The quest for quadruple continues. Just like Manchester City last season, now it’s time for Liverpool to dream about a season with all four trophies. After winning the Carabao Cup in a thrilling finale with Chelsea, the Reds continued their schedule with a fifth round of the FA Cup and a relatively easy opponent, a relegation bound Norwich. The Canaries came to Anfield without a white flag and fought bravely, but unfortunately for them their team was not strong enough to win against a ‘reserve’ Reds team: Liverpool – Norwich 2-1.Through to the quarter-finals of the #EmiratesFACup 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FYTFZG3FRc— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 2, 2022 Coach Jurgen Klopp has only made it two times into the fifth round of the FA Cup (the first was in 2019 when they lost to Chelsea) so the German was eager to reach the quarter-finals for the first time after 2014-15. But it doesn’t mean he was willing to play his strongest squad against weak Norwich. Home team are full of confidence after a serious of good results in all four competitions, so coach Jurgen Klopp decided to be brave as well and fielded out a team in which only Jordan Henderson remained out of 11 players who fought against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final. Of course, players like Allison and Conate are regulars and didn’t play against the Blues, but others like Van Dijk, Salah, Mane or Alexander-Arnold remained on the bench. 8 – Since the start of 2020, Takumi Minamino has scored eight goals in domestic cup competitions (League Cup/FA Cup), twice as many as any other Liverpool player in this period. Specialist.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 2, 2022 There was no surprises, there was no hidden tactics from Norwich, it was Liverpool all the way tonight. Players who were chosen instead of the first 11 tried very hard not to be a part of some big FA Cup surprise (Tottenham anyone?) and attacked from the first minute. Jones managed only to hit the upper part of the bar in the 9th minute, but the real hero for the Reds tonight was their ‘Scouse Samurai’ Takumi Minamino, who scored the brace in the space of 12 minutes and put the game away. The first one came after a great Tsimikas pass, which was controlled by Origi in the goal area, and the Belgian passed the ball to the Japanese forward who made no mistake: 1-0. In the 39th minute, Minamino scored again, from similar angle, but this time he blasted it near keeper Krul.Norwich had a chance just into the second half but Sargent was not precise enough to score. Oxlade-Chamberlain was on the other end minutes after but only managed to strike the upright. And just as Norwich supporters were ironically singing “We’ve got the ball…” during a rare spell of possession, their team managed to score a goal for 2-1 and unpleasant situation for the home supporters for the last 15 minutes. In fact, even Klopp felt a discomfort about this goal, and decided introduce Diaz and Mane for the last 7 minutes of the match. Rowe had a great chance to stun the home crowd in the 85th minute, but his shot went over the bar and that was it.FA CUP Fifth RoundTuesdayPeterborough – Man.City 0-2 (0-0)/Mahrez 60, Grealish 60/Crystal Palace – Stoke 2-1 (0-0)/Kouyate 53, Riedewald 82 – Tymon 58/Middlesbrough. – Tottenham 1-0 (0-0) AET/Coburn 107/WednesdayLuton Town – Chelsea 2-3 (2-1)/Burke 2, Cornick 40 – Saul 27, Werner 68, Lukaku 78/Southampton – West Ham United 3-1 (1-0)/Perraud 31, Ward-Prowse 69 (p), Broja 90+3 – Antonio 60/Liverpool – Norwich 2-1 (2-0)/Minamino 27,39 – Rupp 76/Thursday23.15: (1.15) Everton (9.00) Boreham Wood (22.0)Monday22.30: (2.10) Nott.Forest (3.50) Huddersfield (3.80)
