Liverpool progressed through to the FA Cup quarter-finals with ease as they defeated Norwich City for the fourth time this season.
Takumi Minamino scored both goals as he kept up his impressive form in the domestic competitions this campaign.
???? "He's a great guy – what a guy! What a player… every time he comes in, he's ready and he delivers. He's such a nice guy and you're delighted every time he scores."@JamesMilner
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 2, 2022@takumina0116 ????
???? @gabrielclarke05
???? @EmiratesFACup | @LFC pic.twitter.com/fcOyKWLTWa
Lukas Rupp scored late on in the second half to make a game of it however Alisson was at hand to deny youngster Jonathan Rowe from getting the equaliser.
Player ratings:
Alisson: 7
Arguably should have done better for the goal as the shot wasn’t in the corner but he made a fantastic save to deny Rowe an equaliser late in the second half.
James Milner: 6
Pass of the match in the second half to switch the play to Divock Origi was as solid as ever.
Ibrahim Konate: 7
Showed his immense strength to shield off Jonathan Rowe in the second half and didn’t really put a foot wrong.
Joe Gomez: 6
He should have closed down Rupp earlier to stop him from getting his shot off for the goal but other than that it was a fine return to action in his favoured position proving he can be important in the last few months of the season.
Kostas Tsimikas: 8
Vital interception to deny a big chance for Norwich and put in a very nice cross for pre-assist for Minamino’s first goal.
Jordan Henderson: 5
Done decent enough for the hour he was on, kept the midfield ticking over.
Curtis Jones: 6
Came very close to recreating his goal that he scored against Everton as he cut in and his effort bended onto the top of the crossbar. Effective with the ball in the first half was a surprise that he got substituted off at half-time.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 4
Also hit the woodwork as he hit the post in the opening stages of the second half, other than that was not in the game enough.
Takumi Minamino: 9
Scored the two goals that got Liverpool through to the next round. An instinctive finish for his first goal which was the 750th goal under Jurgen Klopp’s reign. The second goal was a cracker as from a corner it fell to him at the back post, and he rifled it in off the bar. Great performance.
Divock Origi: 6
He got the assist for the first goal with a nice composed layoff to Minamino.
Diogo Jota: 5
Had a shot blocked on the line in the second half after some lovely feet and also missed a brilliant headed chance.
Substitutions:
Harvey Elliott (Curtis Jones 46): 6
Set Jota up with a lovely cross and Luis Diaz with a neat through ball, unlucky not to get an assist.
Tyler Morton (Jordan Henderson 69): 5
Neat and precise play in the midfield.
Luis Diaz (Diogo Jota 84): 4
Very close to wrapping the game up with his attempt that ending up curling just wide.
Sadio Mane (Divock Origi 84): n/a
Didn’t have any impact.
