• Liverpool cruise into fourth round of FA Cup with routine Anfield win
  • 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha becomes club's second youngest player
  • Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jayden Danns join Federico Chiesa on scoresheet

Liverpool cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup as they beat League Two Accrington Stanley 4-0 at Anfield.

First-half goals from Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold gave the Reds a handy lead at the break following a one-sided first half.

And, despite a few moments of encouragement for the visitors in the second period, the game was wrapped up late on by a Jayden Danns strike and Federico Chiesa's first goal for Liverpool.

How the game unfolded

Although changes were expected, Arne Slot sprung one major surprise in his starting XI by handing a debut to 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.

 

Having inevitably dominated possession from the off, it was Liverpool who created the first chance, Darwin Nunez heading over from a Harvey Elliott cutback. The Uruguayan then blasted over a more presentable opportunity that had landed to him after Trent Alexander-Arnold went close.

But, just as it appeared Accrington Stanley were beginning to get comfortable, the hosts found their breakthrough. It came after they had successfully defended a free-kick delivery into their own box, and saw Alexander-Arnold play in Nunez, who squared for a Jota tap-in.

Alexander-Arnold then ensured that lead was doubled just before the break, thundering a beautiful finish into the far top corner from the right edge of the box.

Liverpool started the second half in similarly dominant mood, but were indebted to a block on the line and the width of the crossbar for Josh Woods failing to reduce the deficit with two chances in quick succession.

Donald Love then offered a further reminder that the game was not over, heading a chance that he should have done so much better with over the bar.

Unfortunately for Accrington, their hopes were effectively extinguished when substitute Danns thrashed home on the follow-up after a Chiesa effort had been saved.

And the Italian, regularly linked with a move to Napoli in this January transfer window, added gloss to the scoreline just before the end of normal time, striking in off the post from the edge of the box.