood Liverpool fan Josh Woods, who rattled the crossbar with a menacing strike from 20 yards simply earlier than the hour mark. Woods had gone viral within the weeks main as much as the sport after a video of his ecstatic response to the third-round draw was posted on-line.

His near-miss appeared to breathe new life into the guests, whose captain, Shaun Whalley, spurned an excellent alternative to search out the again of the web after a well-worked nook routine. Liverpool responded effectively, although, to the spell of Accrington strain, with Chiesa forcing a good save from Crellin at his close to publish.

The Accrington goalkeeper denied the Italian once more within the 76th minute however this time Liverpool substitute Danns was there to comb dwelling the rebound, earlier than Chiesa sealed the hosts’ development to the fourth spherical with a sensible end into the underside nook within the last minute of regular time.