-Credit:Liverpool FC via Getty Images
ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool made light work of fourth-tier Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup fourth-round tie between the sides on Merseyside with Diogo Jota setting Arne Slot’s men on their way.
Before half-time, Trent Alexander-Arnold had made it 2-0 with a superb strike that found the top corner of the goal at the Anfield Road End. At that point, the result was only going one way.
Accrington gave it a good go in the second half and hit the bar at one point early in the second period, but there was no danger of the Reds squandering their lead. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded with Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa capping a 4-0 victory.
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Rio Ngumoha impresses
Not 17 until August, Rio Ngumoha, wearing the number 73 shirt on his back, was handed a surprise start down the left flank. He and Kostas Tsimikas linked up nicely and the teenager doesn’t lack confidence.
If he was guilty of anything, it was keeping hold of the ball for too long at times, unafraid to draw challenges and try one extra trick. Ngumoha’s talent, while it needs further honing, is clear.
Ngumoha lasted 71 minutes and while he was quieter in the second half, this was an impressive showing from the youngster. The warm applause when he was replaced by Jayden Danns was more than warranted.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa share minutes
Liverpool has not had many injuries lately but illness has been a minor issue in the camp for a few individuals. Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa did a half each here, preparing the Hungarian for Nottingham Forest and the Italian for whenever his next outing might be.
Szoboszlai was able to stroll through and ease himself back into action here without any fuss, with his half-time withdrawal presumably planned. Equally, Chiesa will only benefit from the minutes that he got under his belt. The Italian needs to build on every chance he gets given how sporadic they have been.
This was a step in the right direction and Chiesa sent a positive message about his determination to succeed at Anfield with his overall performance and goal, but now he needs to show even more. He will definitely want to build on his well-taken goal quickly if he can, though he will need to be on the pitch for that to happen, and there are no guarantees of that right now.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Accrington Stanley at Anfield on January 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez missed chance
This was not a game that Darwin Nunez performed particularly poorly in but it still goes down as a missed chance for the Uruguayan. He put the ball over the bar twice early in the match and then wasn’t hugely involved.
Accrington didn’t give him space to run in behind which he loves, but Nunez should have probably stood out more against fourth-division opposition if he is to expect more meaningful minutes in the future. Slot hasn’t picked him often lately and this won’t have changed his mind ahead of Nottingham Forest and Brentford and with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota as competition.
-Credit:2025 Liverpool FC
FA Cup round four place booked
Liverpool made light work of the tie. There will be a shock or two this weekend — there always is during the early rounds of the FA Cup when Premier League sides make wholesale changes — but the Reds avoided coming unstuck.
Slot will be delighted to have got through and no matter who Liverpool draws in the next round of the competition, his team selection — giving minutes to those in need — should be the same. The Dutchman can’t afford to overwork his roster, which is why Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah didn’t feature here and Szoboszlai came off at half-time.
Liverpool got the job done here. With a similarly favorable draw in the next round, it should be possible to win with plenty of changes once again, which should be the plan. Ngumoha, Chiesa and co will certainly hope so.