Liverpool FC have reached the round of 16 of the FA Cup. On Sunday afternoon, the Reds defeated second division side Norwich City 5-2, making it their first game since Jürgen Klopp’s farewell announcement. The big favorite only had to hold his breath once.
It could have been much clearer. In the end there were five goals scored at Anfield when the referee ended the game after a fairly one-sided 95 minutes. But there could easily have been eight, nine or even ten.
The enthusiasm with which Liverpool appeared, how much pressure the Reds built up, how effective they were in counter-pressing, all of this was simply too big for Norwich City, who fought bravely but ultimately had no chance and were lucky that Liverpool had been negligent in a number of ways.
Already in the first few minutes the favorites in the person of Gakpo (8th) and Darwin (10th, post) had a sniff of the lead. After a good quarter of an hour the time had come: the Premier League leaders made it 1-0 with a header from Jones (16th) and also had an answer to Gibson’s surprising equalizer (22nd, after a corner): Just In the only phase of the entire game in which Norwich seemed to be somewhat free, Darwin struck and made it 2-1 (28th). It was to be the goal from which the guests never recovered.
Gravenberch has the last word
Liverpool were superior in every respect, and because Diogo Jota (53′) and substitute van Dijk (63′) increased after the break, Norwich’s Borja Sainz’s goal was no more than a side note (69′). In the end, the last word – after several missed chances to score – was reserved for Gravenberch (90th + 5th).
Now the Reds – this was the result of the draw at half-time – will face Watford FC or Southampton FC in the round of 16, who ended up with a draw and therefore have to play a replay.