Liverpool thrashed Norwich City 5-2 at Anfield to reach the Fifth Round of 2023-24 FA Cup.
Curtis Jones’ header and Darwin Nunez’s first-half strike sent Liverpool towards the Fifth Round despite Ben Gibson’s headed equaliser for Norwich, with victory confirmed through Diogo Jota’s strike and headers from Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch.
Norwich however netted a second goal through Broja Sainz’s 25-yard strike in the 69th minute as David Wagner’s Canaries bowed out of the competition.
Liverpool will now host the winner of Watford’s replay against Southampton at Anfield in the Fifth Round.
Although 52 hours had passed since Klopp’s shock announcement of his impending exit at end of season, Liverpool didn’t seem too fazed as they began the match on the front foot and almost took a fifth minute lead, only for Joe Gomez’s shot to be deflected wide.
Cody Gakpo and Nunez wasted further chances but Liverpool soon found their breakthrough goal in the 16th minute, as 19 year-old James McConnell delivered his first senior assist with a cross which Jones nodded across into the far-right bottom corner.
Norwich meanwhile had soaked up Liverpool’s early pressure but broke on a 21st minute counter-attack with Ashley Barnes’ low cross towards Christian Fassnacht blocked for a corner.
The initial corner was quickly cleared behind but Gabriel Sara’s second delivery was headed into the far-left corner by Gibson to restore parity, which in-turn briefly stunned the home crowd.
Liverpool however are yet to lose at home in all competitions this season and soon retook the lead in the 28th minute, after Connor Bradley made an interception and broke forward via an one-two pass before he teed up Nunez to rifle in from close-range.
Bradley almost created another assist just three minutes later as he met a cross on the overlap into the box and cut the ball across to Gakpo, yet the Dutchman could only fire wide of the left corner.
Gakpo saw a further shot go wide in the 38th minute but Liverpool comfortably protected their slender lead into half-time.
Norwich however started quickest out of the blocks in the second half but Sara dragged his 48th minute shot wide.
Liverpool soon punished that chance after Jones initially curled wide in the 51st minute and two minutes later, Gibson fumbled his clearance towards Jota who duly intercepted and fired in to extend Liverpool’s lead.
Klopp’s Reds almost further extended their lead in the 62nd minute but Nunez put a shot wide via deflection, from which susbstitute – Van Dijk nodded in from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner to put the eight-time winners on the cusp of the Fifth Round.
Norwich however weren’t done as they saw a 68th minute chance chalked off for Sainz’s offside, although the Spaniard hit back barely a minute later after he smashed a shot into the right corner from 25 yards.
Liverpool eventually cruised through with a fifth goal in the fifth minute of injury-time as Gravenberch headed in from Bradley’s cross to seal a dominant victory.
What’s Next?
Liverpool return their focus to their pursuit of the Premier League title with a blockbuster clash at home to Chelsea on Wednesday 31 January, with kick-off at Anfield set for 8:15pm GMT.
Norwich resume their push for a Championship play-off spot with a huge home match against play-off rivals, Coventry at Carrow Road on Saturday 3 February in a 3pm GMT kick-off.
Teams
Liverpool: Alisson, Connor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate (van Dijk 55′), Jarrell Quansah, Joe Gomez (Robertson 55′), James McConnell (Diaz 79′), Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones (Szoboszlai 55′), Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez (Alexander-Arnold 66′), Cody Gakpo
Substitutes: Caoimhin Kelleher, Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Andrew Robertson, Bobby Clark, Owen Beck, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Norwich: George Long, Jack Stacey, Grant Hanley (Sainz 61′), Ben Gibson, Sam McCallum (Giannoulis 83′), Marcelino Nunez, Kenny McLean, Gabriel Sara, Onel Hernandez (Sorensen 62′), Christian Fassnacht (Gibbs 84′), Ashley Barnes (Idah 62′)
Substitutes: Angus Gunn, Ansen, Dimitrios Giannoulis, Kellen Fisher, Liam Gibbs, Jacob Sorensen, Borja Sainz, Przemyslaw Placheta, Adam Idah
Referee – Sam Barrott
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