Liverpool 5-2 Norwich City
by James Nalton
at Anfield
IT’S not often that Jurgen Klopp smiles slightly. It’s usually a full-on grin or a grimace. But at the end of a rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” ahead of kick-off at Anfield in the first game since he announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, there was a subtle appreciation of this performance of his club’s anthem across his face.
By the end of the game, there was full appreciation of his team’s performance, as they progressed the the FA Cup Fifth Round.
This Fourth Round tie was the start of the end of Klopp’s time at Liverpool.
It was in some ways fitting that it came against his friend (and best man at his wedding) David Wagner, the manager of Norwich City, Liverpool’s unfortunate opponents on this day.
The cameras were trained on Klopp for most of the pre-match routine, but the attention soon turned to his players and, in particular, some of its academy graduates.
Curtis Jones has now fully graduated from said academy and has been one of Liverpool’s standout players this season.
He showed another quality in his game with a perfectly placed header to open the scoring.
The cross was provided by debutant James McConnell, the 19-year-old in the team to give Alexis Mac Allister a break while the club’s other deep-lying midfielder, Wataru Endo, is on Asian Cup duty with Japan.
Norwich equalised when Ben Gibson headed Gabriel Sara’s corner, giving the travelling fans something to cheer.
Liverpool soon resumed their dominance, though, with another academy product getting an assist. This time, it was 20-year-old Conor Bradley setting up Darwin Nunez.
From there, progress to the next round looked likely for Klopp’s team.
It was all but confirmed when Diogo Jota took advantage of Ben Gibson’s half-clearance, forced by Jones’s excellent long ball from the back, to fire home left-footed.
Virgil van Dijk came off the bench to head home a corner sent in by fellow substitute Dominik Szoboszlai before Norwich fans got to see a great strike from Borja Sainz at their end of Anfield to keep them in good spirits.
Two great saves from George Long later on in the game will also have been appreciated by the away following.
This Liverpool team was a mixture of young and old. Of players who enjoyed previous success under Klopp and players they hope will enjoy future success.
Two of the new school, Bradley and summer signing Ryan Gravenberch, combined to add a Liverpool fifth.
Progress to the next round of the FA Cup increases the chances of this new group’s success in this season, Klopp’s last.
It means Liverpool remain in contention in the Premier League, both domestic cups, and the Europa League.
Fans sang Klopp’s song, to the tune of The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine,” non-stop for several minutes after the final whistle, and they will do so for the rest of the season, whatever happens in those four competitions.
