Rio Ngumoha shines as Federico Chiesa delivers message to Liverpool – 4 key takeaways from the Accrington match

Liverpool comfortably advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley at Anfield. Here’s what we observed from the match, as Diogo Jota found the back of the net and both Rio Ngumoha and Wataru Endo impressed with their performances.

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL – It was a straightforward night for Liverpool, as they breezed past Accrington Stanley, a fourth-tier side, to secure their place in the FA Cup fourth round. Diogo Jota opened the scoring early, and before the break, Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled the lead with a stunning strike into the top corner. At that point, it was clear the Reds were heading for victory.

Although Accrington rallied in the second half, even hitting the crossbar early on, they posed little threat to Liverpool’s commanding lead. With a 4-0 victory confirmed, here’s what stood out from the match.

Rio Ngumoha’s Impressive Start

Not yet 17, Rio Ngumoha, wearing the number 73 shirt, was handed a surprise starting role on the left wing. His chemistry with Kostas Tsimikas was evident, and while the teenager showed no hesitation in taking on defenders and trying extra tricks, he occasionally held onto the ball a bit too long. Still, the talent he displayed was clear, and though his performance was quieter in the second half, Ngumoha had a notable outing. He was substituted in the 71st minute to warm applause, a well-deserved recognition for the youngster.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa Get Valuable Minutes

With a few injuries and illnesses affecting the squad, Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa each played a half, with Szoboszlai coming off at halftime to ease back into action ahead of upcoming matches, particularly against Nottingham Forest. For Chiesa, who has struggled to get consistent playing time, his 45-minute stint was vital. He looked sharp and even scored a well-taken goal, sending a strong message about his desire to succeed at Anfield. However, Chiesa knows that he needs more minutes to prove himself consistently.

Darwin Nunez Misses Key Chances

Darwin Nunez had a forgettable night, despite not playing poorly overall. He squandered two early chances, both going over the bar, and struggled to make an impact. Accrington limited his space, and Nunez failed to stand out against lower-league opposition. With competition from Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, the Uruguayan’s performance here won’t likely convince Arne Slot to hand him more minutes, especially with crucial matches against Nottingham Forest and Brentford coming up.

FA Cup Round Four Secured

It was a routine win for Liverpool, and as always in the early rounds of the FA Cup, there are potential surprises – but Liverpool avoided any slip-ups. Slot will be pleased with the result, and with upcoming matches in mind, he will likely continue rotating his squad. Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Mohamed Salah were rested for this one, with Szoboszlai also coming off early. Given the favorable draw, Liverpool should be able to make further changes in the next round and still progress. Ngumoha, Chiesa, and others will be hoping to feature again in the next stage.