FA Cup: Liverpool to face Norwich after beating Cardiff

A fine header from Diogo Jota, a low drive from Takumi Minamino and a superb finish from Harvey Elliott hauled Liverpool into round five of the FA Cup, in which Norwich City will visit Anfield.

A home tie against @NorwichCityFC is confirmed for @LFC in the #EmiratesFACup fifth round! pic.twitter.com/E2sKAG8sTu

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 6, 2022

Cardiff, making nine changes from their midweek win at Burnley, battled hard, but class eventually told.
In a slow first half, Cardiff’s five-man backline did well to deny Liverpool space, forcing them to play too slowly.

Nevertheless, both Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones missed chances – though Cardiff might have had a penalty when Ibrahima Konate ran through Mark Harris.

Though Liverpool did not play much better after the break, when they earned a free-kick down the right on 53 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold curled over a typically inviting cross, and Jota used its pace and direction to guide a finish inside the far post.

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One goal looked certain to be enough, but on 68 minutes, Liverpool made sure, terrible errors from Aden Flint and Perry Ng allowing Luis Diaz, on off the bench for his first appearance since arriving at Anfield in the transfer window, to set up Minamino for a low drive.

Then, with 14 minutes to go, Elliott marked his return from injury with a lovely goal, before Rubin Colwill’s expert intervention gave the away fans a moment to enjoy. But it’s Liverpool who go through, – and they look nicely set to improve a spotty recent record in the domestic cups.