Cummings up trumps!
SUPERSUB’S DOUBLE PAYS OFF FOR SHREWS
SHREWSBURY pulled off one of their greatest-ever results with a battling draw to earn a bumper Anfield pay day.
They not only held the reigning European champions and Premier League champions-elect, they might well have beaten them.
This was thrilling cup stuff and even if it was an unrecognisable Liverpool side, you have got to hand it to the renowned cup battlers.
Substitute Jason Cummings was the hero with two goals after coming off the bench on the hour – and he missed a close-range headed chance right at the death too.
When poor Donald Love slotted into his own net at the beginning of the second half you could have been forgiven for thinking it was all over.
But Shrewsbury had other ideas and Cummings stamped his name in the history books of this proud club.
Liverpool were already a goal in front through a classy 15th-minute finish from Curtis Jones when Love shunted the ball into his own net.
But Cummings had the Town rocking in the 65th minute when Yasser Larouci pulled down Josh Laurent and referee Simon Hooper pointed straight to the spot.
Cummings sent Adrian the wrong way and it was game on.
And in the 73rd minute he struck again, pouncing on a mix-up between Dejan Lovren and Neco Williams to slot home and set the cash tills ringing. Shrewsbury might have gone in 1-0 down at half-time but they had given a packed house more than enough to give them hope for the second period.
To be fair, it was not hard to argue that they should have been level at the break, maybe even in front if you want to stretch a point.
Things did look a little ominous in the early stages when what can only be described as a shadow Liverpool side made inroads from the off. Divock Origi flashed a right-foot
shot just wide from 20 yards in the eighth minute and it wasn’t long before Liverpool took the lead.
Jones made no mistake when he pounced on Pedro Chirivella’s ball through the Shrews backline and made absolutely no mistake, keeping a cool head before rolling the ball home into the bottom of the net.
Just a pity that Shaun Whalley had not shown quite the same composure when he burst clear of the Liverpool defence but could not manage the required finish.
Whalley was causing Klopp’s men all sorts of problems and was left cursing a mixture of bad luck, good goalkeeping and finishing that was just short of the required standard.
In the 24th minute he showed lightning pace to get himself away and was left in a one-on-one with Adrian, who was not favourite to finish on top.
Adrian advanced, Whalley got his shot away but it was within the big stopper’s range and he managed to block with his legs. Whalley was the threat again in the 35th minute but, again, Adrian was quick off the mark and managed to boot clear to snuff out the danger.
But Cummings didn’t waste his invitation, so it’s all back to Anfield.