Liverpool secured a lively win over Norwich to advance to the FA Cup fifth round, marking their first match since manager Jurgen Klopp revealed his departure at the season’s end.
Announcing his impending departure on Friday, Klopp received an enthusiastic welcome from the home supporters, and his team quickly shifted into high gear against the Championship play-off contenders.
Before Curtis Jones nodded in the opening goal from James McConnell’s cross, Darwin Nunez had already struck the post with an impressive curling drive.
Against the run of play, the Canaries equalized when Ben Gibson guided in Gabriel Sara’s corner, but Nunez calmly restored Liverpool’s lead after excellent work from full-back Conor Bradley.
Early in the second half, Diogo Jota made it 3-1 by capitalizing on a wayward header from Gibson and smashing a low shot past goalkeeper George Long.
Substitute Virgil van Dijk, left unmarked from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner, headed in Liverpool’s fourth in the second half, and a superb Borja Sainz strike provided Norwich with hope moments after Christian Fassnacht’s disallowed goal for offside.
The only additional setback for the home team came in the form of a late injury to teenager McConnell, who had to be substituted for Luis Diaz with 12 minutes left. Nevertheless, there was still enough time for Ryan Gravenberch to finalize the scoring with a close-range header.
Liverpool will host either Watford or Southampton in the fifth round after the Championship clubs concluded their match with a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road earlier on Sunday.