Norwich City were knocked out of the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage by Liverpool, but didn’t give up without a fight against the Premier League leaders.
The Canaries were defeated 5-2 courtesy of goals from Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch, but made the scoreline more acceptable with Ben Gibson’s impressive header and a world-class finish by Borja Sainz.
Gibson’s header had City level for an unlikely six minutes before the Reds’ quality showed in a devastating second-half period. Sainz then gave the travelling fans some faint hope with his strike, but Liverpool were able to see out the game in comfortable possession with a clincher from Gravenberch.
The result means they march onto the fifth round and a meeting with either Watford or Southampton, while Norwich’s Championship campaign resumes with the visit of Coventry to Carrow Road on Saturday.
LIVERPOOL:
Substitutes
62. Kelleher (GK
4. Van Dijk (on for Konate, 55)
7. Diaz (on for McConnell, 79)
8. Szoboszlai (on for Jones, 55)
19. Elliott
26. Robertson (on for Gomez, 55)
42. Clark
63. Beck
66. Alexander-Arnold (on for Nunez, 65)
Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Bookings:
Goals: Jones (16), Nunez (28), Jota (53), van Dijk (69), Gravenberch (90+5)
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
28. Gunn (GK)
51. Ansen (GK)
7. Sainz (on for Hernandez, 61)
8. Gibbs (on for Fassnacht, 83)
11. Idah (on for Barnes, 61)
19. Sorensen (on for Hanley, 61)
20. Placheta
30. Giannoulis (on for McCallum, 83)
35. Fisher
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings:
Goals: Gibson (22), Sainz (69)
KEY MOMENTS
5 – Gomez’ shot from range is headed for the bottom corner, but Hanley diverts it wide of the near post.
8 – Gravenberch picks out Gakpo with this cross, but the Liverpool forward half-volleys well over.
11 – Nunez seizes on Stacey’s poor pass and fires towards goal, the far post saving the Norwich defence.
14 – Jota’s low cross only just evades Nunez.
16 – GOAL LIVERPOOL (Jones): McConnell’s pass is perfect for an unmarked Jones, who heads beyond Long with ease.
21 – McCallum flies forward and crosses low for Barnes. It evades him but finds Fassnacht, whose centre is turned behind for a corner.
22 – GOAL NORWICH (Gibson): Sara swings a corner into the near post, Gibson meeting it to flick beyond Alisson.
28 – GOAL LIVERPOOL (Nunez): Nunez latches onto Bradley’s pass in plenty of space after a rapid home counter, dispatching coolly beyond Long.
31 – Bradley sets up Gakpo, who somehow scuffs wide with only Long to beat.
32 – Liverpool riob the Norwich defence again and find Gravenberch through on goal, but Hnaley and Gibson combine to clear off the line.
38 – Gakpo turns and shoots again, dragging just wide.
Half time: Liverpool 2-1 Norwich City
48 – Sara hits a rasping shot from 30 yards that flies just wide.
53 – GOAL LIVERPOOL (Jota): Gibson fails to clear with his header and Jota makes the most, running round the City defender and firing beyond Long.
59 – Gravenberch finds space to drive into before firing into The Kop.
62 – Nunez gives the ball away and Szoboszlai finds the Chilean’s namesake, but Darwin can only lift over with the help of a deflection.
63 – GOAL LIVERPOOL (Van Dijk): Szoboszlai takes the resulting corner, finding Van Dijk for a sublime header into the corner.
69 – GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Sainz drives forward and fires a fantastic effort past Alisson from 25 yards.
76 – Nunez tries an effort from distance but Alisson collects comfortably.
79 – Long denies Jota and then Gravenberch with a fantastic double save.
89 – Long palms straight to Jota at an angle, but he fires well over.
90+5 – GOAL LIVERPOOL (Gravenberch): Gravenberch heads in from close range for 5-2.
Full time: Liverpool 5-2 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Long 6, Stacey 6, Hanley 5, Gibson 5, McCallum 6, Nunez 6, McLean 5, Fassnacht 7, Sara 6, Hernandez 6, Barnes 5. Subs: Sorensen 5, Sainz 8, Idah 5, Giannoulis 5, Gibbs 4.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 73%-27%
Shots: 26-6
On target: 10-4
Corners: 12-2
Fouls: 7-3
Added time: 2 mins/5 mins
REFEREE: Samuel Barrott
