ANFIELD — Harvey Elliott’s second-half goal, on his return from a five-month injury lay-off, was the highlight of a Liverpool win that suggested this may be the season that Jürgen Klopp ends his unproductive run in the FA Cup.
Liverpool eventually broke down a dogged Cardiff side and survived controversy early in the second half when goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher escaped a red card scare.
But in the end Klopp coasted into the fifth round for just the second time in six attempts with Liverpool, earning a home meeting with Norwich.
And substitute Elliott’s 76th-minute shot, a superb effort on the turn from 15 yards following an Andy Robertson cross, was a particular plus after the 18-year-old dislocated his ankle in an horrific injury against Leeds in September.
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“There are not a lot of great things to come from an injury like that, but when you are that young it’s easier to deal with, in my opinion, and he dealt with it perfectly.
“Coming on was a great step back; scoring a nice goal makes it a proper fairytale. He was over the moon and it was a properly touching moment.
“He’s still a fearless boy and an incredible footballer so we’re all pleased with that.”
In a touching video from the stands, Elliott’s dad was seen looking on with tears of joy after his son’s goal:
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— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 6, 2022
Harvey Elliott has spent the past 147 days out through injury
Here's how his Dad reacted after watching him score#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/OErorKtESV
Elliott’s goal capped a successful second half for the Premier League side, but it could have been another story had referee Andrew Madley made a different call a minute into the second half.
The tie was scoreless when Kelleher came sprinting out of his area to deal with a long ball and succeeded only in scything down Mark Harris with a studs-up challenge.
Madley showed a yellow and VAR agreed, although it must have been a close decision as to whether it merited a straight red.
Seven minutes later, Cardiff’s frustrations were compounded when Trent Alexander-Arnold sent over a superb right-wing free-kick and Diogo Jota converted a lethal header from 10 yards.
Cardiff had finally capitulated and looked exhausted by the time Takumi Minamino made it 2-0 after 68 minutes following a mix-up in the Cardiff defence.
Luis Diaz, signed last week for £37.5m from Porto, showed brilliant footwork to pull the ball back for the Japanese international to convert powerfully from 15 yards.
The 20-plus minute cameo from Diaz was another positive for Klopp from an ultimately comfortable afternoon.
“He came on, got just a bruise and a little cut, so everyone told him, ‘welcome to England’,” joked Klopp. “Now he has his first assist and his first scar.”
Elliott’s third was rough justice on the visitors who, with an eye on their relegation fight at the foot of the Championship, had fielded a weakened team.
At least Steve Morison’s side were left with something to show for their day out when teenage substitute Rubin Colwill scored with an impressive strike after Isak Davies had opened up the home defence, 10 minutes from time.
Klopp has appeared to place little store in the FA Cup in his five-plus years in England, justifiably so given his success in the league and Europe.
But with Mo Salah and Sadio Mané competing in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, Klopp selected virtually his strongest possible line-up against Cardiff.
And, in the first half at least, they made hard work of wrapping up the tie.
Jota forced Dillon Phillips into a fine reflex save after four minutes but that was virtually the only genuine chance Liverpool carved out until the improved second-half display.
Indeed, Cardiff might have had a penalty in the first half after Harris went down under a challenge from Ibrahima Konaté.
“If that’s outside the box, it’s a free-kick so I don’t know why that should change in the box,” said Morison.
“We were performing pretty well but then we shouldn’t be conceding set-pieces or two such sloppy goals. On the whole, I thought the players did themselves proud,” the Cardiff manager added.
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