For seven minutes the grand heist was on and for another 10 this game was even. Let’s call that the age of innocence before Liverpool found sufficient holes in a yellow wall to kill an unlikely tale.
They weren’t especially brilliant in doing so, and nor were they poor. But it was a dominant performance wrapped in a feeling that it was occasionally too much of a slog for those given a game by Jurgen Klopp.
And that is predominantly down to Shrewsbury. They turned up for a fight and to the best of their capabilities they delivered, first in going 1-0 up through Daniel Udoh, and then in limiting the subsequent damage.
Daniel Udoh opened the scoring for the plucky visitors by getting in front of Ibrahima Konate and volleying home
The big striker celebrated in front of a raucous away end of Shrewsbury fans inside Anfield
The Reds however were back level within minutes after youngster Kaide Gordon tucked home at the Kop end
The former Derby starlet opened his senior account for the Reds and let out the emotion during his celebration
It wasn’t enough to stop a heavy scoreline, achieved through Kaide Gordon’s equaliser, and the following strikes for Fabinho, who scored the second and fourth, and Roberto Firmino, who back-heeled the third.
But 4-1 is probably misleading, both in the sense that it was only 2-1 until the 78th minute, and also because it might have been an awful lot more, given Liverpool had 83 per cent of possession.
Better teams have spent far less time chasing Liverpool and taken bigger beatings, so that is a testament of sorts to the work Shrewsbury did in the frenzied, prolonged defence of their penalty area.
For Liverpool, there isn’t much to shout about from a win over the 15th-placed side in League One, but out of a heavily rotated side Klopp will have mined some encouraging information.
Jurgen Klopp had handed opportunities to several of his youth players to take their chance to impress
Liverpool then took the lead after Fabinho tucked home a penalty, following a handball inside the Reds’ area
Most of it will centre on their equalising goal, which was built in their academy, with the assist coming from Conor Bradley, 18, and a fine finish from Gordon, 17. Gordon is the second-youngest scorer in Liverpool’s history.
‘They can both do so much better because they are really talented,’ said Klopp. ‘I’m really happy with how they did.’
Beyond satisfaction at their contributions, the prime emotion for Klopp appeared to be relief after a week in which preparations were ravaged by Covid — and their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal was postponed because of an apparent outbreak at the club.
The Liverpool manager, who was back on the sidelines after isolation, was forced to field four teenagers for this game, before later saying how many of the absences were caused by ‘false positives’.
‘We thought we had a proper outbreak last week and it showed we had a lot of false positives,’ said Klopp, who confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned a legitimate positive test. ‘The rules are like they are. The false positives couldn’t play.’
In reflecting on the result in trying circumstances, he added: ‘It was a very difficult week and we are just happy to go through.’
Fair enough, though it will have no doubt frustrated Klopp that his side so often lacked the wit to break through a team happy to sit back. Especially when his own team still had the quality of Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Fabinho. The early scraps all favoured Klopp’s side, before Shrewsbury jolted Anfield with a goal from a rare attack.
Substitute Roberto Firmino produced some Brazilian magic by tucking a back-heel beneath defenders and the keeper
The striker peeled away with a big grin on his face after getting himself among the goals
Fabinho capped off an emphatic afternoon for Liverpool by volleying home with the last kick of the game to make it 4-1
The move started with a long diagonal from Ethan Ebanks-Landell, which Nathanael Ogbeta took down on his chest before tricking some space from Bradley. His cross should have been cut out, but instead travelled on to Udoh, who knocked past Caoimhin Kelleher. Manager Steve Cotterill, who was in hospital this time last year with Covid, couldn’t keep the grin off his face.
For a brief period, the dream was on, but Gordon finished well for the equaliser, with one touch to control Bradley’s cross and another to turn Josh Vela ahead of a well-measured finish.
Fabinho scored a penalty and then substitute Firmino made it 3-1 with one of his first touches. Fabinho got his second and Liverpool’s fourth in stoppage time.
Cotterill, who labelled Van Dijk a ‘gentleman’ for his kind words in the Shrewsbury dressing room after the match, said: ‘I didn’t think it was a 4-1 game. I thought it was a 2-1. I am very proud of my players.’
Scroll down below to re-live all of the action with Sportsmail’s DANNY GALLAGHER, who provided live FA Cup coverage from Anfield, along with updates on West Ham vs Leeds, Tottenham vs Morecambe and Wolves vs Sheffield United.
Through to the next round go the Reds, following this comeback victory at Anfield.
Thanks very much for your company this afternoon, see you next time!
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho put the icing on the cake with his second goal to make it 4-1
It’s four!
And a rare brace for defensive midfielder Fabinho.
The Brazilian misses a headed attempt from an in-swinging freekick, but the ball deflects back to him at the far post and he lashes a volley into the roof of the net, just before the final whistle blows.
Tsimikas on for Robertson, as teenager James Norris is also handed a late chance and comes on to replace Tyler Morton.
Aaand that’s the tie over. Harry Kane comes on and scores Spurs’ third in the dying stages.
Josh Daniels on for Elliott Bennett.
Kelleher dawdles on the ball and is almost robbed by Udoh, who would have had a Kop end tap in.
Thankfully for the young Liverpool keeper he sorts his feet out in the nick of time.
Poor, poor Morecambe.
Lucas Moura has hit the back of the net in north London, with just five minutes remaining.
Tottenham 2-1 Morecambe
Three at once for the visitors, who make one final roll of the dice.
Bloxham, Janneh and Pierre on for Bowman, Udoh and Ogbeta for Shrewsbury.
Surely that’s the game wrapped up now. A lovely piece of Brazilian magic from Firmino.
Tyler Morton and Fabinho linked up well down the right, with the youngster cutting back a cross to Konate. The Frenchman shoots but his attempt is blocked into the path of Firmino, with his back to goal.
Without thinking twice the Reds no 9 pulls off a sublime backheel, which fizzes past defenders and beneath the goalkeeper, right in front of the heartbroken away fans.
Liverpool 3-1 Shrewsbury
The equaliser has arrived, courtesy of Harry Winks.
Tottenham 1-1 Morecambe
Over at Molineux, Wolves double their lead through Nelson Semedo.
Wolves 2-0 Sheffield United
Udoh lets rip from the edge of the area after Bennett’s cross evaded the attempted diving headed clearance from Fabinho.
Van Dijk is in the place to block at close range, but the visitors are still alive and kicking…
Minnows Morecambe STILL lead in north London, despite Antonio Conte having the likes of Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele and summer signing Bryan Gil all out on the pitch.
Liverpool trying to take the sting out of this one now, with newcomer Minamino seeing lots of the ball.
Dixon-Bonner’s afternoon on the pitch is over, as he is subbed off for Roberto Firmino, who returns following his covid absence.
Van Dijk gives Kelleher a very short hospital pass after being put under pressure by Udoh as last man, but the young keeper speeds out to hoof it clear.
Van Dijk apologies profusely to the young charge.
Dixon-Bonner goes close to making it three! A cross comes in from the left and the youngster volleys straight at the goalkeeper.
Let the action recommence!
Liverpool 2-1 Shrewsbury
On comes cup hero Takumi Minamino, replacing youngster Max Woltman.
Second half starting in just a moment at Anfield.
Scores from around the grounds:
Cardiff 1-0 Preston
Charlton 0-0 Norwich
Liverpool 2-1 Shrewsbury
Stoke 1-0 Leyton Orient
Tottenham 0-1 Morecambe
West Ham 1-0 Leeds
Wolves 1-0 Sheffield United
Late drama at the end, as a long Nurse throw-in is nodded by Vela, who very nearly catches Kelleher off guard and finds the bottom corner.
The first half comes to an end and it’s Klopp’s men ahead… though Shrewsbury are most certainly not out of this one.
The Brazilian steps up in front of the Kop and sends the keeper the wrong way!
Liverpool lead.
It’s a nightmare for Ebanks-Landell, who jumps to challenge Van Dijk to a header, but ends up slapping the ball with his flailing hand in the air.
The ref has no option but to point to the spot.
The underdogs have bagged!
O’Connor has broken the deadlock and Morecambe lead against Tottenham.
My word… play restarts and Shrewsbury go straight up to the other end, with Bowman heading a cross straight past Kelleher.
It won’t count though, as the flag goes straight up for offside.
It was, however, very marginal.
Exactly the response Klopp wanted.
A cross from Bradley finds young Kaide Gordon, who takes a touch and turns inside before curling past the goalkeeper at the Kop end for his first senior Liverpool goal.
Liverpool 1-1 Shrewsbury
Lanzini lashes home after a goalmouth scramble to give the Hammers a lead over Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds.
Is the upset on!?
It’s a simple yet cleanly crafted goal from the Shrews. A long ball switching from right to left found Ogbeta, who took a touch out wide before firing in an arching cross.
It beats Ibrahima Konate at the near post, whose positioning was questionable.
Udoh is lurking behind him and meets the ball at close range on the volley, side-footing it powerfully past young goalkeeper Kelleher.
The away end is in raptures!
Liverpool 0-1 Shrewsbury
Kelleher comes steaming out to deny Udoh one-on-one, though the Shrews man would have been offside.
Liverpool quickly break and Fabinho finds Kaide Gordon with a long, searching pass.
The youngster takes it down well on the right, before cutting inside and shooting to the inside of the near post. The goalkeeper is down well and gets a solid wrist to it.
Podence hits the back of the net, to give Wolves the lead over Sheffield United.
Penalty cries waved away at Anfield as Gordon goes down lightly in the area. VAR takes a quick look; no decision.
First card at Anfield, as Pennington pulls back Curtis Jones to stop a breakaway.
Kontate fancies grabbing his first Liverpool goal… but he jumps too soon for Robertson’s crossed freekick into the area, and balloons it into the Kop.
Early drama at West Ham, as Luke Ayling denies Jarrod Bowen an opener by clearing the ball off the line.
Majority of possession with Klopp’s team, but the visitors are pressing across the pitch.
Similar situation over in north London, with Tottenham holding 75% of possession over Morecambe.
Early Liverpool corner as George Nurse shepherds out youngster Kaide Gordon.
The hosts play it short and work it in with Bradley, but it’s cleared.
Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Here we go.
The whistles have sounded around the grounds and the 2pm FA Cup action is underway.
Liverpool get the ball rolling inside Anfield with debutant Dixon-Bonner.
And Anfield is looking sun-drenched, albeit rather chilly…
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Liverpool will have Jurgen Klopp back on the touchline for Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie against Shrewsbury following a Covid outbreak that has led to a loan player being recalled to fill numbers.
Klopp, who has been isolating and missed the Premier League match against Chelsea last weekend after having to isolate, has had only mild symptoms and will return to Anfield after he passed further tests.
No Alexander-Arnold today for the Reds, as Liverpool confirm he has returned a suspected positive coronavirus test.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out after a suspected positive Covid test
A sprinkling of academy products throughout, as Virgil van Dijk returns in defence for the Reds. So too does Andy Robertson.
Football’s oldest cup competition is back, so sit comfortably and enjoy the rest of the day’s FA Cup action.
We’re in place at Anfield as a covid-hit Liverpool take on Shrewsbury, who sense the real opportunity for a cupset.
Elsewhere, Tottenham host minnows Morcambe, Sheffield United take on Wolves and an all Premier League showdown will be served up with West Ham and Leeds.
We’re keep you fully up to date with all the action. Team news coming up next!
Danny Gallagher
Host commentator