That’ll do from me. I have to dash across to cover the Guinea Derby in the African Cup of Nations last 16. If you fancy, head on over.
Otherwise, thanks for joining me. Was a goodie, wasn’t it?
Finally, let’s hear from Andy Robertson who made his return from injury:
It was amazing. That’s the feeling I’ve been waiting for. The tough days at the gym away from the lads. I can’t thank the crowd enough. That;’s what got me through the tough days, and there were a lot of them over four months.
You want to keep going in every competition. The FA Cup is such an important competition and we know what it’s like to win it.
It was a tough game
We’re not buying that Jurgen.
They scored some good goals. The second goal was wonderful. We played good from the beginning. We were obviously in charge from the beginning. Four of our five goals were set up by academy graduates, so that’t really cool. Only positives for us.
[On Jones] Curtis is having a great moment for us. He is a very good player but also a role model for our academy guys. All of the academy guys are good footballers. But if Curtis Jones can learn defending, anyone can learn defending. James [McConnell] played a really good game. Bobby [Clark] too when we brought him on.
It’s good that the guys coming back had minutes. That they’re back is super important. The next game is around the corner. We have Chelsea here in three sleeps and then Arsenal away.
Now we just have to forget it [his departure] and just go after every opponent.
Let’s not forget about the real story of the weekend. Maidstone United are through the fifth round. What do we make of their draw? They’ve missed out on a Premier League tie and will instead play Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry.
“Arguably the worst draw they could have got from the teams remaining but potentially the best chance of them pulling something else off.. and still a good day out/pay day for the fans and club. Especially seen as it means the fans get to not be in Maidstone for a bit so that’s a plus...” says Ian Dodds.
For the round-up of the draw, look no further:
Joe Pearson wants to highlight the impact of Liverpool’s academy players:
“I haven’t looked at all the other squads in the top half of the league, but I sure have the impression that Liverpool field more academy players than any of the others.”
“Hi Daniel. Your comment about not having oil money was not lazy journalism, it was in fact lazy criticism from George who wrote in (or cynical even), the type of attack which has come up repeatedly throughout Klopp’s tenure. Liverpool are 6th [on net-spend], having spent around half of the amount that oil-money Man City have (and also Man Utd and Chelsea too)
Thanks Montgomery. A similar point was made by David Williams:
“Re Klopp and cash, his success has generated the ability to compete at the top end. When he took over Liverpool’s revenues were 5th in England and Spurs were catching up. The club has turned a profit consistently since so it’s not been outside cash injection. His success is what dragged them up that table.”
I’m not a Liverpool fan. In fact I support a traditional rival. But surely we can all recognise that the club, and Klopp, have developed more organically than some state-owned projects?
Robbie Fowler has called this a “professional performance”. The players they brought on from the bench – Van Dijk, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Diaz, Szoboszlai – ensured there’d be no shock,
Here’s Curtis Jones:
It was a perfect game. There were loads of goals scored. We didn’t have any injuries. We’re into the next round so a good night overall.
It’s just carry on. We have our goals. Nothing has changed but of course it’s sad for the whole club [he’s talking about Klopp leaving].
I’m more consistent. I’m happy the team is happy all round.
Completely dominant from Liverpool. Norwich played their part and produced the goal of the game thanks to a stunner from Sainz, but there was only ever going to be one winner. A couple of teenagers in Bradley and McCallum played starring roles and the return of Robertson and Alexander-Arnold was the perfect first day of the Klopp swansong. Watford and Southampton await in the next round.
Full-time: Liverpool 5-2 Norwich
Liverpool march on to the fifth round. The (redacted) quadruple remains alive.
GOAL! Liverpool 5-2 Norwich (Gravenberch, 95)
A fifth goal scorer. A ball to the back post from Diaz, who shifted it this way and that before crossing, finds Bradley who meets it with a first-time volley that kicks off the turf and sits up for Gravenberch rushing on to the header.
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90+3 min: Liverpool are trying to walk it in. Via flicks and flacks and one-touch tricks. No one shoots. Instead Norwich hack at loose balls and thin air until Gakpo falls over and a drop ball is needed to restart the match from outside Norwich’s box.
90 min: Jota shoots high over the bar after Szoboszlai’s delicious curling cross just evades the run of Jota (I think) near the penalty spot. It falls to Jota who couldn’t help himself.
Bradley has been awarded the player of the match award and fair enough. He's had an excellent game.
88 min: Long to the rescue again, although his parried save from Alexander-Arnold’s shot is diverted back into danger. But the follow up blazes over the bar. This is starting to feel like an exhibition match.
86 min: Another corner, and the another, finds van Dijk’s head. He can’t steer either of them towards goal. He’s basically being marked by the population of Norwich. But he still gets his head to both. Szoboszlai shoots a low stinger from outside the box and Long gets down low to make a smart save.
84 min: Diaz wins a corner though Stacey isn’t happy. Van Dijk attacks the cross but he’s under more pressure this time. Still, the ball remains alive and Liverpool will have another corner.
82 min: Two more changes for Norwich. Gibbs and Giannoulis replace Fassnacht and McCallum. Still no sign of either of the two goal-keepers on the bench.
79 min: How was that not gone in? I’ll tell you. First it was a stunning save from close range by Long who stuck out a meaty paw to stop the first time shot from Jota after brilliant build up from Liverpool down the right. Then the follow up from Gravenberch is kept out as well. Szoboszlai volleys over from just outside the six-yard box but that was the most difficult of the three chances.
78 min: McConnell makea way for Diaz. A brilliant performance from the teenager. It was his ball that set up the opener and he was impressive throughout the piece.
George Tyrrell has a bone to pick and a bee in his bonnet.
“It’s just lazy journalism,” he says of my comment concerning Klopp’s lack of oil money.
“He’s had as much money available to him as most top world clubs. They haven’t been stuck for a pound , and it’s not like the entire Liverpool team are academy results. Change the record. The guardians [sic] love in with Klopp is embarrassing.”
The amount of money is not the topic here, George. I’m talking about the the source of that money. And for me, that does change the narrative.
75 min: Jota heads wide. Was a tough chance as Alexander-Arnold clipped it in from an inside right channel. Jota shows great strength to work the space but can’t get his head around it to find the target.
73 min: Back to Liverpool bossing the ball and Norwich defending deep. Szoboszlai has a shot blocked from the edge of the area. Both teams taking a breather it seems after a mad 10 minute burst.
70 min: As far as procession goes this has been a belter! Bradley is slid into space inside Norwich’s box. Shoot? Cross to Gakpo on the penalty spot? He takes too long to make his mind up and Norwich snuff out the danger.
GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 Norwich (Sainz, 69)
Stunner! Goal of the game. Sainz picks up the lose ball from 40 yards out with a lovely touch off the chest. He gets it under control as he gallops up field. From 20 yards out he figures, why not, and whips in a gem that curls round the diving Allison and into the top right corner. A beauty!
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68 min: Norwich have the ball in the net but only because the off-side flag was delayed. It was a neat finish in the end but Sainz was clearly off in the buildup.
66 min: Alexander-Arnold replaces Nunes. It’s staggering how much world class talent Klopp has assembled without the help of oil money.
Steve Isaac highlights the enviable depth at Liverpool’s disposal right now:
“Strength of the Liverpool squad. Bring 3 international captains on when winning 3-1.”
GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Norwich (van Dijk, 63)
What an introduction that is. A free header from a central position from Szoboszlai’s corner. The skipper finds the net with ease.
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62 min: Oh, just deflected over the bar from a Nunez shot. Liverpool steal the ball in midfield and they work it in a flash to their striker in the box. He shoots, but it’s lifted over.
61 min: A triple change for Norwich now. Hanley, Hernandez and Barnes make way. Sorensen, Sainz and Idah enter the scene.
60 min: Norwich managed to stretch Liverpool’s line but they can’t make the move stick as a long diagonal switch from right to left is over hit and bounces away for a corner. Hernandez has it back, though, on the left flank and wins a throw for his side.
58 min: Barnes spots Allison off his line and attempts what would have been one of the best goals in the competition’s history from his own half. He can’t get the elevation and the Liverpool ‘keeper is able to control the ball his his chest after a couple of bounces.
56 min: Triple switch for Liverpool. Robertson returns from injury. Van Dijk takes the armband and Szoboszlai joins the party. They replace Gomez, Konate and Jones.
Hang on… Just been shown a replay of the hand-ball question earlier on and there is no doubt that Hernandez handled it. He almost caught it and threw it away. VAR would have certainly brought that back had Liverpool not scored so quickly.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Norwich (Jota, 53)
Brilliant finish! It’s a howler at the back from Norwich but what a clinical strike that is. Hanley reaches his neck but can’t guide the header back to his keeper. Instead it sits up for Jota and he crunches past Long on the half-volley.
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52 min: The Kop appeal for a penalty after the ball pings about in the Norwich box. Was there a hand following that cross from the left? Evidently not as play os waved on.
50 min: Jones is just wide with a curler from range. To the left of the goal – as he’d be looking at it – he aims for the top right corner. He’s not far off and it was certainly worth a pop after some patient build-up from Liverpool.
48 min: Bang! Sara has smoked a shot from range. He’s not far off. Just cut across it which meant it was never curling back towards goal having started just outside the line of the post. But that had Allison diving across just in case.
46 min: Liverpool back where they left off. A blocked shot from Gakpo from a central position inside the box is recycled and Nunez can’t generate enough oomph on his header at the back post a few seconds later. Lovely work from Bradley and Jota in the build up.
Second half underway shortly. No changes as far as I can tell.
Sorry Emmanuel Otiotio, and any other Man United fans I upset earlier:
“Your point about the team/trajectory Klopp is leaving Liverpool in hurts greatly as a long-term United fan. They’re in such a great position to create further success on and off the pitch while we can barely get our chicken cooked right. Big job on Sir Jim’s hands.”
Emmanuel, I’ll do my best to get the message to Big Jim.
Apologies to Martin Jachnik, who wrote in on TAA and Bradley. I took it at face value.
“Hi Daniel, It was definitely a tongue in cheek comment. We seem to have a couple of good options at right back, it could allow Trent to play more often in midfield. Anyway an interesting game, let’s see lots of quality football from both teams.”
Good point. Like many people, I’d love to see TAA have a run in midfield.
Now for the fifth round draw
Now for the fifth round draw:
Blackburn/Wrexham One v Newcastle
Bournemouth v Leicester
Liverpool/Norwich v Watford/Southampton
Chelsea/Aton Villa v Leeds/Plymouth
Bristol City/Nottingham Forest v Newport County/Manchester United
Wolves v Brighton
Sheffield Wednesday/Coventry City v Maidstone United
Luton Town v Manchester City
Half-time: Liverpool 2-1 Norwich
Utterly dominant from Liverpool and yet I reckon Norwich would be happier with the score. Their snatch and grab goal from a corner proves that it just takes one chance to cause an upset. But Nunez restored Liverpool’s lead shortly after following the opener from Jones.
Back in a bit.
Two added minutes. Liverpool seem content to just knock it around and wait for the whistle.
45 min: Alisson has to earn his keep. A flicked on header from a long throw from Norwich is on target, but tame. Then the Liverpool stopper must claim a comfortable cross.
43 min: Gomez gets the ball and cries of “shooooooot’ ring out. For a moment he considered it but rightly opted for the switch to the right flank. Maybe he was put off by the encouragement because what should have been an easy ball misses its target and it’ll be a Norwich throw.
“Given the way Conor is playing I think it’s going to be hard for Trent to get a start for the rest of the season.
Surely a fit and firing TAA walks back into the team, no Martin Jachnik? But you’re right. Bradley has been imperious.
40 min: Patience at the back from Liverpool. Jones gets on the ball and injects some thrust into the move. Gee, he’s been impressive. A great tackle from Hernandez ends that attack but Liverpool are back on the ball before Norwich can get past the half-way line.
38 min: Gakpo turns and shoots but can’t connect cleanly as his strike dribbles wide. He’s not playing poorly, but a few half-chances, plus one really good one, means he’s perhaps the one Liverpool player who’ll feel a tad frustrated with his performance so far.
“The best two players on the pitch are Liverpool teenagers, one assist each…
Whoever takes over, Juergen has left a full hand to play with…”
You’re right, Stephen Berkery. A remarkable achievement. Compare this Liverpool squad to the one Sir Alex Ferguson left at Manchester United.
35 min: Gravenbach – who hasn’t stopped running – wins a free-kick off McCallum, the poor Norwich left back who lost the ball before Nunez scored. The cross in is dealt with.
32 min: Liverpool almost have another! Shambolic defending means two men in yellow are desperately lunging to clear from their own line. They just about manage to get it away. I admire their bravery but someone needs to get the message that tippy-tappy at the back ain’t working.
32 min: Gakpo misses a sitter! Should be 3-1. A delicious ball to the back post from midfield finds Bradley at the far post. he cuts back for Gakpo who had to ride the bounce but scuffed the first-time effort from the six-yard box.
30 min: Again Norwich have their pocket picked in their own half. Gibson this time dallying on the ball. Liverpool swarm and win a corner.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Norwich (Nunez, 28)
Order restored. Norwich’s newfound confidence sees them try to play it out from the back. It’s worked to the left flank but Liverpool steal the ball, move it quickly to Nunez up front. His first touch isn’t great but it’s good enough to give him time to shoot. He finds the bottom corner with a poke of his boot and is wheeling away in celebration
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27 min: The crowd has quietened a little bit. Not the Norwich fans behind their own goal. Their players have definitely found an extra step since the goal. They’re battling for 50/50s and not allowing Liverpool to settle. Are they starting the believe?
25 min: McCallum, who launched the counter that created the corner that grabbed the goal, is fouled in his own half. Suddenly Norwich look a little more comfortable on the ball.
Never mind. Liverpool pinch it right back and begin another measured attack
24 min: Another counter from Norwich ends with a swinging cross that’s too close to Alisson. Norwich look sharp in transition.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Norwich (Gibson, 22)
Well then! Who saw that coming. Football, eh? A second corner is swung un and Gibson outmuscles his marker at the near post and gets a shoulder, I think, on the ball. Whatever it hit, it ripples the net and Norwich are level.
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21 min: Best play from Norwich so far. A counter down the right frees up McCallum who can’t find Barnes but does pick out Fassnacht. He controls and looks to pick out a teammate. Instead it’s out for a corner.
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“Hi Daniel!” hey Joe Pearson, always good to hear from you.
“Looking at Norwich’s squad, I thought ‘Where’s Pukki?’ A quick internet search tells me the Canaries legend now plays for Minnesota United in MLS. Who knew?”
I’m sure he’s glad he’s not here today.
18 min: Liverpool are tenacious. They’re pressing with the sort of ferocity that suggests this is not a gimme fourth round cup tie against a Championship side. Norwich can’t breathe.
17 min: Liverpool are right back at it. A clearance from a byline cross saves Norwich for now.
A word for McConnell. That really was a sumptuous delivery. And on his first start for the club. A moment he’ll never forget. Now to get a goal.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Norwich (Jones, 16)
So easy. What a wonderful ball from McConnell from the right of midfield. Jones needed to place his header at the far post but he was beautifully set up by a pin-point diagonal. Lovely football.
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14 min: Norwich reach Liverpool’s box. It started with a Hernandez burst in midfield but ended rather tamely as the cross from the left was easily dealt with.
Liverpool counter and Nunez is half a foot away from sliding in a delicious cross to the back post.
It’s so hard for Norwich. They can’t just sit deep but know they' could get cut to shreds if they attack. Long day ahead.
12 min: Another shot from Gakpo. or was that a cross? He cut inside the box from the left and had options at the far post. Whatever it was, it clipped a Norwich boot and spooned out for a corner. That comes to nothing though so Liverpool recycle from deep.
10 min: Nunez hits the post. That would have been a stunner. It comes from Norwich losing the ball in their own third. Nunez turned, cleared his feet and unfurled a curler that bounced and bent but couldn’t beat the far post from range.
9 min: Liverpool jinking it around the edge of Norwich’s box. To their credit, the defensive block has held. They manage to push Liverpool back to the half-way line and then force a mistake from Gomez who can’t control on the flank.
7 min: Norwich have the ball for more than 10 seconds. They can’t do anything with it and get about five metres into Liverpool’s territory, but it’s a win, of sorts.
Gakpo has a chance at the far post. He just couldn’t get the bouncing ball under his spell and a wild swipe has it ballooning over the bar.
6 min: It’s attack v defence here. Liverpool get into Norwich’s box with Nunez but his back is to goal so he gets it back into rotation. Eventually Gomez gets on the ball from his flank and fires a stinging low shot that’s deflected for a corner. He had the ‘keeper scrambling though.
4 min: Jones shows some neat feet to find Gakpo on the left from midfield. Nothing doing down that flank so they recycle back to the right. Jota can’t get a cross away. Norwich clear but once again Liverpool win it back immediately.
2 min: Liverpool press high and pinch the ball just outside Norwich’s box. Jota looks to shift it onto his left and it deflects out for a corner. Norwich defend it well but Liverpool win it right back and set again.
1 min: Liverpool with the early ball as you’d expect. A raking diagonal can’t find McConnell, the 18-year-old starting his first game for Liverpool.
Right, away we go!
Henry Chen, following from Taiwan, has some views on the timing of the next round draw:
“How do we feel about draws taking place before all the teams have played? I think there are cases to be made for it.
“I would definitely schedule the draw to be after the last game of the round (not considering replays) since we can at least predict when that’d take place. (replays that go to extra time or penalties are hard to predict for time and thus isn’t great for audiences watching if you were to schedule the draw after a replayed game.)”
The players are making their way out of the tunnel. The crowd are in full voice. Looks like a special occasion at Anfield today.
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David Wagner – Norwich’s manager – and Jurgen Klopp – you all know who he is – are seen hugging on the telly.
The former was the best man at the latter’s wedding. Can’t be too many football matches managed by best buddies. Maybe that’s why Wagner has named a weakened side with two goalkeepers on the bench. Surely not. Although…
While we wait, I reckon some more Klopp-gushing won’t hurt.
This one from Liverpool tragic Sachin Nakrani will tug the heart strings of even Everton and Manchester United supporters. Well, maybe not. But the rest of you might get a kick out of this:
Fifth round draw will take place at half-time
Another delay. Apologies to everyone yearning to find out who will get knocked out by Maidstone United in the next round. But you’ll have to wait a little longer.
If you thought Norwich’s winless run against Liverpool in all competitions is long, wait til you hear about the FA Cup fortunes.
1951. That’s when they last beat the Reds in this famous competition. 3-1 in the third round, that was the third consecutive victory over Liverpool in the Cup following a 3-0 win in 1937 and a 3-2 win in 1909. Here’s what Anfield looked like for that first encounter:
Pre-World War 1 Anfield when #NCFC won 3-2 there in the FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/EsAphppepT
— Canaries Caption It (@Saund65) January 28, 2024
How do we feel about draws taking place before all the teams have played? Personally, I don’t like it. It adds a bit of narrative, I suppose, but somehow it feels a little disrespectful. To what or to whom I’m not sure, but something doesn’t quite feel right.
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
FA CUP draw delayed
New time is 2:15 pm. Because of the crowd incident at the Hawthorns.
Tom Gould has written in to remind everyone that Norwich were quite good three decades ago:
“It’s worth remembering that the Norwich team that last won against Liverpool had also beaten Inter Milan and Bayern Munich on their respective grounds earlier in the season.
Crowd trouble has delayed the end of Wolves v West Brom.
I’m not sure how that might impact our game, as they’re both on ITV, but will stay on top of things.
A bit more Jurgen Klopp lovin’. This from our chief David Hytner is worth a gander:
Is Jurgen Klopp Liverpool’s greatest ever manager? It’s remarkable he’s even in the conversation.
I’ll let others quibble over the order of merit. For now, let’s take a look at Jonathan Wilson’s piece that explains how the German’s rejuvenation of the Reds has echoes of Bill Shankly’s work:
Do any of you remember the last time Norwich beat Liverpool?
Our reader Andy Flintoff (not that one, he assures me) has out this run in context:
“Norwich’s last win over Liverpool was on the last day of the standing Kop in 94, before it got redeveloped. It’s amazing to think that’s nearly 30 years ago.
“I don’t understand putting two goalkeepers on the bench, unless you’re trying to send a message. It’d make better sense for them to put a youth teamer on the bench - it’s just as unlikely for them to get on the pitch, but it would give them some experience of the atmosphere around first-team games. This might help their development by easing the transition from youth to first team.
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Norwich team
I’m not going to claim to be an expert on all things Norwich, but judging by the early comments on social media, this could get nasty.
"If it’s less than a 10-0 loss i’ll be amazed,” said one fan. “It’s our worst team,” said another. It’s a changed line-up, that’s for sure, as if they’ve conceded that even at their best they’re not going to do much damage. Two ‘keepers on the bench does seem odd either way.
Norwich 4-5-1: George Long, Jack Stacey, Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson, Sam McCallum, Christian Fassnacht, Gabriel Sara, Kenny McLean, Onel Hernandez, Marcelo Nunez, Ashley Barnes.
Subs: Borja Sainz, Liam Gibbs, Adam Idah, Jacob Sorensen, Przemyslaw Placheta, Angus Gunn, Dimitris Giannoulis, Kellen Fisher, Caleb Ansen.
Our @EmiratesFACup lineup 👇 pic.twitter.com/fsbLKZw7hc
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 28, 2024
Liverpool team
Nunez leads the line hoping to replicate another Uruguayan’s exploits against Norwich. He’ll have help from Jota and Gakpo in a strong looking attack supported by some rookies behind. It’s a strong bench too, just in case things go awry.
Liverpool 4-3-3: Alisson Becker; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Ryan Gravenberch, James McConnell, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota.
Subs: Caoimhin Kelleher, Virgil Van Dijk, Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Andy Robertson, Bobby Clark, Owen Beck, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
📲 Team news is in!
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 28, 2024
Here’s how we line up to take on Norwich in the #EmiratesFACup 💪🔴 #LIVNOR
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to Jurgen Klopp’s last ever 4th round FA Cup tie against Norwich at Anfield.
There’s going to be a lot of that sort of stuff in the coming months. For those of you living under a rock, the big man shocked the football world this week by announcing his exit as Liverpool’s manager at the end of the season.
As far as news goes, it doesn’t get much bigger in the sport. He’s won it all, literally, and hauled a limping giant back to the perch of European football. As Jonathan Liew put it, even though he might not be the manager of your club, I reckon most of us secretly wished that he was.
The Premier League, which they lead, will be the priority during this last dance but another Cup win will do rather nicely. So will a statement trouncing of a club that used to be the perennial victim of Luis Suarez.
How Norwich would love to spoil the party. They haven’t beaten Liverpool in their previous 18 meetings. The last time the Canaries triumphed over the Reds was back in April 1994. It happens to be Liverpool’s longest current unbeaten run against any side.
Ninth in the Championship, Norwich are obvious outsiders. But strange things happen in the Cup. And with emotions swirling around Merseyside, the stage is set for an unlikely narrative.
Kick-off at 2:30pm. Teams and updates to follow.
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