Right then, I’m off. Here’s Richard Jolly’s match report. Bye!
A rapturous reception greeted the double change, laced with excitement and relief. It was a new signing and a new beginning and if the Anfield public were happy simply to see Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott on the pitch, they had further reasons to celebrate Jurgen Klopp’s substitutions. The January buy made an encouraging debut, the teenager made the ideal comeback and a day that threatened to be awkward for Liverpool started to assume a near-perfect look.
For Diaz, an assist 11 minutes into his Anfield career was perhaps all the more auspicious given Jurgen Klopp’s indelible association with pressing. He harried a dozing Perry Ng out of possession to tee up Takumi Minamino for Liverpool’s second goal. For Elliott, their third was his first for the club and while it was taken beautifully — the winger taking a touch to control Andy Robertson’s cross and swivelling to dispatch a half-volley — perhaps his presence on the pitch was a greater achievement. It was 147 days since he dislocated his ankle against Leeds, when the immediate reaction was to fear for his future. A swift return had a stylish conclusion.
Much more here:
Steve Morrison has a chat. He also notably doesn’t seem aggrieved about the Kelleher incident.
Really proud of them. We conceded a set piece and then it was two really poor goals to give them the other two, so coming away from Anfield frustrated that we’ve given them three poor goals from our point of view is still tough. First half I thought we did well, had a couple of moments, could have had a pen. And then we had the moment right at the start of the second half. I personally think my striker’s got to get there first and go round him and put the ball in the back of the net. I’m really proud of them, but we’ve lost to three poor goals.
On ITV, Ian Wright says Kelleher should have been sent off in the first minute of the second half for serious foul play. I don’t see it myself - it was a poor attempt to win the ball, absolutely, but I’ve seen a slow-motion zoomed-in replay and I still can’t be sure he even touched Harris. It wasn’t a clear goalscoring opportunity, and a yellow card seems as much punishment as the foul deserved.
There were four goals, and only seven shots on target. Liverpool were clearly the better side but Cardiff, away from home and with a much-changed side, played pretty well and were in the contest until a defensive error allowed Liverpool a second.
Final score: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff
90+4 mins: It’s all over! Liverpool take their place in Round Five, where they will return to Anfield to play Norwich City.
Updated
90+3 mins: Cardiff sneak in one last substitution, and Semenyo will get 30 seconds on the Anfield turf. Ng comes off.
90+1 mins: There will be three minutes of stoppage time, give or take.
90 mins: Luis Diaz is one of only two outfield players on either side wearing gloves (the other is Konate).
89 mins: The ball is prodded through for Davies to run onto, but the immaculate Van Dijk comes across to steal it away from him.
88 mins: And just after I type that three of them combine to win the ball on the left. It’s played inside to Jota, but he can’t conjure a shot on goal.
87 mins: Perhaps unsurprisingly Liverpool look happy to settle for the current scoreline.
84 mins: Luis Dias is back on his feet and raises a thumb towards his bench.
83 mins: Replays suggest it’s going to be fine - his knee was accidentally scraped by Flint’s studs after both went up for a header, so it’s not a potentially nastier internal injury.
Updated
83 mins: Luis Diaz is down, holding his right knee and looking in genuine pain.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff (Colwell, 80 mins)
Another cracking finish! Cardiff snaffle the ball on halfway and break, Davies plays in Colwill on the edge of the area and he doesn’t hang about, snapping a low drive past Kelleher!
Updated
78 mins: Yet another substitution, Liverpool bringing Thiago on and taking Henderson off. I appreciate that for some readers this will be the second time I’ve said Henderson has been taken off. The first time it was actually Minamino.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Cardiff (Elliott, 76 mins)
That’s a cracker! The ball comes in from the left and Elliott, in a worrying amount of space after McGuinness slips, takes a lovely first touch before hammering a volley inside the near post!
Updated
75 mins: A good stat that I would comment on more widely but can’t because something else has happened:
15 - Trent Alexander-Arnold has recorded his 15th assist of the season across all competitions; this is the most by any Premier League player in 2021-22, as well as the joint-most for Alexander-Arnold in a single season of his career (also 15 in 18-19 and 19-20). Pinpoint. pic.twitter.com/2Ko3DWVIWV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2022
Updated
73 mins: Liverpool play through midfield really beautifully, Luis Diaz plays wide to Elliott when he might have shot, and from his lay-off Henderson shoots wide from 20 yards.
72 mins: It’s suddenly raining on Anfield so heavily it looks like fog.
71 mins: An absolute horrorshow:
'Defensively, it's as poor a goal as you'd concede all season'
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 6, 2022
Cardiff won't want to see this one again 🙈
🏆 #FACup | #ITVFootball | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/uS4Qm5c0fy
69 mins: Cardiff take off King and Vaulks and bring on Doyle and Colwill. Meanwhile Liverpool take off Tsimikas and Minamino and bring on Robertson and Milner.
Updated
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Cardiff (Minamino, 68 mins)
Calamity for Cardiff! Ng tries to usher the ball back to his keeper, but Phillips makes no attempt to claim it, Luis Dias steals it instead, and his pull-back is hammered into the net by Minamino!
Updated
68 mins: Tsimikas crosses from the left, and Jota goes to ground in the middle. He seemed quite keen on doing so, and the referee is unimpressed.
66 mins: Since Harris nearly ran clear in the first minute of the half, Cardiff have done very little. They did just send another long throw into the area, but it didn’t stay there long.
63 mins: Elliott has looked bright since coming on, and he cuts in from the right before having a decent-looking shot, which deflects wide.
60 mins: It goes for a corner, from which Jota volleys wide at the back post! His marker, Ng, had gone to ground claiming a push, so had it gone in VAR would have got involved.
59 mins: Jota exchanges passes with Minamino on the edge of the area, but the return is a little strong and Jota can’t bring it under control.
58 mins: Jordan Hugill comes on for Cardiff, replacing James Collins.
57 mins: A significant double substitution for Liverpool, who bring Curtis Jones and Naby Keita off, and bring on Harvey Elliott, injured since September, and Luis Diaz, who arrived on Friday.
Updated
56 mins: Another headed chance for Liverpool, but Phillips’ positioning is excellent and Firmino can’t find a way past him.
54 mins: That is an absolutely super header. Given Jota’s distance from goal the direction had to be perfect, and that it was. The cross had the pace, and Jota had it nestling just inside the far post.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Cardiff (Jota, 53 mins)
Alexander-Arnold curls the free-kick into the box, and Jota heads past Phillips!
Updated
52 mins: Minamino wins the ball from Vaulks, is pulled back as he attempts to scamper away with it, and the Cardiff player is booked.
52 mins: Curtis Jones blasts over the bar from 30 yards.
50 mins: Then Ng brings down Tsimikas and then clambers all over him as he tries to get to what is now a loose ball. The referee stops this silly behaviour and the players have a few words with each other. The atmosphere has turned a little testy.
48 mins: Play eventually continues, with no further action. Harris had outpaced Konate to reach the ball but was running away from it when the challenge came in, and though the keeper was then out of action the Liverpool defender might still have beaten him to it, so there was no clear goalscoring opportunity.
47 mins: It looked like a wild challenge, but I’m not sure he made much contact with the Cardiff forward.
46 mins: They’re back under way, and within 45 seconds Kelleher hares out to stop Harris reaching the ball, misses the ball and brings down Harris! The referee gives only a yellow card, but VAR is having another look...
Updated
The players are on their way back out. Second half imminent!
Not a bad half, but there has been only two clear chances - one each from Jota and Jones - plus a decent penalty appeal from Cardiff. If you want some halftimely football liveblog action, Tom Davies is available for you here:
Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Cardiff City
45+2 mins: That’s the end of the first half, and there have been no goals. Liverpool have had 82% of possession, 100% of the corners and 11 of the 13 shots, but when it comes to shots on target it’s 1-1.
Updated
45+1 mins: Henderson’s 20-yarder floats wide as we coast into stoppage time, which should last for just one minute.
Updated
43 mins: Jota plays Tsimikas into the area with a lovely pass, but Minamino misses his cross, and Alexander-Arnold sends it back into the area, out the other side and away for a throw-in.
42 mins: Flint prepares to clear the ball with his left foot, completely misses it and falls over, but Denham gets to it before Jota.
40 mins: This time Alexander-Arnold shoots over the wall, but also over the goal.
38 mins: Another set piece shooting chance for Liverpool, after Minamino is fouled ...
36 mins: Now Firmino heads wide from Tsimikas’ cross. Liverpool are knocking on the door, and the door is creaking on its hinges.
35 mins: Chance for Liverpool! Minamino’s pull-back runs to Jones, who has time to pick a spot and set himself. The spot he picks is in approximately Row P.
34 mins: Tsimikas gives the ball away, Cardiff pass it straight to Konate, who gives it straight back to Cardiff, who give it straight back again. Not one for the highlights reel.
32 mins: Cardiff win a throw-in on the right, which Vaulks flings into the area. Van Dijk heads it back out again.
31 mins: A couple of good balls into the box, from Henderson and then Tsimikas. The second is headed to the edge of the area where Keita volleys wildly over the bar.
29 mins: Alexander-Arnold has a go, but it hits Collins in the wall. He then goes down holding his head, forcing the referee to stop the game, and then hops up, completely fine.
Updated
28 mins: Vaulks fouls Firmino, a bit more than 25 yards from goal. It would take a good shot to score from here, but surely someone will have a go.
26 mins: Keita has a pop now, but it’s not a great shot, and goes well wide. This is blossoming into a bright game being played in a good atmosphere.
24 mins: Cardiff survive a handball appeal in their own area, break, and Vaulks sends a dipping 25-yarder across goal and wide.
23 mins: Another Liverpool corner is headed away.
22 mins: Liverpool win a couple of corners. The first is OK, but Tsimikas’s delivery from the second is rubbish.
21 mins: Harris was actually offside, so any goal would have been disallowed.
20 mins: Now Harris gets down the right, three blue shirts burst into the box, and the low, hard cross somehow gets through the area and comes out the other side without any of them getting a touch!
19 mins: Penalty appeal! Harris comes in from the left, gets in front of Kounate and goes down. The referee waves away his claim, and VAR agrees, but I’ve seen ’em given.
Updated
18 mins: Cardiff settle into a deep 5-3-2 without the ball, which Liverpool haven’t worked a way around quite yet.
16 mins: Henderson is down and receiving treatment having fallen heavily after jumping over Harris’s challenge.
Updated
15 mins: Liverpool work the ball out of defence really nicely, finally releasing Minamino down the right, but he pumps his cross into the stands.
12 mins: Liverpool are pressuring the visitors’ defence now. In other news, I’m not sure who the away fans are accusing of being a really bad Sol Bamba but his is not a name I expected to be ringing around Anfield this afternoon.
9 mins: Minamino pops the ball into the net but Tsimikas was well offside in the build-up, and the lino raises his flag.
7 mins: Collins catches Van Dijk with his arm. There was no real force to it, and though he might at worst have made a little contact with the defender’s chin the Dutchman goes down clutching his head. Behave.
Updated
5 mins: Keita passed it into Jota, who had his back to goal a couple of yards inside the penalty area. He spun, backheeled it through the legs of Denham and released himself for a free strike from near enough the penalty spot, but it was too close to the keeper.
4 mins: Liverpool wake up and should lead, but Jota’s shot is well saved by Phillips!
Updated
2 mins: A bit of a pell-mell opening, which Cardiff have dominated in a slightly uncontrolled way.
1 min: Go!
A minute’s applause for Peter Robinson, and we’re ready to go.
Back to Anfield, where Cardiff’s players have gathered in the tunnel and seem to have plenty to chat about.
So long as Leicester don’t lose to Nottingham Forest later today there will be at least one Premier League side in every fifth-round tie - there is only one entirely top-flight encounter - so we could have an entirely Premier League round six.
The fifth-round draw in full
Looks like this:
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Everton v Bournemouth/Boreham Wood
Liverpool/Cardiff v Norwich City
Luton Town v Chelsea
Middlesbrough v Tottenham
Nottingham Forest/Leicester City v Huddersfield Town
Peterborough United v Manchester City
Southampton v West Ham United
And finally Everton are at home to Bournemouth or Boreham Wood.
Nottingham Forest or Leicester City will be at home to Huddersfield.
Middlesbrough are at home to Tottenham
An all-Premier League tie at Southampton, who host West Ham.
Another home draw for Liverpool (or Cardiff), who will host Norwich.
Peterborough United are at home to Manchester City!
Crystal Palace host Stoke...
First out of the tombola are Luton Town, who are at home to Chelsea!
It's only the fifth round draw!
The balls are about to be plucked to decide the fifth round ties in the Football Association Challenge Cup. Andy Cole is at Wembley in a snazzy cardigan and is going to do the draw all by himself.
Inside the Liverpool dressing room. Comfortable, but not too over-the-top as these things go.
Jurgen Klopp has a chat about his line-up:
Look if I change the team it’s only because of the intensity of the season. Now we’ve had no game, so everyone who is available, this is the squad and this is the team.
And about Luis Diaz:
Very nice fellow, but we don’t have a common language at the moment. He can speak very well to my assistants. It’s a good signing, a very important signing, and we’ll see, if it’s possible he’ll have a few minutes.
He runs through the upsets and nearly-upsets of this Cup weekend, interrupted only by briefly forgetting the name of Kidderminster. “If you needed any warning signs, it was perfect.”
And here is the Cardiff team. Liverpool make five changes from their last outing before the international break with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino coming in, plus Havey Elliott is on the bench after five months out, and Luis Diaz is alongside him. No sign of Joe Gomez or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who have both recently had covid.
🔢
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 6, 2022
Your #CardiffCity lineup for today's @EmiratesFACup tie against @LFC!#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/pDXXvA8aD1
Liverpool have already announced their starting XI. Cardiff will announce theirs in a few minutes.
🔴 #LIVCAR 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 6, 2022
Here’s how we line-up for the #EmiratesFACup fourth round 👊
Hello world!
Fifteen long seasons have passed since Liverpool last won the FA Cup, courtesy of a Steven Gerrard wondergoal-rescuing penalty-secured Rafael Benitez-led victory over West Ham in 2006, in which time they have won the League Cup, the Champions League, the actual league, the Community Shield, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup, and generally had a rollicking good time. They may feel another chance to get their hands on the old pot is way beyond due, but first they’ve got to get past Cardiff. And then three other teams. And then win the final.
Intrigue for Liverpool comes in the shape of new signing Luis Diaz, who might make an appearance here if only off the bench having eventually arrived in Liverpool on Friday afternoon, and the return of Harvey Elliott, who dislocated an ankle in September and hasn’t played since.
Intrigue for Cardiff comes in coming up against a side they last beat in 1959 (during the 1950s Cardiff beat Liverpool 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 4-0, 4-0 again and 6-1 while losing only twice), a player in Luis Diaz who they came close to signing themselves in 2019, and in seeing if Mark Harris can live up to his own pre-match billing. “I used to look up to Luis Suarez as a kid. One season he scored 30-odd goals and that was a big inspiration to me,” the 23-year-old said, recalling the times his Liverpool-supporting dad used to drag him to Anfield. “This is a big chance to showcase what I can do and express myself.” Harris has scored two league goals this season, three times in all competitions.
