You will always have the milk commercials. Accrington Stanley were looking for a momentous FA Cup upset at Anfield, a story that would usurp their other famous association with Liverpool and Ian Rush, but no miracle could be found on a freezing afternoon on Merseyside.

Arne Slot’s much-changed but still recognizable Liverpool team had too much quality, courage and experience for a second division opponent that did justice to itself over 90 minutes, but could not keep the Premier League leaders under control over the long term could. Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa scored the goals that took Liverpool into the fourth round.

The 2-0 half-time score was a bit tough for the League Two side. Liverpool dominated possession confidently, as they should, and in debutant Rio Ngumoha they clearly have another young product who deserves the hype. The left winger, who was acquired from Chelsea last summer, was the youngest player to ever start for Liverpool at 16 years and 135 days. Nimble, quick and always ready to take on his man, the young striker made an encouraging first impression. However, Accrington was less than impressed by the elevated surroundings.

John Doolan’s side pressed man-to-man from the start and worked tirelessly to stifle Liverpool’s many creative options. The crucial question was how long they could hold out. Shaun Whalley, the captain, twice drew a roar of encouragement from the 4,700 away fans when he broke through on the left. On both occasions a Liverpool defender intercepted his pass into the penalty area.

The difference between the Premier League and League Two was made clear by the opening goal. It was the first time Accrington had been out of form and vulnerable to a counterattack because they had a dangerous free-kick deep in Liverpool’s half.

When Kostas Tsimikas headed Ben Woods’ free kick clear and Nelson Khumbeni shot the ball back to Dominik Szoboszlai, the visitors were mercilessly torn apart. Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold, who was named Liverpool captain that day, worked together to free Darwin Núñez on the right. He rolled a perfect cross behind the retreating Stanley defense for Jota to shoot the ball into the goal.

Núñez had previously had a free chance after Accrington goalkeeper Billy Crellin, on loan from Everton, blocked a shot from Alexander-Arnold. Otherwise, Liverpool had little chance of taking advantage of opportunities against a defense impressively set up by Faz Rawson.

Alexander-Arnold almost secured the Premier League leaders’ place in the fourth round with a wonderful finish just before half-time. The defender put in a subpar performance in his last Anfield appearance against Manchester United, but there was no repeat here. Ngumoha was involved in the goal, came in from the left and was able to save a shot. Tyler Morton and Szoboszlai passed the loose ball to their captain, who fired an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into Crellin’s top right corner.

To their credit, Accrington refused to accept their fate and twice came close to reducing the deficit in the second half. Both opportunities came from short corner balls. From the start, lifelong Liverpool fan Josh Woods cut into Alexander-Arnold and Tsimikas before firing a thunderous shot from 18 yards that bounced off the crossbar. An “if only” moment to spoil the grandchildren with. For the second time, Whalley sent a cross into the six-yard box for the unmarked Donald Love, who headed over from close range. He should have at least hit the target.

Liverpool’s impressive 18-year-old substitute Danns dashed Accrington’s hopes of an unlikely recovery late on. The academy striker broke away from Love on the halfway line before firing Chiesa towards goal. Crellin saved from the Italy international, but the rebound failed perfectly, allowing Danns to send a powerful finish into the net.

Chiesa worked tirelessly to score his first Liverpool goal. Crellin and a post seemed destined to deny the summer signing until he fired a beautiful shot into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.