Participant rankings as Klopp’s youngsters ship once more

Liverpool overcame a tricky problem from Southampton within the FA Cup fifth spherical on Wednesday evening, beating the Saints 3-0.

Within the absence of 14 first-teamers, Jurgen Klopp as soon as once more relied upon youth in his beginning XI and two academy graduates discovered the again of the web. Lewis Koumas opened the scoring for the hosts, earlier than Jayden Danns scored twice after coming off the bench.

Liverpool will now tackle Manchester United within the quarter-finals after the Pink Devils overcame Nottingham Forest late on on the Metropolis Floor.

How the sport unfolded

The Liverpool boss was pressured to call a youthful XI given the Reds’ litany of absences, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai all lacking out as soon as once more.

Alexis Mac Allister, Ibrahima Konate, and Luis Diaz all dropped to the bench having began Sunday’s Carabao Cup ultimate.

Within the opening exchanges, Southampton attacked with the vigour that Chelsea ought to’ve within the prolonged interval at Wembley, however missed likelihood after likelihood earlier than Cody Gakpo had Liverpool’s first sniff of Joe Lumley’s objective. The Saints pressed fantastically, with Kamaldeen Sulemana hitting the put up and Sekou Mara twice being denied by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Russell Martin’s free-flowing guests performed with a swagger all through the primary half, frequently beating Liverpool’s press to create four-v-fours in attacking transition. For all their build-up brilliance, nonetheless, they could not breach Kelleher’s defences they usually had been punished simply earlier than half-time when Koumas’ deflected effort – simply the Reds’ second heading in the right direction – handed the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Koumas’ strike did little to discourage Martin’s males, who remained on high initially of the second half with Liverpool as soon as once more reliant on Kelleher to retain their benefit.

There was actually extra management in regards to the Reds’ second-half show, with Ibrahima Konate’s arrival aiding their capacity to include Sulemana. Nonetheless, Shea Charles spurned a gilt-edge likelihood to attract Southampton degree from a set-piece.

Then, one other of Liverpool’s younger stars doubled their benefit. Substitute Danns coolly completed over Lumley after being fed in behind by Harvey Elliott. The 18-year-old added his second late on after reacting sharply from Conor Bradley’s saved effort.

The scoreline was harsh on the Championship facet, who impressed for giant swathes of the competition and one way or the other ended the evening with out troubling the scorers.

GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – 9/10 – The Irishman adopted up Sunday’s heroics with one more stellar exhibiting. Kelleher made save after save on this cup tie and was totally deserving of his clear sheet.

RB: Conor Bradley – 7/10 – The Northern Irishman all the time appeared to be concerned. Produced some pretty touches and was concerned in Liverpool’s third.

CB: Jarell Quansah – 6/10 – Initially had a tricky evening coping with Sulemana within the channel. Grateful for Konate’s introduction, little doubt.

CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – Wasn’t afforded a lot safety by his midfield, however defended the transition expertly when the ball went down his flank within the first half.

LB: Kostas Tsimkas – 6/10 – Far more serene within the second interval after a frantic opening stuffed with slipping and failed counter-pressing.

CM: Joe Gomez – 7/10 – Gomez’s inverted position means he is gotten used to popping up in central areas, however this was a distinct kettle of fish. There have been moments of awkwardness in possession, however he grew into the position and impressed within the second half.

CM: James McConnell – 6/10 – McConnell is a gifted passer and he delivered a few pretty switches of play. A measured efficiency however there have been brighter showings from Liverpool’s younger weapons.

CM: Bobby Clark – 8/10 – Responsible of an early giveaway which ought to’ve resulted in a objective, however Clark seemingly grew in confidence thereafter. Proactive and constructive with the ball, the younger midfielder teed up Koumas’ opener and may’ve had an help for Cody Gakpo initially of the second half.

RW: Harvey Elliott – 7/10 – After a chaotic opening, Elliott settled and delivered a usually industrious show stuffed with artistic vigour.

ST: Cody Gakpo – 5/10 – Certainly one of few senior members included within the senior XI, Gakpo was responsible of lacking a number of possibilities on Wednesday evening.

LW: Lewis Koumas – 7/10 – Shiny and direct, though bodily inferior. The Southampton defence had little challenge coping with {the teenager} earlier than his sensible, deflected end gave Liverpool the lead.

Substitutes

SUB: Ibrahima Konate (46′ for Van Dijk) – 8/10

SUB: Alexis Mac Allister (62′ for McConnell) – 6/10

SUB: Jayden Danns (62′ for Koumas) – 8/10

SUB: Trey Nyoni (83′ for Elliott) – 6/10

SUB: Kaide Gordon (90′ for Gakpo) – N/A

Subs not used: Adrian (GK), Luis Diaz, Callum Scanlon, Amara Nallo