Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 4 Accrington Stanley 0 in the 2024-2025 FA Cup third round…
I’VE been begging for non-events.
When the manager came out and spoke of feeling a duty to entertain, I felt slightly disappointed. Because I’ve been begging for non-events.
An FA Cup third round tie against League Two opposition – absolutely no disrespect to Accrington Stanley, who I have a big soft spot for thanks to a mate from uni – should’ve had all the hallmarks of a non-event.
The reality is, I’m getting zero non-events when it comes to Liverpool Football Club. Anfield just doesn’t allow for it. Isn’t in its wheelhouse.
Today was such an event for Liam Coyle, for Josh Woods and a few more among their number. I’m absolutely made up for them. Woods hits the bar with a strike and there was a percentage of me that would’ve been fine with just seeing it fly in, seeing him get his moment for his team and against his club. Every smile that beamed across their faces was met with a smile back from mine.
It was such an event for Rio Ngumoha, who looks such a tricky player. As raw as you’d expect for a lad born on a day that Hallelujah by X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke was top of the UK charts. Yet properly, properly exciting. Every time he got on the ball you could feel the crowd lean forward with intrigue. How great that we now get to see his development play out in front of our eyes.
It was such an event for Trent Alexander-Arnold. It shouldn’t have felt like one, after all this is a lad who has played in and won European Cup finals. But due to some factors out of his control – and, admittedly, some factors under his control – it’s been a rough time for him of late. Today though, he gets the start, gets his goal, gets to say “get on me” once again and gets a standing ovation. Here’s hoping his next big statement isn’t a “Comunicado Oficial”.
It was such an event for Federico Chiesa, when it first looked like it wouldn’t be. But he comes on for Dom Szoboszlai at half time and is involved in absolutely everything for 44 minutes. Then he gets his goal and it’s a lovely finish. Hopefully that can be the platform for him to kick on in his Liverpool career now.
It was such an event for Jayden Danns, who looks as though he may score every time he takes to the pitch. He’s got an incredible knack of being in the right place at the right time, which seems like the sort of thing you just can’t teach. Not only that, he’s got a real ability to finish. On a day when The Reds’ current number nine struggled to finish his chances once again, Danns (and Diogo Jota) showed us the goalscoring we have waiting in the wings.
It was such an event for Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliot, who both get through 90 minutes of football unscathed. Quansah stands tall and looks confident, which should hopefully remind him it doesn’t all need to be this much graft or this mentally taxing. Elliott rides a tough tackle and comes back on, and hopefully reminds himself he’s made of some stern stuff.
There’s no such thing as non-events at Anfield. As Neil Atkinson, usually of this exact parish, always says: it’s always somebody’s first time. That was the case again today, with loads of youngsters and their families getting to soak up a convincing Liverpool win at the place that’s home to so many of our dreams.
There’s no such thing as non-events for Liverpool, because the biggest event in football history is happening on Tuesday: Liverpool Football Club’s next game. Nottingham Forest. A chance to further cement our lofty position. A chance for us to make Anfield the place that’s home to our wildest dreams in May.
Make us dream, Liverpool. Me, you, Liam Coyle, Josh Woods and every youngster at Anfield this afternoon that dreams of doing what those lads got to do today.
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