Wolves 2-1 Liverpool: Wanderers stun the Reds to send them out of the FA Cup
Liverpool started this FA Cup game with a flurry of changes from their usual starting XI, which saw Fabinho start as one of the centre-halves.
The tie gave starts to youngsters Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones. Simon Mignolet and the underused Divock Origi were both included from the start as well. Van Dijk was not a part of the 18-man squad. Their usual attacking stars were all available on the bench if required.
Six minutes into the game, Dejan Lovren had an issue and called the physios onto the pitch after he suddenly hit the deck. Within a few minutes of going down, Ki-Jana Hoever came on as a substitute, becoming the youngest player to ever represent Liverpool, at just 16 years old. He joined the centre of the makeshift defence alongside Fabinho.
It was a very even fixture until the 38th minute when a careless touch from the usually dependable James Milner gifted the ball to Jota who slipped it through to Raul Jimenez with acres to run into.
He kept on going until he was eventually one on one with the goalkeeper and calmly slotted past him. The last few minutes of the 1st half then ticked away, with Liverpool unable to get a general grasp on the game.
The second-half started in a similar fashion as the first one until the 51st minute when a lofted ball from Shaqiri found Milner in the box, whose shot on the turn bounced off a Wolves defender and fell to Divock Origi.
He controlled it with one touch and moved it onto his left foot into the space with his next and he rocketed a shot into the right-hand side of John Ruddy’s goal.
Liverpool’s lead didn’t last very long though as Neves picked the ball up in the middle of the Liverpool box and did what he does best. He took one touch to move the ball away from the approaching defender’s path and then unleashed an extremely venomous shot onto the left top corner that gave Mignolet absolutely no chance.
In the 68th-minute, Liverpool came close to levelling it up when a Wolves foul around 30 yards away from goal gave Shaqiri a chance to take aim.
He curled a brilliant shot with his left foot, which was headed straight towards the top corner but an unbelievable fingertip save from Ruddy ensured that it hit the inside of the right side post and bounced away.
Liverpool pushed for the lead by bringing on Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, which Wolves countered by bringing on star wing-back Matt Doherty to replace Jonny in the 74th-minute.
In the final minutes, Liverpool really gave it a right go but some strong defending from the home side meant that Wolverhampton Wanderers were through to the 4th round of the FA Cup.
Here’s how some Liverpool fans reacted to the shock loss:
Moreno has to be one of the worst LBs in the club’s history. How can he complain about a lack of game time when he puts in a performance like that
— Jamie McDarby (@JamieMcDarby) January 7, 2019
DON’T EVER PLAY MORENO , SELL HIM ALREADY !!!!
— tre 🏁 (@_DakaloDeekay) January 7, 2019
Absolutely pathetic squad choice. Against a fellow premier league side why make 9 changes!? City and spurs both play full strength squads against lower league opposition. Take the FA Cup seriously, its potential silverware thrown away yet again!
— Dan Wilcox (@DanWilcox11) January 7, 2019
Wonder why Klopp never takes this Cup seriously? Every other team does but us? If we were playing a league 2 team or below I’d understand the youth players but that team vs a full strength Wolves team? What’s the point #WOLLIV
— Tom (@_TomLFC_) January 7, 2019
And I really, really, really hope that was the last time we ever see Alberto Moreno in a Liverpool shirt.
— MH (@MarkHughes_) January 7, 2019
Andy Halliday is a far better left back than Alberto Moreno and he’s a midfielder😂 pic.twitter.com/NsT4WUUe5F
— Jamie-Lee Wilson (@JamieLeeWilson9) January 7, 2019
Why is Alberto Moreno still a professional footballer? #WOLLIV.
— ObviouslyKieran (@ObviouslyKieran) January 7, 2019
