Man of the Match: A Shining Light in Liverpool’s FA Cup Exit

Manchester United 4-3 Liverpool a.e.t: Who was the Reds’ Man of the Match?

Jarell Quansah

Despite the very disappointing result and the fact that Liverpool went out of the FA Cup at the quarter final stage, it would be amiss to ignore the very fine performance of a young man that was playing in League Two just last season. To concede four goals in any game would make the award of man of the match to a defender (on the receiving end), irregular, though not in this particular case and when considering the level of the young man in question.

I am often prone to getting over excited about young entities and graduates that embark upon their Anfield careers, following their promotion from the academy. I would say that a rise to prominence from within, gathers far more favour from me, when compared to those assets recruited as already fully fledged professionals. Every time a novice footballer makes a significant impact at Liverpool, I reminisce about the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, Steve McManaman, and Steven Gerrard, who have now been joined by Trent Alexander Arnold in becoming sensational home-grown players for the club. If this regeneration season is to be remembered for anything other any the silverware it may achieve, it will be the rise of the new blood that will continue their careers under the next manager, as Liverpool v2.0 takes full shape.

Several names will jump straight off the page, with Conor Bradley, Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, and James McConnell, all continuing to make great strides in the first team picture. One graduate of the academy stands above them, literally, which is a 21-year-old who I chose to award man of the match today, Jarell Quansah.

I fully expected the reds to win this game, regardless of the fact it was at Old Trafford and against the Red Devils. In hindsight and with just a hint of reasoning, it was almost impossible for this tremendous squad to keep overcoming the odds as the schedule of fixtures simply became too much. Though the outstanding contribution of Caoimhin Kelleher has been just that, the unavailability of Alisson Becker is still a real thing and one that would eventually catch up on this team.

Today in Manchester, the 6ft 3inch Quansah was largely imperious and played the occasion like a veteran of a dozen hotly contested derbies. Make no mistake, despite the recent woes and current league position of each club, these are the fiercest rivals of Liverpool Football Club, which will become even more apparent after the world is presented the penalties for some 115-charges to their neighbours.

With a grace and confidence, the England under-21 star was unflappable in this match, as he looked to push his team forward and become almost a deep lying conductor of the team. The skillset of the future full international appears limitless and based upon today’s very public showing, I suspect he will soon be ushered into Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Today the victory did not fall the way of the visitors, yet the performance of my man of the match was still highly impressive and warrants the award of man of the match.