Teens fire injury-hit Liverpool into FA Cup quarterfinals

Updated: Feb 29, 2024, 12:06 am

Jayden Danns struck twice and fellow teenager Lewis Koumas also scored as a young Liverpool side booked an FA Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United with a 3-0 victory over Championship Southampton on Wednesday.

Three days after Liverpool's young side beat Chelsea 1-0 to win the League Cup final, Danns struck twice with his first goals for the senior side and Koumas scored on his first-team debut.

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"I couldn't be happier today. Today is the best day of my life," Danns said. "I've watched Liverpool since I was a young boy and to score at the Kop End is more than a dream. I couldn't be happier."

Koumas, the 18-year-old son of former Wales international Jason Koumas, scored just before half-time, receiving a superb pass from Bobby Clark before shooting into the bottom corner via a deflection off Jack Stephens.

Jayden Danns enjoyed a day to remember in Liverpool's win over Southampton.
John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Danns, who is also 18, netted his first in the 73rd minute when he dinked the ball over keeper Joe Lumley, and scored again 15 minutes later after pouncing on a loose ball.

With injuries to key players including Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fielded a young team against Southampton -- 23 spots below them in England's football pyramid.

"It was an incredible game. It was so intense and they ran themselves into the ground, we needed to find a way and we did that," Klopp told ITV.

"The whole situation is horribly difficult," he added about the team's injuries. "Any positive mood around the changing room and training room, we accept we're in a difficult moment and try and find solutions. It's great to be in the quarter-finals and we don't take these things for granted."