Plymouth (United Kingdom): Stand-in captain Lucas Leiva scored his first goal in seven years to earn Liverpool a 1-0 victory at fourth-tier underdogs Plymouth Argyle in Wednesday’s FA Cup third-round replay. The Brazilian, playing at centre-back, met countryman Philippe Coutinho’s 18th-minute corner with a firm near-post header to sink Plymouth, who had drawn 0-0 at Anfield 10 days previously.
A second-string Liverpool team could even afford for Divock Origi to squander a late penalty, the Belgium striker seeing his effort saved by home goalkeeper Luke McCormick. “Every week in training we play old versus young and he is a top scorer for old, which is unbelievable,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said of Lucas’s goal. “Maybe it wasn’t the most exciting game, but for us it’s very important as it’s another game for a few of the young boys, so that’s all good,” Klopp added.
Liverpool, third in the Premier League, will host second-tier Wolverha-mpton Wanderers in round four on January 28. Lucas did a jig of joy after he evaded the attentions of his marker to head the ball past McCormick at Home Park. It was his first goal since a Europa League tie against Steaua Bucharest in September 2010. The goal also vindicated Klopp’s decision to put Coutinho in his starting line-up for the first time since he limped off injured in the 2-0 defeat of Sunderland at Anfield in late November.
