Two ties lead to single-goal victories for Premier League sides on a night decidedly short of many FA Cup thrills and spills.
Plymouth Argyle 0 Liverpool 1
A first-half header from Lucas (4.4) finally saw off a spirited Plymouth and secured Liverpool a home tie with Wolves in the fourth round.
The Brazilian netted from a Philippe Coutinho (8.3) corner but Jurgen Klopp’s young side couldn’t kill off the tie, with Divock Origi (6.6) having a second-half penalty saved following a foul on Alberto Moreno (4.4).
Klopp made nine changes from the side who drew with Manchester United on Sunday. But having named the club’s youngest ever team for the first cup tie, he drafted in only Coutinho, who was given another hour as he returns from injury, and Daniel Sturridge (9.7) to give the starting line-up at Home Park just a sprinkling of extra experience.
The England striker was a peripheral figure and Coutinho only an intermittent influence and as a result, the Reds struggled to break down their hosts, who were the width of a post away from dragging the match into extra time as they grew in confidence following the break.
One of Liverpool’s youngsters, Trent Alexander-Arnold (4.3), again impressed at right-back in the continued absence of the 11.5%-owned Nathaniel Clyne (5.8), who missed the Old Trafford match with a rib injury.
Aside from the result, the 18-year-old’s performance, and more minutes for Coutinho, were the major positives for Klopp when speaking post-match.
“I’m happy, really happy. It was very important for us. I thought 60-65 minutes was the perfect intensity for today. Good for him (Coutinho) and good for us.”
Liverpool will now have to attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-final, face Wolves and then entertain Chelsea in Gameweek 23 during a busy last week of January.
Liverpool XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Lucas, Moreno, Stewart, Ejaria, Coutinho (Wilson 65), Woodburn, Origi, Sturridge (Ojo 76).
Subs not used: Mignolet, Klavan, Williams, Randall, Alves.
Southampton 1 Norwich City 0
‘Every game’s an adventure’ according to this year’s FA Cup marketing blurb.
Well if Southampton’s replay with Norwich was an adventure, it wasn’t an awfully big one. In fact it was just awful.
Shane Long (6.1) bundled home the winner two minutes into stoppage time to finally put a drab match out of its misery, earning the Saints a home encounter with Arsenal in the fourth round on Saturday, January 28.
Coach Claude Puel made eight changes to the side who lost to Burnley at the weekend, with only Long, Maya Yoshida (4.2) and James Ward-Prowse (5.0) keeping their places. The 11.8%-owned Virgil van Dijk (5.8) – a virtual ever-present this season – missed out with a knock.
Southampton had 10 shots on target to the visitors’ zero, but struggled to break down Norwich’s deep-lying defence – fitting for a side who, with just 19 goals, have the Premier League’s second worst scoring record.
Puel has not named the same side for consecutive matches all season. That lack of continuity explains some of his side’s toothlessness up front, as does the lack of a quality goalscorer since Charlie Austin (6.4) fell to a long-term injury.
No amount of tinkering by Puel seems to be addressing that issue, making the Saints’ forthcoming fixtures – Leicester City and West Ham at home, Swansea City and Sunderland away – attractive only as a chance for Fantasy managers to pick up points from defensive assets.
The Arsenal tie will be book-ended by the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final with Liverpool and a Gameweek 23 trip to Swansea. Such a busy schedule will no doubt prompt further changes by Puel.
At least his decision to make Yoshida captain against Norwich – and then single him out for post-match praise – suggests the budget centre-half looks key to Puel’s defensive plans.
“Maya made a very good season, playing well in every moment and with good concentration, winning duels and giving satisfaction. He made good progress since the start of the season.”
With Cedric, Dusan Tadic and Redmond also named on the bench, Fantasy managers can at least look to that trio with a degree of security ahead of Gameweek 22. It remains to be seen if Jay Rodriguez, withdrawn on 70 minutes last night, leads the attack.
Southampton XI: Lewis, Martina, Yoshida, Stephens, McQueen, Clasie, Reed (Romeu 71), Ward-Prowse, Sims, Long, Rodriguez (Redmond 70).
Subs not used: Taylor, Soares, Gardos, Tadic, Højbjerg.
