With a brief break from Premier League action, Liverpool FC were the hosts in the fourth round of the FA Cup, hosting Championship side Cardiff City. As Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane face one another in the final of AFCON 2022, it was down to the Red’s other forward stars to get the job done. They did so with efficiency as Diogo Jota (53′), Takumi Minamino (68′) and Harvey Elliot (76′) who gave Liverpool FC the advantage and Cardiff City’s Ruben Colwill (80′) scored a late consolation goal. Read on for our full Liverpool FC 3-1 Cardiff City match report.
Otherwise, you can check out all of the match highlights by following this link.

Image source: This is Anfield
Liverpool FC 3-1 Cardiff City
FA Cup Fourth Round, Sunday 6th February
Venue: Anfield
Cardiff City did well to frustrate the hosts in the first-half, although the Reds mustered up several decent chances, ultimately, they would be to no prevail. Jota would shine as the most likely to break the deadlock and put his side ahead in this half. After receiving the ball from Naby Keita in the opposition box, Jota impressively turned the ball snd nutmegged the incoming Cardiff City player, only to have his shot saved by Dillon Philips.
Cardiff City would respond with an impressive ball over the top, finding the feet of a player out-wide and resulted in a shot from long-range. This was of no concern for Caoimhin Kelleher who sent the ball out wide.
This half would end 0-0 after several desperate attempts from the Reds were skied over the opposition crossbar. Liverpool FC was looking desperate as the first-half came to an end.

Image source: This is Anfield
Second Half
The desperation of the first-half soon turned to recklessness as the second half got underway. Cardiff City’s Mark Harris would be clattered by a studs-up challenge by the Reds goalkeeper after the ball arrived into a dangerous area in Liverpool FC’s half. Kelleher was lucky to receive only a yellow card for this challenge following a VAR check.
Liverpool FC would later be awarded a free-kick after Will Vaulks brought down a Liverpool FC Player in a dangerous area, receiving a yellow card in the process. A stunningly accurate Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick found the head of Jota, which subsequently found the back of the net. Liverpool FC 1-0 Cardiff City.
‘Mr cup competition’ himself, Takumi Minamino would find the back of the net on minute 68′ after new Reds’ signing Luis Diaz came on for Curtis Jones and set up the Japanese international from close-range after the ball as won in the Cardiff City penalty area. The scoreline stood at 2-0.
Liverpool FC’s third goal was earned after a skilful display from the returning Harvey Elliot. Andy Robertson sent the ball over and found the feet of the young Englishman who tapped the ball up on his inital touch and swivelled around and finished superbly to make it 3-0 in front of the Kop.
Late into the game, the home side lost possession in the middle of the park, sparking a dangerous Cardiff City counter-attack, resulting in Colwill scoring a late consolation (80′) for his side. The game ended Liverpool FC 3-1 Cardiff City.
Final Words
Registering 80% possession and 19 shots, the Reds were in the driving seat for the majority of the game. With the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at the AFCON 2022 competition, Diogo Jota has been gifted an invaluable spell to stake his claim as one of Liverpool FC’s most trusted attackers. Scoring once and having several flashy moments in this fixture further solidifies his name at the peak of Liverpool FC’s new-look attack.
Arguably, however, the key moment of the match was the return of Harvey Elliot, who received a very warm welcome from the fans and scored in emphatic fashion. It is great to see this young man back in the side. Liverpool FC now qualifies for the fifth round of the FA Cup, facing Norwich City on March 2nd.
Thank you for reading our Liverpool FC 3-1 Cardiff City match report, keep up-to-date with all of our football coverage by following this link.