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Neco Williams desperate to help Liverpool end FA Cup drought

Neco Williams desperate to help Liverpool end FA Cup drought
© Reuters
Jurgen Klopp's side won 4-1 against an inexperienced line-up without senior players hit by Covid-19.

Neco Williams targeted ending Liverpool's 15-year FA Cup drought after they made it past Aston Villa's youngsters.

The Reds beat coronavirus-hit Villa 4-1 in the third round on Friday, despite a major first-half scare.

Louie Barry cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener for Villa, who were forced to play their under-18 and under-23 players after Covid-19 swept through the senior squad.

Liverpool have not won the competition since the epic 2006 final, when they beat West Ham on penalties after a 3-3 draw, and Williams wants to reclaim the trophy.

The defender told Liverpoolfc.com: "The FA Cup is not a cup we have done that well in, so I think this year we are looking forward to pushing on and to get to the final and hopefully win it.

"It's always good to score goals and that just gives the lads who scored the confidence to go and do that in the next game, keep adding them goals to the charts.

"The more clinical they are, the more goals they are going to get. So it was good for the lads."

Boss Jurgen Klopp started Mane, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and James Milner in a strong line-up but Williams believes Villa did themselves proud.

"I think if I was a young lad or I hadn't yet made my debut, the first thing I would want to do is make an impression and to give everything that I have got," he said.

"And to be fair to their lads, they did what they were told to do and they gave us a good game."

Liverpool were expected to hammer the Villa youngsters but it took them an hour to move clear after three goals in four minutes and 20 seconds from Georginio Wijnaldum, Mane and Salah.

Ex-West Brom youngster Barry scored just before the break to shock Liverpool with the 17-year-old striker, who joined from Barcelona last year, in dreamland.

"It was a surreal moment," he told VillaTV.

"It's not just an individual moment from me, I feel the team deserved it as well for how we applied ourselves to the half, and even the second half.

"You could see all the relief coming out of me and the team, everyone jumping on each other.

"It was the best moment of my life and probably their lives as well."

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on January 4, 2021
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester UnitedMan Utd19124336251140
2Manchester CityMan City18115231131838
3Leicester CityLeicester19122535211438
4Liverpool1997337221534
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs1896333171633
6Everton1710252821732
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham199552722532
8Aston Villa1792631181329
9Chelsea1985633231029
10Southampton188552621529
11Arsenal198382319427
12Leeds UnitedLeeds187293034-423
13Crystal Palace196582233-1123
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves196492129-822
15Burnley185491022-1219
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1954101832-1419
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton193882229-717
18Fulham1826101527-1212
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1925121543-2811
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1912161032-225

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