Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley LIVE: FA Cup result as Federico Chiesa nets first goal for Reds in big win
Liverpool 4-0 Accrington Stanley: Arne Slot’s men progress after a comfortable outing at Anfield
Liverpool eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 victory over League Two side Accrington Stanley.
The scoreline does not reflect the performance of the visitors who kept Liverpool at bay for almost 30 minutes in the first half before a slick counter-attacking move set up Diogo Jota for a tap-in.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then added a second goal just before the break with a superb strike from the right side of the box that sailed over Accrington goalkeeper Billy Crellin and landed in the far top corner.
From there the result was guaranteed but Stanley had their moments. Josh Woods struck the crossbar and Donald Love headed over the top.
In the closing stages, Liverpool substitutes Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa got on the scoresheet with the latter netting his first goal for the Reds.
Relive the action from Anfield below:
Liverpool 0-0 Accrington Stanley
10 mins: Accrington Stanley haven’t been unafraid to keep themselves up the pitch.
As the players settle into the rhythm of the game that could come back to haunt them against the pace and skill of the Reds but for now it’s giving the visitors an outlet from their constant defending.
Liverpool 0-0 Accrington Stanley
7 mins: Close! Kostas Tsimikas whips a cross into the box from the left side of the pitch and finds a stretching and lunging Harvey Elliott.
The midfielder gets to the ball and dinks it back into the six-yard area where Darwin Nunez nods the ball over the top of the crossbar.
Liverpool 0-0 Accrington Stanley
6 mins: Alexander-Arnold floats a pass over the top and looks to slip in Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder makes a run from deep but the ball drops too far away from him and is scooped up by Accrington goalkeeper Billy Crellin.
Liverpool 0-0 Accrington Stanley
3 mins: Liverpool bring the ball down the left side but are forced backwards and look to play out from defence. Wataru Endo finds Trent Alexander-Arnold who sends it up to Diogo Jota.
The ball comes flying across the box and is scooped up by Ryo Ngumoha. The teenager looks to shuffle to the right to get off a shot but is closed down quickly.
Kick off! Liverpool 0-0 Accrington Stanley
The whistle goes and Accrington Stanley get the ball rolling at Anfield. They look to work it out to the right wing but send the ball out of play for a throw in.
We’re underway.
Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley
The players are ready.
The teams wait to step out onto the pitch at Anfield ahead of this special third round fixture in the FA Cup. Stanley are four leagues below the Premier League leaders and will need a miracle to get through this one today.
Let’s find out how things go. Kick off is up next.
Liverpool’s third round success
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight FA Cup ties at home since West Bromwich Albion won at Anfield in 2018.
In the last 13 seasons, the Reds have lost only once in the third round, going down to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in 2019.
Not since 2007 have they lost at home in round three, when Arsenal won 3-1 at Anfield.
Accrington on the road
Away from home this season Accrington have won four of their 15 matches in all competitions, the most recent of those coming last weekend at Colchester United.
Stanley have failed to score in only one of their last 13 fixtures in league and cup.
Liverpool versus lower league opponents
This will be only the second time since 2017 that the Reds have faced opposition from outside the Premier League at the third-round stage. On the other occasion, they beat Shrewsbury Town 4-1 in 2022.
The last club from outside the top two divisions to defeat Liverpool in this competition were Oldham Athletic (3-2 at Boundary Park in 2013).
John Doolan eyes Trent Alexander-Arnold reunion – and huge FA Cup upset
Accrington manager John Doolan is hopeful of a reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold this weekend before attempting to mastermind a seismic FA Cup shock at former employers Liverpool.
Doolan was an academy coach at Anfield when he first spotted the talent of a six-year-old Alexander-Arnold, whose future at Liverpool has been the subject of intense speculation in the last fortnight.
While he accepts Alexander-Arnold may have no recollection of him after nearly 20 years, Doolan is optimistic of catching up with the England full-back and his mother Diane when Accrington travel to Merseyside to take on the Premier League leaders on Saturday.
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