Preston 0-2 Liverpool: player ratings, heroes, villains and man of match as Reds advance in Carabao Cup

Liverpool were forced to dig deep as they moved into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory at Preston North End.

Takumi Minamino broke the deadlock for the Reds in the 62nd minute before Divock Origi’s brilliant improvised finish rounded off the win with six minutes remaining.

A much-changed Jurgen Klopp side were nowhere near their best but are in the hat for the last-eight draw.

The heroes

- Neco Williams: the 20-year-old made a goal-line clearance to deny Ryan Ledson’s shot in the first half. He then improved markedly when he was switched into a midfield role in the second period. His cutback teed-up Minamino before Williams was alert to pick up Kostas Tsimikas’ cross that hit the bar, with his shot falling to Origi to finish. Man of the match.

- Takumi Minamino: the Japan international had somewhat of a mixed night overall. However, he cropped up when needed. Minamino displayed intelligent movement to get away from his marker before guiding home a fine flicked finish.

- Adrian: the Liverpool keeper made a decent save from Brad Potts in the first half. He then made a crucial stop to his right to thwart Sean Maguire’s close-range effort.

The villains

- Brad Potts: the Preston midfielder failed to keep his composure when he burst through on goal in the first half. He then put a rebounding ball over in the area with the goal at his mercy. How things could have been different had he taken one of those chance.

- Joe Gomez: the Liverpool centre-back was well off the pace in the first half. He was caught flat footed when Potts latched on to a through ball before being caught in possession that led to Preston’s best chance that Sean Maguire spurned. In fairness, Gomez did improve significantly in the second half.

Player ratings

Preston: Rudd 6, van den Berg 6, Lindsay 6, Hughes 6, Rafferty 7, Ledson 6 (Whiteman 79), McCann 6 (Johnson 79), Potts 5, Cunningham 5 (Earl 69; 5), Maguire 7 (Sinclair 79), Barkhuizen 7 (Riis 63; 6).

Liverpool: Adrian 7, Williams 8, Matip 5 (Phillips 46; 6), Gomez 5, Tsimikas 6, Morton 7, Jones 6 (Beck 90+1), Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Dixon-Bonner 90+1), Minamino 7, Origi 6, Blair 5 (Bradley 55; 6).

The Reds return to Anfield on Saturday when they host Brighton & Hove Albion (15.00).