Liverpool 2, Leeds United 0: First Thoughts

Liverpool 2 Origi 76’, Woodburn 81’
Leeds United 0

• Pre-match Thoughts: Herr Klopp ran out a reasonably strong side, with Origi, Mané, Can, and Wijnaldum all being actual or potential first teamers. This game very much feels like a freebie. Lose and we can go back to concentrating on the league. Win and we have an exciting two-legged semifinal to look forward to. Should be interesting, and I’m hoping we get to see Grujic and Woodburn at some point tonight.

• The first meaningful attack comes from the visitors. Sacko is played through, but can’t beat Simon Mignolet 1v1 with his low strike.
• Wijnaldum robbed of an opening goal! He latched onto a perfect pass from Ejaria into the box and turned it toward the top corner with a first-time shot, but the Leeds keeper was up to the challenge. Unlucky!
• Twenty minutes gone and Liverpool look the more dangerous side, even if Leeds currently have more shots on target. Though, not much to really report, other than a comical left-footed Klavan effort that was closer to the corner flag than the keeper.
• Mignolet comes out for a corner, and misses completely. It’s very kind of him to remind as all why Karius is now our preferred number one.
• Emre Can just manages to beat the keeper to a slow back pass, but his poked first time effort slowly rolls past the outside of the post and the game remains deadlocked after just over half an hour.

• Halftime Thoughts: Not much to write home about. Liverpool look the more likely side to break the deadlock, but they’ve not been all that convincing, either. I really hope this thing doesn’t go 120 minutes plus pens.

• Divock Origi just had about 10 touches in the box, but couldn’t for the life of him get the ball out from under his feet to get a shot away. He’s understandably upset at himself.
• Liverpool saved by the woodwork! Roofe finds himself with plenty of time and space after Stewart is dispossessed and his curling shot to the far corner leaves Mignolet rooted to the spot. The shot ricochets off the inside of the post and safely away.
• Stewart goes off with a possible concussion. With the Reds down to ten men, Leeds threaten twice in the span of two minutes, first on a free header on a corner that goes wide, then on a low, stinging shot from the top of the box that Mignolet does well to save.
• Woodburn replaces Stewart. An interesting decision from the boss, with the game in the balance and captain Jordan Henderson on the bench for a what would be a like-for-like replacement with Stewart.
• Now it’s Liverpool’s turn to hit the post. Wijnaldum is unlucky for the second time tonight, after he latches onto a perfect through ball from Sadio Mané.
• GOAL! Trent Alexander-Arnold sends in a peach of a cross and a sliding Divock Origi just gets enough of the ball to beat the keeper at the near post. It’s his second goal in as many matches, and a nearly identical time in the game as last.
• GOAL! BEN WOODBURN JOINS THE PARTY! Origi plays a beautiful 1-2 with Mané, squares to Wijnaldum, who in turn tees up the Liverpool yute. GET. IN. SON. The goal makes Woodburn Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer, just ahead of some guy named Michael Owen. No big deal. Please ignore what I said earlier about Henderson. That was silly.
• Leeds finally make the Liverpool nets bulge, but they are correctly blown offside, and it doesn’t count.

• Final Whistle Thoughts: Liverpool saved the goals for late once again, but showed real grit to grind out another result without their best side. On to the semis for the third year running! Also, Liverpool’s third straight clean sheet. Take that, doubters!

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.