Origi and Woodburn fire Reds into EFL Cup semi-finals

Such has been the contribution to Liverpool so far this season, it would be with good reason that the half-empty brigade cast their eyes gloomily at five weeks ahead before he is back.

But if Tuesday's clash revealed anything it was that the seam of talent runs deeper than was perhaps feared at Anfield. And in Divock Origi they have a player who can step into the breach while he is gone.

And in Ben Woodburn, who aged 17 years and 45 days scored the second off the bench in the 81st minute, they had the club’s youngest ever scorer and a glimpse of a future.

This was a difficult night for Liverpool against a spirited Leeds side. Yet just like on Saturday, the Belgium international proved the difference, finishing beautifully on the half volley after Trent Alexander-Arnold found him sliding in at the near post.

Whatever the Premier League table may say, this has not been the easiest of fortnight’s for Liverpool who have lost not only Coutinho to what Klopp confirmed before kick-off would be five weeks and as many as seven games, but three other players too.

Adam Lallana (groin), Daniel Sturridge (calf) and Roberto Firmino (calf) have all added to the traffic passing through the physio’s room. Klopp made eight changes from the side which beat Sunderland on Saturday with just Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane and Emre Can keeping their places.

Leeds made a bright start with Souleymane Doukara and Kemar Roofe forcing Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet into early action.

Roofe’s shot was easily gathered, but Doukara might have put Leeds ahead, racing on to a nicely timed long pass from Stuart Dallas after just three minutes and hitting a shot from a narrowing angle which required a strong left arm to turn around the post.

Wijnaldum went close to settling home nerves eight minutes later, latching on to a delivery from Ovie Ejaria from the right channel and hitting a half-volley towards the top right corner which Marco Silvestri did well to block.

Liverpool enjoyed plenty of possession – their Championship oppposition had the ball for just 26 per cent of the first half – but in truth they were largely wasteful with it, particularly when it came to the last ball.

It summed up a stuttering performance from the Premier League side that their best chance came from a mistake from Leeds.

It occurred just after the half-hour when Kalvin Phillips, a 28th-minute replacement for Eunan O’Kane, hit a loose pass towards Kyle Bartley which Can managed to get a boot on, only for his stabbed effort to dribble wide. Leeds boss Garry Monk was forced into a change at half time – Liam Cooper replaced by Luke Ayling – but Klopp retained faith with the men who finished the first half, for all that he must have been tempted to throw on one of the big guns sitting behind him on his bench.

After five minutes of the second period he sent three substitutes up the touchline to warm themselves and warn those on the pitch that their efforts needed to step up a notch.

But his half-time team talk produced no noticeable improvement. Leeds nearly took the lead when a loose exchange between Alexander-Arnold and Kevin Stewart gifted the ball to Roofe on Liverpool’s right flank.

His curling effort from just outside the corner of the area had Mignolet beaten but rebounded off the far post.

It was an effort which brought a reaction from Liverpool’s fans if not an immediate one from their players. If anything Leeds started to come more into the match as it progressed with Roofe again going close.

But with the crowd getting tense Alexander-Arnold picked out Origi who slid in front of Silvestri to give Liverpool the lead.

Five minutes later Origi combined with Wijnaldum, exchanging passes across a crowded area to set up Woodburn, who gratefully slammed the ball high into the net from six yards out.

Source: Daily Express

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