Liverpool 2-1 Norwich - FA Cup result: Takumi Minamino double books quarter-final spot

Jurgen Klopp won’t entertain the idea but the message about pursuing a quadruple and making history hasn’t reached Liverpool’s players or fans.

With the Carabao Cup safely tucked away, Liverpool moved stylishly into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a commanding display against Norwich that had those on The Kop singing about visiting Wembley twice. In this form, their team is giving them every reason to dream those dreams.

Norwich, as was the case last month when they visited in the Premier League, showed they possess reasonable ability but Liverpool took care of them as ruthlessly and clinically as a heavyweight champion swatting the next mandatory challenger.

Takumi Minamino (centre) celebrates scoring for Liverpool alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) and James Milner

Minamino opened the scoring with an excellent finish in the first half after collecting a Divock Origi (not pictured) pass

Minamino (not pictured) then doubled the lead against Norwich City to put Liverpool 2-0 ahead with a similar finish

Liverpool keeper Alisson was untested until Lukas Rupp struck an excellent goal with 15 minutes to be played

Takumi Minamino provided the blows to flatten Dean Smith’s side – scoring a double, just as he did when these teams faced up at Carrow Road last September in the Carabao Cup – and sent Liverpool into the last eight of this competition for the first time since 2015.

‘Really?’ Klopp said when reminded of that statistic. ‘Well, it feels good.’

Was this Liverpool’s best performance of the campaign? Certainly not. But what left you thinking that it might – just might – be possible to go to a place no other side has done is the professionalism and application they are taking into each contest.

Klopp had been left bemused on Tuesday when asked if he was familiar with the phrase “after the Lord Mayor’s show” but he would have got a sense of what it meant as he watched the opening 15 minutes unfold at slovenly pace.

There was a lull in the crowd and, having made 10 changes, the tempo at which Liverpool play was a beat slower than usual and Norwich caused some problems – the best chance was dragged wide by Teemu Pukki – but could never get past the imposing presence of Joe Gomez.

Eventually, Liverpool started to tick a Curtis Jones evoked memories of the goal he scored to knock Everton out of this competition in January 2020, bending a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area – rather than find the top corner, this time his effort clipped the top of the crossbar.

Jones was bright and busy, his clever footwork and deft little touches a reminder of why he has the potential to be around this group for years to come – Klopp called him “exceptional” – and it was appropriate he was involved in the move that led to Liverpool taking the lead.

What a shame it was that his night ended prematurely with a thigh issue.

Rupp's strike set up an uncomfortable finale for the hosts, but the Reds held on to book a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals

Liverpool's James Milner battles for the ball along with Norwich's Milot Rashica during the fifth round clash at Anfield

Minamino started the move, nudging a ball inside to Jordan Henderson. From there, it was like pass-the-parcel as the captain fed Jones, who ushered it to the overlapping Kostas Tsimikas; the Greek crossed to Divock Origi, whose control was excellent and lay-off invited Minamino to finish.

A lovely goal – made easier, admittedly, by Norwich’s players having an immunity to tackling – and once they had their noses in front, there was little danger of Liverpool being pegged back primarily because they were playing in the opposition half.

Leading by one would have been suffice but the advantage was doubled in the 39th minute. Minamino was again the scorer – cracking in a drive off the inside of the post, after a corner from Tsimikas had deflected off Ben Gibson’s head – and his manager was over the moon.

‘I'm not surprised by what he does,’ said Klopp. ‘He is an incredible player; it was the best game he had for us. He played a super game and was a constant threat. Without him we would have been in the quarter-final, without him we wouldn't have been in the final of the Carabao Cup.’

After Norwich's late goal, Jurgen Klopp sent on Luis Diaz to ensure his side didn't blow what had been a comfortable lead

Jordan Henderson (right) was the only player to keep his place following the weekend's Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea

Jurgen Klopp congratulates his matchwinner Minamino at full-time as Liverpool's quest for four trophies stays alive

To Norwich’s credit, they didn’t throw in the towel and there was a good energy to the way they started the second period; Dean Smith might run out of time to keep them in the top flight but he will most definitely be the right man to bring them back in the future.

Other teams might have cried enough, trying to peg back a team that have gone almost a calendar year without losing at home, but Norwich kept going, riding their luck when Minamino drove into the side-netting and Diogo Jota thumped a shot straight at Ben Gibson.

They got a reward in the 76th minute when Lukas Rupp fired past Alisson Becker after Gomez gave him space. Briefly, there was a possibility Norwich – especially when substitute Jonathon Rowe forced a fine save from Alisson – might do the unlikely.

‘We have had a chances and asked serious questions,’ said Smith. ‘We rallied in the second half but it was frustrating.’

But then Klopp introduced Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane to see the tie. A sign, if ever one was needed, that they means business.