A brace from Takumi Minamino secured Liverpool’s place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Wednesday night.
The Reds, fresh from their Carabao Cup triumph at the weekend, secured their place in the last-eight of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Norwich City at Anfield.
Minamino, one of 10 changes to the Liverpool team that beat Chelsea on penalties at Wembley, opened the scoring after just 27 minutes.
Then, six minutes before the break, the Japan international collected his second of the game to put his side in total control of the tie heading into the interval.
Chances came and went for the Reds in the second half, before Lukas Rupp handed Dean Smith's side a lifeline 14 minutes from time.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side comfortably saw the game out to book their place in tonight’s draw - and below is how the national media reported on the game.
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'Showcase their strength in depth'
Paul Joyce of The Times wrote: “There was a time when wholesale changes for an FA Cup tie would have left Liverpool susceptible to elimination. Now it simply serves to showcase their strength in depth.
“Jürgen Klopp would have expected nothing less than progression into the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time under his tenure — it will be Liverpool’s first appearance since 2015 — but that he could so with only Jordan Henderson retaining his place from Sunday’s Carabao Cup final win highlighted the riches at his disposal.
“There was to be no basking in the afterglow of the Wembley triumph over Chelsea as the drive that is Liverpool’s trademark allowed them to establish a stranglehold in the tie through Takumi Minamino’s two goals. Norwich City, who have less capacity to reshuffle, attempted a late comeback but fell short.”
'Crazy, was Jürgen Klopp’s take'
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote: “Crazy, was Jürgen Klopp’s take on talk of Liverpool winning an unprecedented quadruple, yet crazy remains possible. The Carabao Cup winners advanced into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time under Klopp with their 11th successive win in all competitions.
“Norwich went unexpectedly close to forcing extra time but found little consolation in losing to Liverpool for the fourth time this season.
“The Carabao Cup aftershow party was more complicated than it should have been. Liverpool were comfortably in the ascendency courtesy of a Takumi Minamino brace, the Japan international underlining how strength in depth has supported Klopp’s team on all fronts this season, until Lukas Rupp’s goal brought late anxiety to Anfield.
“Liverpool had to “fight to bring it over the line,” their manager admitted. “And that’s just fine.”
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'Giving them every reason to dream'
Dominic King of the Daily Mail wrote: “Jurgen Klopp won’t entertain the idea but the message about pursuing a quadruple and making history hasn’t reached Liverpool’s players or fans.
“With the Carabao Cup safely tucked away, Liverpool moved stylishly into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a commanding display against Norwich that had those on The Kop singing about visiting Wembley twice. In this form, their team is giving them every reason to dream those dreams.
“Norwich, as was the case last month when they visited in the Premier League, showed they possess reasonable ability but Liverpool took care of them as ruthlessly and clinically as a heavyweight champion swatting the next mandatory challenger.”
'Only a matter of time'
Josh O’Brien of Mirror Online wrote: “At the tender age of just 21, Jones is displaying more and more with each game that he has the ability to dictate proceedings in an attacking sense for the Reds.
“If he is not threating the opposition goal with what is quickly becoming a trademark right-footed curler, he is building attacks with his perfect pass selection.
“During what was a cagey 25 minutes before Liverpool eventually opened the scoring, it was Jones who looked most likely to pick the Norwich lock.
“However, his night was endured prematurely after Jones was forced off at half-time due to a thigh injury that saw Harvey Elliot take his place.
“He is yet to earn a cap for England at senior level, but if Jones remains fit - with performances like his first-half showing surely it is only a matter of time before he catches the eye of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.”
'Any of them. All of them, in fact'
While our very own Paul Gorst of the Liverpool ECHO wrote: “There was to be no hangover from their Sunday celebrations; Liverpool are still very much up for the Cup.
“Any of them. All of them, in fact.
“After lifting their first League Cup in a decade at the weekend, Jurgen Klopp's players kept their professionalism at a sufficient level to avoid a potential Anfield upset against a much-changed Norwich City.
“A superb start to 2022 now sees Klopp's side on a run of 14 games unbeaten across all four competitions.
“And perhaps the key element that will be most heartening for the Reds manager is how he has utilised the full remit of his squad to do so.”
