Liverpool hit seven in Lincoln win

Liverpool thrashed League One Lincoln to set up a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Arsenal next week.

Takumi Minamino and Curtis Jones both scored twice as the second-string Reds cruised through – with £41m Diogo Jota one of three debutants in the game.

Tayo Edun pulled one back, Marko Grujic added a sixth for Liverpool, Lewis Montsma scored for Lincoln and Divock Origi got the Reds’ seventh.

Liverpool handed debuts to defenders Rhys Williams and Kostas Tsimikas, with former Wolves forward Jota coming on in the second half.

Most of their goals were excellent. After Shaqiri’s free-kick, Minamino curled home from outside the box and teenager Jones scored from Origi’s cushioned header.

Jones then scored via a slight deflection to give the Reds an unassailable 4-0 half-time lead.

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton would certainly have been happy with his side’s second-half resilience, especially after Minamino scored a volley seconds after the restart.

The Imps had won their first five games this season (including a penalty shootout) and had several chances before Edun’s goal from Anthony Scully’s cross.

The scoring was not finished yet. Grujic drilled home from 20 yards, Montsma scored for the third EFL Cup tie in a row – with a header in via the crossbar – and Origi smashed home from a Minamino pass.