Forest stun FA Cup holders Leicester, Liverpool see off Cardiff

Nottingham Forest knocked holders Leicester out of the FA Cup as the Championship side powered to a shock 4-1 win, while Liverpool eased into the fifth round with a 3-1 victory against Cardiff on Sunday.

Leicester’s disappointing season hit a new low with the dismal fourth-round loss against their Midlands rivals at the City Ground.

Last season’s Wembley triumph against Chelsea was Leicester’s first-ever FA Cup final victory, but that seemed a distant memory as their trophy defence ended with a whimper.

Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp (C) looks on as Liverpool’s Colombian midfielder Luis Diaz is treated for an injury during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and Cardiff City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 6, 2022. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Bottom of the second tier when Steve Cooper took charge in September, Forest have been revitalised by the former Swansea boss and they destroyed Leicester with three goals in nine first-half minutes.

Forest will face fellow Championship side Huddersfield in only their second appearance in the FA Cup fifth round in 17 years.

Having climbed to eighth place in the Championship, Forest is also chasing a return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999.

It is still some way from the glory days of Brian Clough, who led Forest to the English title in 1978 and two European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

“It’s a brilliant day for everyone. We are in the middle of trying to build something. I’m really pleased for the boys and proud of the club,” Cooper said.

In the first derby between the clubs for eight years, Forest took the lead in the 23rd minute when Brennan Johnson’s cross was nodded down by Keinan Davis and poked home by Philip Zinckernagel.

Just 24 seconds later, the sell-out crowd erupted again as Leicester shot themselves in the foot.

Daniel Amartey’s woeful backpass towards Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was intercepted by Johnson, who took a touch before clipping his shot through Dane’s legs.

The goal prompted one angry Leicester supporter to run onto the pitch and confront several Forest players in an ugly incident that saw punches thrown before he was arrested.

In the 32nd minute, James Garner swung over a corner and Joe Worrall took advantage of Leicester’s slack marking to head past Schmeichel.

– Elliott ‘fairytale’ –
Forest keeper Brice Samba gifted Leicester a goal in the 40th minute, needlessly rushing out of his area as Kelechi Iheanacho danced past him and shot into the empty net from an acute angle.

But Djed Spence quashed any hopes of an unlikely Leicester revival when he exchanged passes with Zinckernagel before delivering a clinical finish in the 61st minute.

Jurgen Klopp labelled Harvey Elliott’s goalscoring return in Liverpool’s win over Cardiff as a “fairytale” after five months out with a serious ankle injury.

Elliott was introduced off the bench alongside new signing Luis Diaz after Diogo Jota’s header had opened the scoring early in the second half.

Diaz made an instant impact by teeing up Takumi Minamino to double Liverpool’s lead.

But the biggest cheer was reserved for Elliott when he fired home on the volley 14 minutes from time.

There were fears Elliott could be out for at least the rest of the season when he suffered a dislocated ankle against Leeds.

“Coming on was a great step back but scoring this goal was a proper fairytale,” said Klopp.

“Harvey was unlucky with the injury but lucky with the whole process afterwards.

“Everything went really well. He did an incredible job, the medical department did an incredible job. He is a fearless boy and a great footballer.”

Rubin Colwill pulled a goal back for the Bluebirds, but it is Liverpool who will meet Norwich at Anfield in the last 16.