Liverpool secured passage to the next round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon and their next opponents have already been confirmed.
FA Cup
Result: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City
Date: 06 February 2022
Venue: Anfield
The Reds new signing Luis Diaz was named on the bench after joining the club last week while Harvey Elliot was named in the squad for the first time since September.
Jurgen Klopp's dominated from the onset, but Diogo Jota was the only player to register an effort on target when he forced Dillon Phillips into a fine save after just five minutes.
While Cardiff struggled to carve out any openings, the Reds should have been ahead in the 34th minute when Jota pulled the ball back for Curtis Jones, who skied his effort over the crossbar.
That proved to be the final opening of the half as Klopp's struggles to break down the Cardiff defence although Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher barely had a save to make at the other end.
The second half got off to a lively start as Kelleher was lucky not be sent off for a high boot a minute after the break, before the hosts went on to break the deadlock at the other end in the 53rd minute through Jota's finish.
The fans at Anfield finally caught a glimpse of new signing Diaz who replaced Jones just before the hour mark while Elliot came on for Naby Keita.
Diaz made an impact soon after his arrival as he turned provider by pulling the ball the back for Takumi Minamino, who smashed into the back of the net from close range on 68 minutes.
The Reds weren't done there as Elliot marked his long-awaited return with goal with 14 minutes left on the clock with a neat volley into the bottom corner.
Cardiff did manage to pull a goal back in the final 10 minutes through Rubin Colwill, who drilled the ball into the back of the net after some good work by Isaak Davies.
There would be no comeback for the Championship side as the Reds held on for the victory and will face Norwich City in the fifth round.
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