Bradley and McConnell: Liverpool’s Fresh Force Eases Reds Past Norwich in FA Cup
A weird atmosphere at Anfield for this one, which was understandable given the circumstances. Liverpool fans wanted to show Jurgen Klopp how much they loved him and it took a minute for them to sing that song he didn’t want to hear. There were goals and chances a plenty in this one as well as some familiar returning faces. We know David Wagner is Klopp’s best pal, but it seemed generous to pass it out slowly from the back so often but fair play. There’s bigger fish to fry and we even found out who we’ve got in the next round at half-time. We look at the lessons learned from Sunday afternoon without talking about the obvious.
🏴 James McConnell completed 72 passes on his first start for #LFC.
He provided the assist for #LFC’s first goal and created two chances.
Also made the most recoveries on the pitch for #LFC (8).
Not bad for a first senior start at Anfield.
One of the stand-out performers… pic.twitter.com/ocFjr5aFJ8
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) January 28, 2024
The La AXA Production Line Continues
It’s quite right that we’ve waxed lyrical about Jarrell Quansah every time we’ve seen him this season, however he had to play third fiddle in this one. Conor Bradley’s star continues to rise and he was a man of the match contender in this one. A surging run and superb assist for Nunez’s goal drew appreciation from Anfield and his team mates alone. There was another for Gravenberch at the death too. Step forward James McConnell thought. The young midfielder had shone in pre-season and we were reminded how much he likes a tackle in this one. However, it was an eye catching left-footed ball for Jones’ opener that impressed. It’s easy to get carried away but so should you with this production line.
Goals and Instinct Without Salah
There’s been plenty of goals in January from this forward line without Mo Salah. After Luis Diaz the other night, it was the turn of the two main remaining men as Nunez and Jota. Nunez took a lovely first touch from Bradley’s pass and slotted one into the keepers bottom right corner at the Annie road end for his eleventh of the season. Jota moved back into second place with a clinical left-footed volley that did mark you think about what Jamie Carragher suggested the other day. Liverpool have goals throughout this team but with the coming week, it’s these two we’ll be mainly looking to.
📊 Conor Bradley with two assists today. It means he now has 3 in his last 3 games.
Another top performance as well.
– Won the most tackles in the game (4/5)
– Created the most chances for #LFC (5)
– Completed 91% of his passes
– Won 6 duels
– Made 4 recoveriesSo much… pic.twitter.com/bdsO58tZef
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) January 28, 2024
Midfield Contributions Aplenty
It’s astonishing when you think back to last campaign and what we see now just how night and day it is. Curtis Jones is the first name on the team sheet in there and it was an overly cushioned header for the opener to give him five goals and three assists for this campaign. Dominik Szoboszlai was a welcome returner and he got an assist for Van Dijk’s header. Those two are the major forces we look to in the engine room and you’d be astonished if they don’t improve on their numbers before the season is out. It was good to see Gravenberch get one late too. It can’t always be the forward line. This season it doesn’t have to be.
