Liverpool has managed to reach the FA Cup fourth round, after beating a depleted Aston Villa side 1-4 on Friday night.
Liverpool who struggled a bit, even while playing a depleted side, who were mostly Aston Villa’s U23s and U18s with no first-team experience, after the majority of their squad were affected by COVID-19, waited until the second half to really have a stronghold on the game.
A coronavirus outbreak at their training ground this week meant no first-team players were available to Villa, with the club fielding a starting XI composed of seven under-23 players and four from the under-18s.
But despite conceding in the fourth minute when Sadio Mane headed in, they remained resolute in defence for the rest of the half and then stunned the visitors when 17-year-old Louie Barry equalised.
Unfortunately for Villa, the youngsters tired and the Reds exerted more pressure in the second half, scoring three goals in a five-minute spell after the break.
Georginio Wijnaldum stroked in Liverpool’s second on the hour mark before Mane looped in a header and Mohamed Salah struck home a low shot from inside the area.