Liverpool made light work of Accrington Stanley, as expected, in the FA Cup fourth round, with a 4-0 win. While it wasn’t the most challenging fixture, the game offered some interesting talking points, especially with a mix of youth and experience on display.
Rio Ngumoha’s Debut
At just 16 years old, Rio Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a competitive match for Liverpool. We have all seen the clips of his quick feet on Twitter, but to finally see his debut was great. He showed plenty of confidence, especially in the first half, with his impressive dribbling. Not afraid to take on his fullback directly, he displayed a level of composure beyond his years. While he was quieter in the second half, it was a promising debut and a glimpse of his potential. Gives me flashbacks to when Raheem Sterling burst into the first team many years ago – can Rio make the same impact, or even exceed Raheem? I think so!
Chiesa’s Return
Fede Chiesa’s performance was another highlight. After spending a frustrating spell on the sidelines and rumors of him going to Napoli, it was good to see him back in action. He offers something different compared to the other winger options at Liverpool, with his directness and willingness to attack defenders head-on and take the shortest route to the net. If he can get match fit sooner rather than later, could he challenge Gakpo and Diaz for minutes? Based on this showing, he just might.
Jayden Danns Continues to Deliver
Jayden Danns picked up where he left off last season. He’s picking up the thread where he left it last season, continuing to provide goals and contribute to the team. His goal was great, won the ball, played Chiesa through on goal, and clinically put the rebound in the back of the net. With Darwin struggling for form and finding the net, could Danns start pushing for more minutes in the first team?
Konaté’s Absence Raises Concerns
Konaté was apparently supposed to start the match but didn’t make it onto the pitch. While there’s no confirmation of an injury, it’s concerning to think he might be sidelined again. He’s been wearing a knee brace recently, which adds to the worry. Losing him to injury would be a huge blow, especially with our defensive depth being tested already, and Slot seemingly not really trusting Quansah.
Player Ratings
Here’s a quick look at how the team performed:
- Kelleher (6.5/10)
- Trent (7/10)
- Endo (7/10) ⭐️MOTM⭐️
- Quansah (6/10)
- Tsimikas (6.5/10)
- Morton (6.5/10)
- Szoboszlai (7/10)
- Elliott (7/10)
- Ngumoha (6.5/10)
- Jota (6.5/10)
- Darwin (6.5/10)
Subs:
- Chiesa (7/10)
- McConnell (6.5/10)
- Bradley (6.5/10)
- Danns (7/10)
- Nyoni (6.5/10)
Looking Ahead
This match was a solid step forward in the FA Cup. Seeing players like Rio and Chiesa shine while Danns scoring again is encouraging. With important fixtures on the horizon, maintaining squad depth and form will be key.
What did you think of the game? Who stood out for you?
YNWA!
the ARNE SLOT MACHINE blog 
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