LIVERPOOL made it through to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 win over a makeshift Aston Villa team of academy players.
Louie Barry equalised after Sadio Mane opened the scoring before the Senegalese international, Gini Wijnaldum and Mohamed Salah added to the goals in the second half.
- RESULT: Aston Villa 1-4 Liverpool
- Aston Villa XI: Onodi, Bridge, Revan, Walker, Rowe, Chrisene, Barry, Kesler, Sylla, Raikhy, Bogarde
- Liverpool XI: Kelleher, N. Williams, R. Williams, Fabinho, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones, Mane, Minamino, Salah
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
- Kostas Lianos
DELANEY REACTION
Stand-in Aston Villa manager Mark Delaney is very proud of his young side explaining that his players put together a "monumental effort".
Delaney said: "We’re all very proud, as a club, as coaches and as players.
“It was a monumental effort really, considering what the players have had to go through in the past couple of days.
“I thought, first half, they had a lot of ball and a few chances but I thought we thoroughly deserved to come in at 1-1.
"We scored a good goal as well – we were very pleased at half-time.”
- Kostas Lianos
KLOPP REACTION
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is also pleased with the result but insists it shouldn't have been as challenging, which was a hint that there is still room for improvement.
Klopp told BT Sport: "It was a little bit more of a challenge than it should have been.
“First of all we have to say that the kids did really well, so that’s good. We had football problems and in the second half we solved those football problems with football.
"We needed a little bit longer but from then on it was completely clear and completely comfortable and completely how it should have been.”
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BARRY PROUD
Aston Villa youngster Louie Barry insists he is very proud of his team regardless of the result.
Barry told BT Sport: "The ball came through from Rowie and I knew that I had it as soon as I seen it
“I put the ball in the back of the net and obviously it was the proudest I’ve ever been in myself.
“I’ve never been so proud of a team before – from start to finish we worked so hard. When I scored I thought we might have a chance but obviously it wasn’t meant to be.
"I was cramping up towards the end but with age comes more physicality and mentality.”
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- Kostas Lianos
MILNER ON YOUNGSTERS
Liverpool star James Milner praised Aston Villa's youngsters for their performance tonight.
Milner is pleased with the result but insists the situation was not "ideal" for either side.
He told BT Sport: "They put in a shift. We got the result but it wasn't an ideal situation for either team.
"One of their lads said they hadn't played for three months."
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ON TARGET
Aston Villa's youngsters will remember this game forever as some of them got their break-out moments.
One of them was Akos Onodi, who made eight saves throughout the match as explained below.
That is the highest amount for a Premier League goalkeeper in an FA Cup game since 2018.
Not bad at all for a debuting 19-year-old shot-stopper…
- Kostas Lianos
STATS
Liverpool dominated a staggering 83.2 per cent of possession throughout the match, which saw Aston Villa completing only one clear chance and that was their goal.
The Reds also recorded a whopping 29 shots, 13 of which were on target, compared to Villa's two shots, with one of them being on target.
The Villans couldn't get their passing right as they only had a success rate of 52.9 per cent compared to the Merseysiders' 89.7 per cent.
Caoimhin Kelleher was basically non-existent in the game as he didn't have to make a single save.
But Kelleher's counterpart Akos Onodi was very busy as he made eight saves!
- Kostas Lianos
FT: ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool made it through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The Reds opened the scoring just after four minutes when Curtis Jones' cross found an unmarked Sadio Mane, who headed the ball to the back of the net.
Aston Villa, though, refused to give up as Akos Onodi made a number of crucial saves and Louie Barry outran Rhys Williams to beat Caoimhin Kelleher and net a shocking equaliser four minutes before half-time.
Villa's hopes were raised but Georginio Wijnaldum put an end to that after 60 minutes with a beautiful low shot thanks to an assist by Takumi Minamino.
Three minutes later Mane made it three with another header following a cross by Xherdan Shaqiri and Mohamed Salah sealed it thanks to another assist by Shaqiri on the 65th minute.
Liverpool picked up a comfortable win against a depleted Aston Villa side, who were missing their senior players as they were self-isolating.
But Villa's youngsters have nothing to be ashamed of as they put together a solid and passionate performance with almost no preparation whatsoever against arguably the best team in the country
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PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT'S IT AT VILLA PARK!!!!!!!!
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
90+1 CHANCE
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets to the edge of the area and delivers a low shot which just misses the target
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
90 Two more minutes of additional time to go.
Aston Villa haven't completed an attack in the second half
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
88 Thiago has been magnificent ever since his introduction.
The Liverpool summer signing is basically everywhere making sure there is perfect harmony between midfield and attack.
Klopp expects much from him this season, especially now that he has overcome his injuries…
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
85 CHANCE!
Thiago made Liverpool's fourth goal and almost got himself into the scoresheet!
The Spain international has been on fire ever since his introduction after all.
He gets the ball at the edge of the area then fires a shot which rattles the top of the crossbar!
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
84 CHANCE
Firmino finds space inside the box and shoots from the left side onto Onodi's tight corner.
But the ball hits the outside of the net.
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
83 Aston Villa's youngsters are truly putting on a brave performance at Villa Park.
No one expected them to achieve much against Liverpool but are still showing true grit against arguably the best team in the country right now.
And they even got a goal!
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
80 We're closing in on full-time and Liverpool got exactly what they wanted.
The Reds have been dominating throughout the match, bar the last few minutes of the first half when Barry equalised.
But Aston Villa have nothing to be ashamed of.
They are missing their starting players and their youngsters are still giving it their all!
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
78 But Liverpool's comeback would probably never have happened if it wasn;t for Shaqiri.
The post below explains why…:
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
77 Liverpool were dealt with a scare just before half-time.
But this is how quickly they reacted:
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
75 SUBSTITUTION
Origi takes Salah's place whereas Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in for Mane.
Told you Liverpool are now focused on Manchester United….
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
74 SUBSTITUTION
Aston Villa manager Delaney brings in Sil Swinkels, who replaces Rowe
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
73 Salah sealed Liverpool's FA Cup victory after a tiny little scare during first half when Barry equalised.
The Reds are now focused on Manchester United already
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ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
72 Mane scored Liverpool's third goal and is now on a hat-trick.
Liverpool have slowed down now but are still dominating possession
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- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
71 Wijnaldum put Liverpool back in the game with a beautiful low shot.
And then the floodgates opened!
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ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
70 SUBSTITUTION
Aston Villa make another switch as Lindley takes Bogarde's place
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
67 SUBSTITUTIONS
Just to remind you that Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri came on for Minamino and Jones.
Chrisene made way for Young and Sohna also came on for Raikhy.
- Kostas Lianos
ASTON VILLA 1-4 LIVERPOOL
65 Thiago fakes a pass to Neco Williams and instead gets it to Sahaqiri just outside the box.
He then finds Salah who turns with a beautiful shot to basically seal the win for Liverpool – this entire goal goes down to Thiago's brilliance!
Tod you the floodgates are open!
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