Trent Alexander-Arnold silences critics with dazzling effort in Liverpool's FA Cup win

Reds ease past Accrington Stanley 4-0 in third round

Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates scoring the first goal with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Rio Ngumoha during the FA Cup third round match against Accrington Stanley. Reuters

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold shakes hands with manager Arne Slot. Reuters

Liverpool's Jayden Danns after scoring his side's third goal at Anfield on Saturday. AP

Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores his team's first goal. Reuters

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold scores at Anfield. PA

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa shoots at the goal. AFP

Trent Alexander-Arnold showed that he remains focused on the job as he displayed his attacking qualities in Liverpool's 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the third round of the FA Cup.

One week back, his defending came in for fierce criticism in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United. There, manager Arne Slot defended Alexander-Arnold amid rumours surrounding his future at Anfield, having been heavily linked with Real Madrid.

On Saturday, Alexander-Arnold showed what he can do at the other end of the pitch with a brilliant goal at Anfield to help Liverpool eased past League Two (fourth-tier) side Accrington.

Diogo Jota and Alexander-Arnold's first-half goals and strikes from Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa after the break secured a comfortable win.

The gulf in quality between the teams was apparent as the visitors, despite their best efforts, failed to keep the Premier League and Champions League leaders at bay.

Liverpool took the lead when Alexander-Arnold sent Darwin Nunez up the right just before the half-hour mark as Liverpool countered after an Accrington free-kick. The Uruguayan crossed to Jota in the box who scored with a tap-in.

The hosts doubled their advantage just before the break as Alexander-Arnold found the top corner with a perfectly placed shot from outside the box into the far top corner.

Rio Ngumoha, 16, who made history as the youngest Liverpool player to start a competitive match or make an FA Cup appearance for the club, was replaced in the 72nd minute by Danns, who netted four minutes later when Billy Crellin's save from Chiesa fell to the Liverpool-born forward.

Forward Chiesa then got his name on the scoresheet in the 90th by firing into the bottom corner, after an earlier shot hit the woodwork, marking the Italian's first goal for Liverpool.

Nunez's early misses from inside the box had prolonged Liverpool's wait for a breakthrough as he failed to connect with Harvey Elliott's headed cross and shot wide when Everton loanee Crellin's stop to deny Alexander-Arnold fell to him.

Accrington, who had no shots on target in the first half, almost got a goal back in the 57th minute but Josh Woods' shot rattled the crossbar at Anfield, the stadium where his father used to work as a matchday steward.

"They offered a lot and first team football is tough and they're big lads, but it was a good challenge," Danns told ITV. All three of the teenager's Liverpool goals have come in the FA Cup, including two last season against Southampton.

"Credit to them (Accrington), I think they showed their style of play, which is a big compliment," Liverpool boss Slot added. "In the end, of course, the difference in quality makes a big difference."

It was a significant day for Alexander-Arnold as the England international was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk in a much-changed side.

Slot made eight changes after suffering just his second defeat in charge of the Reds in Wednesday's League Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham.

The Dutchman had warned the Premier League leaders that a trip to Anfield would be Accrington's "Champions League final", and they performed accordingly.

Chelsea through

Chelsea booked their place in round four with a 5-0 hammering of a Morecambe side who are second from bottom in the fourth tier. Tosin Adarabioyo scored twice for Enzo Maresca's side who enjoyed a first win in five games.

Joao Felix also helped himself to a double late on while Christopher Nkunku was also on target for Chelsea.

Felix was the star of the show for Chelsea as he got a rare chance to deputise for Cole Palmer.

The Portuguese international and Adarabioyo were on fire, while Nkunku made up for missing an early penalty by netting his 13th goal of the season.

Also, Dango Ouattara's double helped ease Bournemouth to a 5-1 over West Brom with Jason Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and substitute Daniel Jebbison also scoring after Caleb Taylor had headed the visitors in front.

Jamie Vardy celebrated his 38th birthday with a successful penalty as top-flight Leicester routed QPR 6-2.

Goals from Ryan Yates and Ramon Sosa saw high-flying Nottingham Forest progress with the minimum of fuss despite making 11 changes courtesy of a 2-0 home win over Luton.