Andy Hunter was at Anfield, and his report has landed. Here it is. Thanks for reading this MBM. Enjoy the rest of National Milk Day.

Arne Slot talks to ITV. “First of all, credit to them … they showed their style of play which is a big accomplishment … they were not afraid … a high press … were not afraid to go one v one as well … a big compliment to them … in the end the difference in quality makes a big difference … I think [Rio Ngumoha] did well … there were a few moments when the fans could see why we think he is a talent … pass, can change direction really fast … it’s a nice and special day for him … Trent didn’t have his best game against United and everybody fell over him … but the rest of the season he has been so good for us … I like his performance a lot today … and at Tottenham … I like the reaction of the fans at Tottenham and today as well.”

Jayden Danns, who has now scored three FA Cup goals, speaks to ITV. “Obviously delighted to get my goal … don’t know what it is but I’m buzzing … I’ve been out for a while, five months … coming back, first-team football is different … work as hard as I can … try to get into the groove … any opportunity sniff a goal out … there’s no frustration from me … I’m young … there’s still a lot more to do … looking forward to it … [Rio Ngumoha] is lightning … so proud of him … Stanley offered a lot … it was a good challenge, I think I did well … hopefully more to come … the manager’s put faith in me and I’m really grateful for the opportunity … hopefully he gives me more.”

An extremely charming interview on ITV with Josh Woods and Shaun Whalley. Both men are smiling warmly, soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying their moment, even if the emotions are bittersweet. Woods up first. “Honestly it was surreal … I was just trying to sum up all the emotions … trying to enjoy it and stay relaxed … the first half I was really nervous … I come out second half relaxed … they’re world-class players and on the counter they’re difficult to stop.”

Did he think his shot that hit the bar was going in? “Maybe in another lifetime! … I just remember hitting it and thinking please, please, please … then I fell over and never seen it … it was just amazing to be out here and I enjoyed every minute!”

Shaun Whalley adds: “I don’t think we were ourselves in the first half … second half we performed a lot better … we could have got back into it, Josh hitting the bar … Donald Love should have scored, shouldn’t he?! [grins] … I wanted the assist! … but it wasn’t to be … it was just an incredible moment for us all … I want it to happen again now!”

A shock was never on the cards. But Stanley did have their chances, Donald Love in particular missing a glorious one from six yards out, Josh Woods hitting the bar. The League Two strugglers gave a good account of themselves, keeping title-chasing Liverpool honest from the first minute until the last. Arne Slot’s side will be delighted with their afternoon’s work, though. A first goal for Federico Chiesa, a pearler and a warm aural hug for Trent Alexander-Arnold, a barnstorming cameo from Jayden Danns, and an impressive debut from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha. Plus no new injury concerns. Everyone will be happy in their own way.

90 min +5: Liverpool knock it around the back as time runs out.

90 min +4: After a bit of stretching, Crellin is good to continue. He’ll make it to the end.

90 min +3: Crellin goes down with a bit of cramp.

90 min +2: Bradley crosses low from the right. Awe sticks a leg out and sends the ball looping towards the top-right corner. It’s dropping in, so Crellin has to palm over the bar. Nothing comes from the corner. A freak own goal would have been harsh on Awe and Accrington Stanley.

90 min +1: The first of five additional minutes goes by without incident.

88 min: … as does Whalley, who advances down the right before creaming a shot straight at Kelleher.

87 min: Chiesa really wants that first goal for his new team. He cuts in from the right and, with everyone expecting a curler towards the left-hand side of the goal, swivels and aims for the bottom right. The ball pings off the base of the post and away. He smiles wryly …

86 min: A niche but fun stat courtesy of Seb Hutchinson on ITV: Jayden Danns has become the second player in Liverpool’s history to score his first three goals for the club in the FA Cup. Jason McAteer the first.

84 min: Ben Woods hits a long free kick towards Rawson, who from the edge of the Liverpool box heads harmlessly into the arms of Kelleher.

82 min: Liverpool stroke it around patiently. Meanwhile, milk-float-related guilt will out, and here’s a milky missive from Guilty of North Wembley: “In the early 70s my sister and I (aged 7 and 5 respectively) one day found ourselves waiting in the car in a pub car park while our dad popped in for, I suppose, a swift half (different times etc.) After a while boredom set in and we noticed that there was a milk float parked beside us. We jumped out of dad’s Hillman Imp and into the no-door-having milk float. I cannot recall whether it was myself or my elder, longer legged sister, but one of us started it, but the accelerator and it lurched forward and crashed into the car in front. Horrified, we jumped back into the Imp and prayed. Our dad came out minutes later, got in and we drove off. We never told. I bet that milkman had some explaining to do. Please accept my rather belated apologies dear Milkie, whether you are still servicing the doorsteps of Alperton, or have moved up to that great round in the sky.”

80 min: Chiesa tries to turn provider this time, romping down the middle and feeding Elliott to his right. Elliott’s shot-cum-cross falls just behind Danns, who attempts a fancy backflick that doesn’t come off.

79 min: Quansah powers his way down the middle and finds Chiesa out on the right. Chiesa, desperate for his first Liverpool goal, cuts into the box and tries a curler towards the far corner. The ball’s never getting through a crowded box, though.

78 min: A change apiece. Mooney replaces Walton, while Endo makes way for the 17-year-old midfield prospect Nyoni.

74 min: McConnell sprays a lovely ball down the inside-right channel for Chiesa, who enters the box hoping to shoot. Ben Woods forces him to a tighter angle, and Crellin turns the ball around for a corner. Nothing comes of that.

73 min: Nothing comes of the Stanley corner.

72 min: Ngumoha can’t beat his man down the left and ships possession. O’Brien advances and wins a corner. Before it can be taken, Ngumoha makes way for Danns. He’s sent on his way with a lovely ovation. He’s played well and showcased so much promise.

71 min: Coyle larrups a long ball forward. Kelleher claims on the edge of the box with Whalley lurking.

69 min: Rawson clears Tsimikas’s corner. Chiesa has been busy, but otherwise, Liverpool aren’t threatening much in this second half.

68 min: Chiesa drops deep and releases Nunez down the inside-right channel. Nunez enters the box and shoots, but his effort is blocked well by Rawson and deflected out for a corner.

66 min: Stanley are going for it now. Whalley wins a corner down the right. It falls to Henderson on the edge of the box. He shanks his shot woefully. Another decent chance goes by. This is impressive stuff from the League Two side.

65 min: Ben Woods wins a corner off Bradley down the left. From the set piece, Woods plays short to Whalley, who crosses long. Love rises six yards out, only to send a free header over the bar. It was surely easier to score. That would have put the cat among the pigeons.

63 min: Josh Woods and Martin are replaced by Conneely and O’Brien.

62 min: A long pass down the middle nearly releases Walton, but the offside flag goes up. Quansah had the situation covered anyway.

60 min: Elliott is back up but walking gingerly. Going to continue, though, by the looks of it. Meanwhile Liverpool make a double change, McConnell and Bradley coming on for Morton and Alexander-Arnold. Warm applause for Trent as he departs. So much for his supposed falling out of favour.

58 min: Henderson extends a leg to challenge for a loose ball and stands on Elliott’s instep. That’s going to hurt. Elliott in a lot of pain, and Henderson in the book.

57 min: Josh Woods busies himself down the right and wins a corner. It’s sent long to Woods himself. He heads goalwards from the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. Jota is forced to turn it around the post for another corner. This one’s played short, and Woods drives his way in from the left, sending a rising effort crashing off the crossbar! What a fine goal that would have been.

55 min: Some glorious one-touch football by Liverpool, involving Nunez, Chiesa and Elliot, flicking their way down the inside-right channel. Alexander-Arnold is released into the box, but he faces a tight angle and can’t get a proper shot away. That would have been a very pretty goal.

53 min: Martin has the opportunity to free Whalley down the inside-right channel, but overcooks the pass. Half a chance for Stanley there.

51 min: Chiesa probes down the right and reaches the byline, stop-starting to make room before delivering his dinked cross. Nobody in red attacks an inviting ball.

49 min: Nunez is fine to continue. When play restarts, Ben Woods finds a small pocket of space inside the Liverpool box on the left. He hammers a low curling shot goalwards, but the ball can’t make its way through a crowded box.

47 min: Rawson stood on Nunez’s foot while clearing that corner. No VAR, though it surely wouldn’t have been a penalty anyway. But that’s a sore one, and the big striker needs some treatment. Meanwhile here’s Rob Moore on “the fading of milkmen as a profession … I believe there should be a sizeable crop of people in their late 20s with dairy delivery in their DNA on Craggy Island. Perhaps Pat Mustard was a more selfless hero than we think.”

46 min: Within 30 seconds of the restart, Nunez forces a save from Crellin and Chiesa sees a snapshot deflected into the side netting. Nothing comes of the resulting corner. But what an introduction that would have been.

Liverpool get the second half started. They’ve made one change, swapping out Szoboszlai for Chiesa. Stanley have replaced Hunter and Khumbeni with Coyle and Henderson.

Half-time milk delivery. “When I was growing up, our milkman was called Derek,” begins Tim Woods. “He whistled every day and always had a smile. When asked about it once, he replied (in a thick West Country accent for full effect): ‘I just like deliverin’ milk.’ Oh, and the silver tops shot up when the milk froze and the birds picked at the cream at the top. Simpler times. Or maybe they weren’t, I can’t really remember.”

“The cream may well rise to the (gold) top, but it’s then pecked by magpies, robins, canaries, owls, bluebirds and any other avian species which happen to be around,” writes Richard Hirst. “Liverpool had better be worried about who they draw in the next round.” Indeed. Cardiff already through, as well. Beaks being sharpened in anticipation.

“I can attest to the fact that you can hit 50 mph in a milk float with a suitably steep incline,” adds Neil Palmer. “Although I wouldn’t like to mention what happens to the crates of empties on the back.”

Half-time advertising break. Nice cold, ice cold moves.

44 min: Anyway, milk. “Judging by your preamble the suggestion is ‘milkmen’ could be extinct,” begins Alec Campbell. “They might well be in some areas. However milk delivery in glass bottles is available in lots of places. We have glass bottled milk delivered three times a week. As well as being pioneers of electric transport and recycling they now even have websites. Certainly beats dragging it from the supermarket, plus it might help support more sustainable local businesses. Here’s an example. There will be more.”

42 min: Stanley clear the corner, and now it’s their turn to counter from a set piece! Hunter starts on a dribble into Liverpool territory, with the hosts light at the back. Morton does extremely well to recover and extend a leg to poke the ball away from Hunter. For a split second there, Liverpool were exposed.

41 min: Jota dribbles down the left and feeds Nunez, who takes a snapshot that’s deflected over for a corner. Tsimikas to take from the left.

40 min: Morton has a dig from distance. The ball flies into the Anfield Road end. “It’s worth pointing out that Shaun Whalley has some good karma due his way this afternoon, following his last trip to Anfield,” writes Adam Berry. “Many remember the Mighty Shrews coming from 2-0 down to clinch a draw with Klopp’s title-bound side in 2020, but few remember the replay where poor Shaun was robbed by a VAR call that went back three phases of play to desperately find a reason to disallow the goal (yes, I’m still bitter). Shrewsbury subsequently conceded an own goal to lose 1-0, and be denied a fifth-round tie at Chelsea. Here’s hoping his luck changes today!”

39 min: Awe diddles Nunez with a graceful Cruyff Turn. Nominative determinism in full effect.

37 min: Jota scampers down the middle and dinks the ball forward for Morton, who mistimes his run slightly. Instead of shooting from the edge of the box, he can only hook right for Elliott. Now the shot comes. But it’s an easy snaffle for Crellin.

35 min: Stanley haven’t been rocked by the goal, and continue to hold their shape and nerve. On the whole, they’re defending – and playing – well. “After all the unmerited flak he got against Man Utd, nice to see Trent provide the killer pass for Liverpool’s superb counter-attacking goal,” writes Colum Fordham. “Ngumoha has impressed thus far. Fast, pretty technical young winger. Obviously drinks milk as prescribed by Ian Rush.”

33 min: Ngumoha embarks on another dribble down the left. There’s nothing on for him this time, but you can sense the anticipation in the crowd when the ball is fed across to him. He looks a talent all right.

31 min: A shame for Stanley, who have shown some ambition in attack. Perhaps too much ambition there. Liverpool are so lethal on the counter.

29 min: Walton steals the ball off a dozing Szoboszlai and tears off down the right. Walton’s going nowhere, though, but an over-eager Mgumoha arrives to bundle him over. A free kick and a chance for Stanley to load the box. Ben Woods swings it in, but can’t beat the first man. Then Liverpool counter, and …

27 min: … Endo shoulders harmlessly wide left.

26 min: Tsimikas barges his way down the middle and chips into the box. Morton heads across the face of goal from the right. Jota can’t poke the loose ball home but does enough to win a corner. From which …

24 min: Walton chases a long ball down the right. He gets there first, and has options in the middle, but he slips as he attempts to cross and the ball flies into the Kop. Or was it a shot? All academic. Either way, it’s no good.

23 min: Anfield is fairly quiet now. Stanley’s first task complete.

21 min: Nunez tries to advance down the left touchline. Love clumsily stands on his foot. A scream. Just a free kick, no booking. The Stanley right-back can count himself a bit fortunate there. Nunez is back on his feet soon enough.

19 min: Whalley finds some space down the left again, and the Stanley captain wins a corner off Tsimikas. A first for Stanley. Whalley loops it in. Kelleher flaps under it, an unconvincing punch, but he’s been impeded by Josh Woods. The whistle goes. Stanley will be encouraged by these early sorties into Liverpool territory.

17 min: Whalley fouls Szoboszlai out on the left. Tsimikas swings the free kick into the mixer and the ball’s knocked out for another corner. This one’s no good either. It’s all Liverpool, but Crellin has only had one save to make so far.

16 min: Ngumoha isn’t the sort to hide, that’s for sure. First up, he takes a whack at goal, only to wildly slice his shot out to the right touchline. But he’s right back in the thick of things immediately, running baroquely down the left to win a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece, but the young man has already won a few fans in the crowd. More warm applause.

14 min: Some space for Whalley down the left. His cross-cum-shot is deflected high, looping to Josh Woods to the right of the six-yard box. Woods can’t force an effort on goal and Quansah blooters clear. Stanley looking dangerous for the first time.

12 min: Ngumoha spins elegantly down the left and feeds Tsimikas, who rolls a pass across the face of the Stanley box. Szoboszlai dummies for Alexander-Arnold, who drives low and hard towards the bottom left. Crellin in the Stanley goal saves with his feet, but the ball lands with Nunez, who blazes over. Now that’s a poor miss.

11 min: Liverpool stroke it around patiently. No rush.

9 min: Stanley are employing a brave high press. Liverpool require all their smarts to play out from the back. This time they need a cute, if slightly dangerous, Tsimikas crossfield lob to do so.

7 min: Tsimikas curls long from the left. Elliott lunges in from the right and extends a leg to hook the ball back into the middle, where Nunez heads over the bar from close range. That’s not as bad as it sounds: he was leaning back and stretching every neck muscle to reach a ball that was just too high.

5 min: Another intriguing dribble from Ngumoha, who cuts in from the left but doesn’t notice a couple of red shirts in space on the other flank. The young man still earns a warm round of applause.

3 min: Elliot probes down the right; Ngumoha has his first dribble in a Liverpool shirt down the left. Nothing doing on either side. Stanley attempt to counter, blootering long for Walton, but Endo wins the duel again.

2 min: Tsimikas looks long for Szoboszlai down the left. For a second it looks like Szoboszlai will get in, but Rawson comes across to put a stop to his gallop. Fine covering.

1 min: A long ball down the Stanley right. Walton competes with Endo but the makeshift Liverpool centre-back – who has plenty of experience in the position from his Bundesliga days, to be fair – ushers the ball out for a goal kick.

Accrington Stanley get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Kop in this first half. “Who wouldn’t be delighted with a defensive line filled with Love and Awe?” coos Dean Kinsella.

The teams are out! Anfield crisp, clear and cold. And loud. A beautiful day on Merseyside but not one you’d want to experience without a big coat. Liverpool in red. Accrington Stanley, who also usually play in red, are today in blue. Everyone looking real fine. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.

Stanley captain Shaun Whalley is asked by ITV’s Gabriel Clarke about the possibility of scoring a goal at the Kop end. A broad smile immediately plays across his face. “Yeah I’d love that,” Whalley replies. Then, with a twinkle in the eye, he adds: “I probably wouldn’t celebrate to be honest. I’ve got too many mates in there!” A laugh as he walks off, dreaming of all possibilities. The magic of the cup, right there.

Accrington Stanley manager John Doolan speaks to ITV. “Just excitement … you can see the drive in them … it’s a fantastic day … we just want to get going … it’s special, isn’t it … the lads who got us three points last week get the shirt … you can’t go on sentiment … [former Liverpool academy player Liam Coyle] is a fantastic player and I’m sure he’ll get on the pitch at some point … you’ve got to do a professional job … Liverpool are a fantastic team … we’ve got to try to impose our game on them … look after the ball a bit better … match them and see where that takes us … we have a game-plan … we’ll do our best.”

Arne Slot speaks to ITV. “Almost any other country the cup isn’t that special … everyone knows the cup means a bit more than it does … it’s a special game for us … many players who start haven’t played much for us … I understand there’s a bit more excitement in the away dressing room than the home dressing room … but I’m hoping and expecting that our players want to prove a point as well … most of them haven’t played that much recently … there aren’t many options … [Dominik] Szoboszlai has been out ill … so that’s why we start him … the reason for Trent [Alexander-Arnold] is that Conor [Bradley] comes back with a hamstring injury and two days ago we played a game … so I didn’t feel it was the right thing to do to play Conor again … it’s always special when young players make a debut … so there’s a smile on my face … Rio Ngumoha is not afraid to do what he’s good at … one on ones.”

He’s also asked about the return of David Moyes over the other side of Stanley Park. “It’s always a pity when a manager has to leave … I was a bit surprised because [Sean Dyche] had a few good results … a few draws nobody expected … but David Moyes is always special because of what he did for Everton … he was also successful at West Ham … so it’s good to have him back … but it’s always a pity that someone who in my opinion did really well is out of a job now.”

Liverpool hand a debut to 16-year-old attacker Rio Ngumoha. At 16 years and 135 days, he’ll become Liverpool’s youngest-ever starter. Trent Alexander-Arnold is given an opportunity to play himself back into form – he was decent coming on as a sub in the League Cup semi at Spurs, to be fair – but fellow contract negotiators Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are both rested. Eyebrows may be risen at Ngumoha getting in ahead of Federico Chiesa, who is on the bench, though the young man was one of the Guardian’s Next Generation talents of 2024.

Accrington Stanley name an unchanged side following their 2-0 win at Colchester United. Captain Shaun Whalley scored both goals in that match, plus another in Stanley’s previous game, a 3-2 home win over Grimsby Town. Striker Josh Woods is a Liverpool supporter whose boyhood idols were Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

This feels a bit too on the nose, putting a hat on a hat, but today is National Milk Day in the USA. A national holiday second only to Thanksgiving, it’s observed to mark the day in 1878 when milk was first delivered in glass bottles sealed with waxed paper, and to celebrate the crucial role the United States Department of Agriculture plays in ensuring US milk is the best in class. Can’t help thinking Accrington Stanley and the FA marketing bods have missed an official-partner trick here. Make America Lactate Again?