Liverpool enjoyed a safe passage into the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley at Anfield.
The Premier League leaders, who suffered only their second defeat of the season in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Tottemham, broke the League Two side’s stubborn first-half resistance when Diogo Jota converted Darwin Nunez’s square ball just before the half-hour mark.
Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled Liverpool’s lead in spectacular fashion on the stroke of half-time, sending a fierce shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area to give the hosts breathing space at the interval.
The second half was far from a damage limitation exercise for Accrington, who struck the crossbar through boyhood Liverpool fan Josh Woods, before former Manchester United defender Donald Love sent a free header over the bar from close range.
But Jayden Danns, who had replaced 16-year-old debutant Rio Ngumoha only minutes earlier, made it 3-0 on the rebound after Federico Chiesa’s shot was blocked by visiting goalkeeper Billy Crellin.
Half-time substitute Chiesa was a lively presence off the bench and the Italian completed the scoring with a low, long-range drive – his first for the Anfield club following his August arrival from Juventus – moments after hitting the post with another effort.
Arne Slot’s team will discover their fourth-round opponents when the draw is made following the conclusion of Sunday’s tie between Arsenal and Manchester United.
Ngumoha makes history as Alexander-Arnold puts criticism behind him
Despite facing a side 86 places below them in the league pyramid, Liverpool boss Slot fielded a strong team which subjected their opponents to concerted pressure from the start.
Nunez should have given the hosts the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour, shooting high over the crossbar after Accrington keeper Crellin – on loan from Everton – had kept out a low Alexander-Arnold shot with his right leg.
The 29th-minute opener came just seconds after one of Accrington’s first real forays into Liverpool’s half. After Ben Woods’ inswinging free-kick was cleared, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold combined to release Nunez, whose low cross from the right was tapped in by Jota.
Amid an uncertain future, Alexander-Arnold was criticised by some supporters following the 2-2 drw with Manchester United last weekend, but the Anfield crowd were singing the 26-year-old’s praises after watching his sweetly-struck effort sail into the top corner of Crellin’s net just before the break.
It all but ended Accrington’s hopes of an upset, but the League Two strugglers gave an excellent account of themselves in the second half and will perhaps be a little frustrated not to have made the scoresheet themselves.
Forward Josh Woods, a Liverpool supporter who grew up idolising Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, almost gave the 4,700 travelling fans reason to cheer when he rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Not long after that, Love managed to escape the attention of the Liverpool defence to meet Shaun Whalley’s corner, but could only direct his header over Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.
At 16 years and 135 days old, Ngumoha became the youngest starter in Liverpool’s history and second-youngest debutant – behind Jerome Sinclair.
And the teenage forward was a livewire down the Reds’ left wing and received a warm ovation from the Anfield crowd after being replaced by 18-year-old Danns, who found the net just four minutes later.
Chiesa had the final say, though, his stoppage-time strike opening his account for the club on his fifth appearance following an injury-plagued campaign.