Liverpool’s road to the 2022 FA Cup final – record-breakers, debuts and Taki goals

Liverpool take on Chelsea in the FA Cup Cup final on Saturday, in a repeat of their meeting for the Carabao Cup final in February.

Here, the PA news agency looks at how Jurgen Klopp’s Reds made it to Wembley.


Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury – Third Round, Jan 9

Seventeen-year-old Kaide Gordon became Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup goalscorer when he equalised Daniel Udoh’s surprise opening goal for the League One visitors.

The £1 million signing from Derby last season, aged 17 years and 96 days, started the comeback on only his second appearance which was completed with two goals from midfielder Fabinho, the first a penalty, and a Roberto Firmino backheel.

 

Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff – Fourth Round, Feb 6

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 6th, 2022: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Cardiff City FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Teenager Harvey Elliott marked his return from almost five months out with a serious ankle injury with his first goal for the club.

Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino both scored in the second half before the 18-year-old Elliott, sidelined since a fracture dislocation at Leeds in September, produced a brilliant swivelled finish in front of the Kop.

New £37.5 million signing Luis Diaz also made his debut, before Cardiff substitute Rubin Colwill scored an 80th-minute consolation.

 

Liverpool 2-1 Norwich – Fifth Round, Mar 2

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 2, 2022: Liverpool's Takumi Minamino celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Cup 5th Round match between Liverpool FC and Norwich City FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Cup specialist Minamino scored both goals to put Jurgen Klopp into his first FA Cup quarter-final.

In a team registering 10 changes from one which won the Carabao Cup three days previously the Japan international took his tally to seven goals in eight cup games for the season.

Lukas Rupp’s goal 14 minutes from time gave the visitors a lifeline but they could not prevent Liverpool booking a place in the last eight for the first time since 2015.

 

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool 1 – Quarter-Final, Mar 20

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 20, 2022: Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Diogo Jota’s 78th-minute goal was enough to end Nottingham Forest’s valiant FA Cup run.

The City Ground had been a graveyard for Premier League sides with Arsenal and Leicester both exiting at the hands of former Reds academy coach Steve Cooper’s exciting side.

The match hinged on a three-minute spell preceding Jota’s close-range strike when Forest’s Philip Zinckernagel shot wide with only goalkeeper Alisson to beat.

 

Liverpool 3-2 Man City 2 – Semi-Final, Apr 16

Wembley: Sadio Mane celebrates scoring vs Man City, FA Cup semi final (Image: UK Sports Pics Ltd/Alamy Live News)

Liverpool ended Man City’s hopes of a treble in another engaging encounter at Wembley, having drawn 2-2 in the league six days previously.

Defender Ibrahima Konate headed home an early corner before Zack Steffen’s error saw Sadio Mane force home from close range and then beat City’s second-choice goalkeeper at his near post on the stroke of half-time.

Jack Grealish scored two minutes into the second half but Bernardo Silva’s 90th-minute goal came too late to give City a chance of forcing extra-time.