Youngsters Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns scored their first goals for Liverpool as they beat Southampton 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round
Straight off the back from lifting the EFL Cup for the tenth time in the club’s history, Liverpool faced Championship promotion-hopefuls Southampton at Anfield in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Despite playing 120 minutes against Chelsea on Sunday, Virgil van Dijk and Harvey Elliott started against the Saints for this cup tie. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher also retained his spot in Alisson’s absence.
Prior to kick-off the draw for the quarter-final was made, with the Reds due to play either Nottingham Forest or Manchester United away in the next round should they handle Southampton at Anfield. It would turn out to be the latter after Casemiro’s late winner at the City Ground.
Jurgen Klopp awarded another one of his academy gems a debut as 18-year-old Lewis Koumas started up front, with the manager labelling the young Welshman as a “fantastic finisher”.
And he would prove to be just that. With Liverpool’s first effort on goal of the evening after an erratic start, Koumas dispatched with pinpoint accuracy to find the bottom corner from outside of the box.
In another remarkable story of Liverpool’s youth this season, Koumas had scored on his professional debut after impressing the Reds’ coaching staff with his performances for the Under-21s.
It would remain a slim 1-0 lead going into the half-time break, with Southampton enjoying plenty of opportunities in the first 45 to establish a lead of their own. Cody Gakpo’s dragged effort at the end of the half kept the Saints alive in the tie.
On an evening when youth was shining under the lights at Anfield, 18-year-old Jayden Danns was introduced for just his third appearance for Liverpool. After coming on against Luton Town last Wednesday, Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, and now Southampton in the FA Cup.
And he’d mark this occasion by scoring his first goal for the club he’s supported all of his life. A beautiful dinked finish over the top of the goalkeeper after being fed by teammate Elliott.
It wasn’t just Koumas to make his debut, as Klopp substituted 16-year-old Trey Nyoni. Yes, 16. Born in 2007 to make you feel even older. Just a little over a month old when Liverpool signed Fernando Torres.
One wasn’t enough for Danns, however, as the Scouse striker netted a second goal late on to wrap up Liverpool’s place in the quarter-final of the competition they’ve won eight times (most recently in 2021-22).
On another miraculous night for Liverpool’s youth, who seem to find incredible ways of avoiding defeat, they set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie at Old Trafford to play Manchester United. The date of that match is Sunday, 17 March (st. Patrick’s Day).
The next challenge for ‘Klopp’s Kids’ will be a trip to the City Ground to play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Kick-off is at 3pm on Saturday, 2 March.
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk (Konate 46), Tsimikas, McConnell (Mac Allister 62), Gomez, Clark, Elliott (Nyoni 78), Koumas (Danns 63), Gakpo (Gordon 90).
Southampton team: Lumley, Bree (Walker-Peters 58 (Harwood-Bellis 75)), Stephens, Bednarek, Manning, Aribo, Charles, Rothwell (Smallbone 69), Edozie (Adams 69), Mara, Sulemana (Armstrong 58).
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