Thank you so much for joining me for this thrilling 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Wolves. Wolves, of course, would have wanted to seal the win but a replay at home is not a bad result against the defending champions. Liverpool, meanwhile, will be frustrated with Jurgen Klopp saying yesterday he wanted to avoid a replay. To catch up on all the drama, particularly behind those two offside decisions, have a read of Jamie Jackson’s report from Anfield:
Lopetegui told ITV he spoke to the referee about the disallowed goal and Salah’s goal. The Liverpool man was in an offside position for the hosts second but the referee ruled Toti touched it before Salah so the goal stood.
ITV say Wolves manager Lopetegui and captain Neves are both still in with the referee which has delayed them speaking to the media.
Jurgen Klopp has spoken to ITV: “I think it was a good dominant start with really good football moments and then we concede. The goal should not happen. We came back with a fantastic equaliser, everything is clear. Then again it is dominant performance until they get a little bit of foot in the game and we don’t put in enough challenges. It is then really difficult and they caused us problems. We scored a second goals, fine, but we had problems.”
And on Toti’s disallowed goal: “I saw one picture where he could be offside but I think it is because they only have on camera angle. If it was offside it is unlucky for them if it was offside it is the right decision.”
Wolves manager Lopetegui has reportedly gone in to see the referee for an explanation on why Toti’s goal was disallowed.
One of the biggest upsets of the day saw Sheffield Wednesday knock Newcastle out. Manager Eddie Howe has offered an explanation for the result, read below to see what he has to say:
I, for one, am exhausted after that game! The second half was a thriller and the game was on the edge, it could have gone either way. Do Wolves now have the upper hand of having the replay at home? Could they send the holders home?
ITV has cleared up the VAR decision, it isn’t Toti who is offside it is Matheus who took the corner. There isn’t a clear angle of it but the assistant referee was right in front of the players.
“Greetings Sarah from Sydney NSW Australia,” the Honig family says. “Re Darwin Nunez: Give the guy a break. He is 23 years old, playing in an new country for a misfiring team…and he has scored 10 goals this season. Onwards and upwards.”
Commentators on the coverage said Toti’s disallowed winner was decided by the onfield decision. According to them the camera angles didn’t show a clear angle of Toti being offside and so VAR went with the onfield decision.
Here are the two second half goals:
Mo Salah. 👑@lfc pic.twitter.com/L76clXBWM0
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
Hwang Hee-chan finds a way 🇰🇷@Wolves#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/NWRk9TqpXA
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
More Nunez chat after full-time, the player seems to draw so many opinions! Owen says: “The Kop loves Nunez, he’s brilliant even if he can improve his finishing. Defences are terrified of him, that’s how Liverpool got their two ogs against Leicester last week. The regular match-goers can absolutely see what he is contributing, he’s been brilliant!”
Full-time! Liverpool 2-2 Wolves
What a lively match! Heading into the break it was 1-1 but the first half was not as choppy as the second. Liverpool went ahead for the first time through Salah but Hwang cancelled it out so a replay will take place. Either could have won it.
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90 + 5 min: Liverpool continue to hammer the Wolves line but the visitors are doing well to repel them. They are on the counter now, can they find a winner?
90 + 3 min: Matheus is okay to continue and Wolves win another free kick higher up the pitch. They look to build here, Collins thumps it upfield but it only finds Liverpool players. Mike has got in touch and said: “Okay I’m not as smart soccer-wise as Jurgen but taking off 2 of the most likely players to score and the one most likely to provide an assist doesn’t seem the most astute substitutions!” This is true but he also has to think about keeping his players fit, it’s a fine balance.
90 + 1 min: Doak clips Cunha by the area and Wolves fans boo as no foul is given. Matheus wins a free kick for Wolves and he looks in some pain. There are five minutes added and Collins has been named Player of the Match. He has been a wall in defence.
90 min: Thiago puts in a huge pass to find Nunez, who looked slightly offside, as Liverpool hunt for a winner. Elliott finds Doak on the edge of the area who almost curls it in but it goes wide.
88 min: Gomez is immediately among the action as he rockets it into the box but no one capitalises, it feels this is heading for a draw. Traore wins a free kick but he looks in pain on the floor here, it looks as though Robertson accidentally caught him in the face on the floor. The Wolves man is okay to continue though.
86 min: Lopetegui is given a yellow card after he became animated following the disallowed goal. Liverpool make more changes with Gakpo, Salah and Alexander-Arnold are off for Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gomez and Doak.
84 min: The player who thought they had scored was Toti, all of the Wolves bench and coaching staff believe that he is not offside. The check is taking a long time but then it is disallowed for offside, Toti is so disappointed. The fight for a winner continues.
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82 min: Matheus takes the corner and it pinballs around, Wolves then think they have scored and they go absolutely crazy! But the player was offside, the managers and players aren’t happy – they will surely check it. An announcement comes to say he is offside but VAR are checking.
81 min: I am nervous watching this so I have no clue how Liverpool and Wolves fans are feeling! Liverpool are constantly attacking but Wolves are somehow keeping them out. Cunha comes away with it but then loses it in the midfield, Gakpo concedes a free kick! It’s in the midfield and so Wolves will have to build from deep. They are running through the motions now. Cunha gets it on the edge of the box but Konate stops the chance, conceding the corner.
79 min: Salah crosses in but Toti clears, Elliott gets it back in and Wolves clear again. They are peppering the Wolves goal but have nothing to show for it yet. Traore had a one-on-one with Alisson but the keeper is strong and sends Liverpool on their way once more.
77 min: Liverpool make another change as Elliott is on for Fabinho. Hwang does well to pressure Elliott off the ball but the hosts remain in possession. Anfield rain down noise on their players as they urge them to take more chances, the hosts are in control here but need the winner to show it.
75 min: Ait-Noure signalled he had a problem and Anfield don’t like it has taken a minute for him to come off for Bueno. The change has now been made and a reader has made a great pun. Stephen said: “Evening Sarah. Wolves right in bringing Bueno on - its the Kinder thing to do.” Not ashamed to say this made me laugh out loud haha.
73 min: Liverpool look to find the lead again but Robertson is ruled offside. Salah gets in the box again but Wolves swarm him off the ball, both teams are fighting for this win right now. It’s so tasty! Ait-Noure is down after tackling Gakpo so there is a break in play.
71 min: The Wolves manager has played a blinder with his subs, both were key in that goal. But can Liverpool respond strongly? Salah looks as though he was going to put Liverpool ahead but the Wolves defence do enough, heart in your mouth moment there! Semedo has a shot on target but Alisson saves.
69 min: Alisson should have done better there but Cunha looked to go for goal so the keeper went one way, then Cunha passed to Hwang who slipped it the other. But what is this? VAR is checking it for a handball, it’s quickly over though and it stands! What a match! Henderson is off for Keita for Liverpool and Wolves take off Lembikisa for Semedo.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Wolves (Hwang, 67)
Oh my word, Hwang and Cunha link up and sneak it past Alisson.
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66 min: “No matter what it costs Liverpool ABSOLUTELY MUST sign Bellingham in the summer,” David says. “If he ends up at City the Premier League is effectively dead as a competition. It will go the way of the Bundesliga with City rivalling Bayern Munich as to who can get the most number of league wins in a row. There is no competition in Germany with Bayern winning 10 in a row.” Bellingham is wanted by many European clubs so time will tell on where he ends up. Back to the match and Liverpool are in control at the moment but they have to be wary of Wolves counters. Alexander-Arnold finds Gakpo but he’s tackled off the ball.
64 min: Jiminez went for goal despite having four teammates around him and misses the shot. Liverpool counter and Henderson is fouled by Jonny who gets a yellow. Wolves make changes as Jimenez, Neves and Guedes for Matheus, Cunha and Hwang.
62 min: Robertson does well but Collins blocks and sends it out for a corner. Alexander-Arnold sends it in and Salah flicks it on with a header but Konate can’t hit it home.
60 min: What lovely link up play from Liverpool. Robertson makes a great run and finds Nunez who quickly passes it back to his teammate, Nunez has it back and he passes to Salah but it hits his shoulder. Espen has got in touch about Liverpool’s issues this season: “Nick at half time is absolutely spot on with his comment, and yes, the problem, like Carragher said, is a complete lack of midfield signings. An aging midfield that has been run into the ground for five years. It’s surprising that Fabinho has fallen off a cliff but it’s not surprising that we have dropped in quality. The relentless pace Liverpool and Man City have been setting, it’s impossible to keep it up. Arguably even City haven’t been their usual incredible self so far this season. No matter how good you are you need to refresh.”
58 min: Ait-Noure surely should have equalised there! He found himself in a one-on-one with Alisson but the keeper does well to block the shot. Thiago then tries to thread Alexander-Arnold but it has too much on it and it’s out. This isn’t the only FA Cup game to be played today and Mary says: “Sarah, some are calling the Newcastle result the biggest upset today. But how about the national league Wrexham canceling the Championship level Coventry?” I know it ended in a draw but how about Chesterfield’s performance against West Brom?
56 min: This game has turned on its head once again and it suddenly feels it is all Liverpool. Toti clears a cross from Alexander-Arnold but Liverpool get it back, Henderson wins a corner and Alexander-Arnold will take it. His kick is a good one but Nunez’ touch has too much power and it goes wide.
54 min: Oh wow, that all came from Traore’s miss at the other end. Liverpool ran it through the team, got it to Salah who turned well and slotted home. There was a check on VAR for offside – Salah was offside but Toti does play the ball before Salah touches it so the goal stands.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Wolves (Salah, 52)
Salah with loads of time on the counter slots home in an easy fashion.
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51 min: Gakpo does well to feed Nunez but he loses out to Traore who wins a throw. Liverpool are quickly back in possession but Matip’s pass to Alexander-Arnold has too much on it. Andy on Twitter has had his say in the Nunez debate: “Nunez is fantastic. As a lifelong Liverpool fan he excites and frustrates, but has unbelievable potential. Makes things happen, he WILL score bucketloads.” He is in double figures for Liverpool so he isn’t doing too badly.
49 min: There’s a lot of cheers when Alisson is on the ball, I bet that can’t help the nerves after a blunder. Graeme has commented on Liverpool’s bumpy season, saying: “Beautiful goal from Nunez but if you’re only going to sign one midfielder since 2018, no wonder Liverpool look so knackered and overrun in the middle of the park.”
47 min: A fun fact for you, this is Alexander-Arnold’s 250th Liverpool appearance and the Nunez assist was his 62nd for the club – he is getting a lot of criticism this season but he has been a stalwart for the Reds. Wolves have early possession and will look to keep it as long as possible.
Back underway! Liverpool 1-1 Wolves
So can Liverpool capitalise on the momentum they claimed back just before half time? Or can Wolves get back in the lead to take the win?
“Nunez is in double figures for the season,” Niall says. “He’s a bit hit and miss for sure but on the list of Liverpool’s problems he’s not even near the top.” So where do the problems lie? A lack of midfield signings?
“There are two types of football fan,” Nick says. “Those who think Nunez is another Andy Carroll, and those who know about football.” Nunez has had a good game so far in my opinion but it seems he has a long way to go to prove his doubters wrong.
Here’s the Alisson error:
😬#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/1zXYSivrac
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
And Nunez’ equaliser:
The assist 👌
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
The finish 👌@Darwinn99 with an #EmiratesFACup debut goal of pure perfection for @LFC pic.twitter.com/YpbzaEiizu
And Zuni has said: “Klopp’s stubborn attachment to the same old tired players “the strongest team” is a joke. Play the so called second string and you will have as much grit and enthusiasm as Brentford last week.”
Well despite Nunez equalising for Liverpool the love has not poured in, in fact it’s the opposite. Kari has said: “It probably says something about Darwin Núñez that the most clinical finish of his Liverpool career went in off his shin.”
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 Wolves
What a half! Liverpool had all the early possession and seemed to be dominating but a blunder from Alisson gifted Guedes and Wolves a goal. The visitors were then on top for the rest of the half until Nunez struck to equalise. It’s all to play for in the second 45.
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45 + 1 min: Anfield is in full voice now and there are three minutes added.
45 + 1 min: Liverpool counter really well and Alexander-Arnold puts it on a plate for him. He takes a one touch finish and easily beats Sarkic.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Wolves (Nunez, 45)
Well what were you saying about Nunez?
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45 min: Lembikisa takes it short but Liverpool manage to deal with it. Alisson has a goal kick and he puts it straight out of play, not the keeper’s night tonight.
44 min: Neves puts in another fantastic pass to Guedes but Alexander-Arnold blocks a shot twice. But here come Wolves again, Traore finds Jimenez and they win a corner.
42 min: Liverpool are building here, trying to find their equaliser. Alexander-Arnold tries to find Fabinho but Wolves disrupt. Julian has got in touch to ask: “A question to any Wolves supporters reading the MBM…. Why have Wolves changed from the famous ”old gold” shirts of yore in favour of bog-standard yellow They look more like Watford/Dortmund these days.”
40 min: Liverpool are trying to find the early momentum they had but since Wolves scored they have had the upper hand. Traore is so close with their latest shot! He crosses across goal which is inches away from Jimenez.
38 min: While Henderson is down, let’s check in with a Liverpool supporter to see their thoughts. “This is becoming embarrassing,” Colum says. “The comedy factor for neutrals and not-so-neutrals must be off the scale. Nunez’s ability to miss barn doors and now Allison’s risible effort. I suppose a howler was inevitable against Wolves.” Henderson is back to his feet and he will remain on the pitch.
36 min: Neves puts in a great pass and it’s threaded to Traore but Konate does well to defend despite conceding a corner. Ait-Noure takes the corner but Robertson blocks the kick. Gakpo does well to start an attack but Henderson is cropped in the midfield and falls to the floor. It takes a while, and a Guedes shot, until play is stopped for the player to be seen to.
34 min: Traore manages to keep a tricky ball in play but Alisson puts Liverpool on their way. Nunez does well on the edge of the box but Collins does well to get rid of the threat. David has got in touch and said: “Liverpool’s defence and now their keeper have been a mess all season, but somehow the focus has been on Nunez’s lack of goals? They are having a terrible season and Nunez is the least of their problems.” It’s a fair point.
32 min: Nunez makes a good run and crosses, it seems to have too much on it but Robertson keeps it in play. It comes to Henderson who launches it in the air and out of play.
30 min: Alexander-Arnold tries to find Robertson but has too much on it, Konate does his best to keep it in play but it is out for a goal kick. Wolves are on the hunt for their second now but Jimenez can’t be found on the edge of the box.
29 min: I honestly can’t believe how poor that was, I’m going to try and find a clip. Alexander-Arnold tries to find an immediate equaliser but Sarkic collects. Liverpool have a free kick now, they will look to strike back and save some face.
27 min: Wolves have two chances and Alisson stops both but then the keeper tries to play it out the back and passes straight to Guedes! The forward taps home and that is a huge error!
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Wolves (Guedes, 26)
A howler from Alisson!
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24 min: Nunez is ran out of his own half and forced to go back to Alisson, Liverpool manage to work it back upfield and Salah pings it into the box. Matip wins a corner for Liverpool and the hosts are playing some tasty interlink play right now. Alexander-Arnold takes the set piece but Wolves head away.
22 min: Neves is okay to continue but the star was down for a prolonged period so we may see him subbed earlier than expected. When play gets back underway there seem to be appeals for handball as it looks as though Traore touched the ball but nothing is given.
20 min: Nunez has a shot and he attempts a bicycle kick but Wolves manage to disrupt. Neves is currently down with any injury so there’s a slight break in play. While we see if he is okay let’s have some more Nunez chat: “A lot of talk about Nunez’s misses,” Matthew says. “Admittedly, he is one of the most chaotic footballers I’ve ever seen. But does everyone remember Suarez’s first full season? He set a record for the number of times he hit the post. He had some weird misses. Then, the next season, he scored absolutely everything. I’m not saying Nunez will necessarily go the same way. But there’s a precedent. Norwich better look out next season.”
18 min: Wolves have gained some momentum from those positive few minutes. But Liverpool are quickly back in possession, Gakpo tries to get it in the box but Neves heads away. Alexader-Arnold again attempts to cross but Sarkic collects.
16 min: The ball was pinged forward, looking to find Traore but it has too much on it. Matip then has a loose pass which is shut down by Guedes but the Wolves player can’t quite fire off a shot. Wolves have come alive! They get in the box but the ball isn’t struck well.
14 min: There’s a lot of messages coming in about Nunez, the latest from Jeff said: “Let’s see how many opportunities Nunez missed today?!” So far his teammates haven’t quite found him but he has been in good positions. Right now Wolves are trying to get a hold into the match but it is all Liverpool. But hang on, Wolves have won a free kick!
12 min: Traore had a great position there, a bouncing ball came Alisson’s way and the Wolves man almost pounced. Liverpool get it in their box and Salah almost wrestles the ball off of Jonny but the player manages, just, to keep it. Joe Pearson has got in touch and said: “Given that I am an old man, and am routinely waking up at 5:30 am for no good reason, I might actually have a nap while listening to the match in the background. Forgive me, Jurgen.” I think he’ll forgive you.
10 min: Ait-Noure takes the corner but it has too much on it and doesn’t find a teammate. Up the other end Sarkic doesn’t find his teammate and it goes out of play, putting Liverpool in a good attacking position. They run it back to Alisson though and will build from deep.
8 min: Robertson loses the ball in a dangerous spot but Jimenez can’t be found in the box, that was close to an opener. Possession exchanges hands and then Robertson gets a good ball to Nunez whose shot is at the keeper. Konate concedes a corner.
6 min: Salah takes the free kick and he rockets it towards goal but it sails over the bar. Liverpool have taken this game by the scruff of the neck now, Wolves make a mistake as Hodge kicks it out of play and Liverpool again are on the hunt. Alexander-Arnold gets the ball in the box and he finds Gakpo. The new signing gets a shot on target but the keeper collects.
4 min: Liverpool are being patient on the ball and are slowly building, Wolves are trying to press them but it’s not too aggressive. Henderson finds Gakpo as the hosts edge closer to goal, Jonny tackles Salah on the edge of the box and Liverpool have a free kick. Wolves lucky that was just outside, it would have been a penalty.
2 min: A steady start from both sides so far, neither getting the majority of possession.
Kick-off! Liverpool 0-0 Wolves
Here we go then! The final FA Cup match of the day is underway.
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The players will be out on the pitch shortly, will the holders get their title defence off to the perfect start? Or will they be the first defending champions to be knocked out at this stage since 2018?
League One side Sheffield Wednesday are still leading Newcastle United 2-1 and are into six added minutes. Catch all the updates here:
Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has made it clear he isn’t happy this week, saying: “I don’t understand how we play in one competition with two days’ less [preparation] than the opponent. Maybe one day [less preparation], it can happen. But two days, it is a lot. It is a big difference for us. They have two days’ recovery more. I am sorry but I don’t understand this.” Read the full piece:
“Evening, Sarah,” Ian Copestake says. “Have got my Darwin bingo card ready to toast each miss as it happens. May as well enjoy it until his radar is back from the shop.” He may be on firing form today, we will find out in 20 minutes time.
New Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo is in the mix today, making his debut. Klopp said of his new player: “Of course, with our situation, injuries with the strikers as well, it’s really nice to have a guy on the pitch who obviously is pretty natural in a lot of things. [He gets] the offensive part of the game and knows where the goal stands. That’s always very helpful. He’s obviously full of joy, enjoying each second in the moment. So that’s very good.”
Some other matches have concluded in the FA Cup. West Ham beat Brentford 1-0, Wrexham defeated Coventry United 4-3, Luton town and Wigan Athletic ended 1-1 so that will have a replay and Grimsby Town won 1-0 against Burton. Sheffield Wednesday have gone 2-1 up against Newcastle – what an upset that would be – with under 20 minutes to go.
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There has been a lot of action in the competition already today and here are some reports from the stadiums to catch up on ahead of this kick-off:
Get in touch and let me know what you’re doing with your Saturday! You can reach me on Twitter, @rendellx, or via email.
Sheffield Wednesday are currently playing Newcastle with the score 1-0 in the hosts favour after 58 minutes. My colleague Luke McLaughlin is taking you through that one if you want to get all the action before Liverpool gets underway at 8pm:
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had his say on Virgil van Dijk’s injury in his press conference for the Wolves match. He said: “It was a surprise for us and a big blow. The diagnosis was pretty harsh. We talk about weeks, more than a month. It’s a muscle thing - nothing different to say - it was one sprint too much in that moment. For Virgil, it is hard for him but he played an incredible amount of games over the last years and we cannot use him on the pitch, only off the pitch, and we will do that. He never had an issue with muscles before and it just now happened. That’s how it is. We did nothing different.”
Wolves have made a huge eight changes from their 1-1 draw to Aston Villa, including a change of goalkeeper with Sarkic starting.
🇲🇽 Raul back leading the line.
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 7, 2023
🎓 Lembikisa's first start.
Our #LIVWOL line-up.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/alnebjnzpk
Liverpool have made four changes from their 3-1 defeat to Brentford with new signing Cody Gakpo getting his debut at Anfield. Jordan Henderson also returns from his side-lining with concussion.
A Reds debut for Cody Gakpo 😍
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 7, 2023
Here's how we line up to take on Wolves in the #EmiratesFACup tonight 👊
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Liverpool’s FA Cup tie against Wolves. The match rounds off the day’s action which has seen a lot of twists and turns. Burnley overcame Bournemouth, Blackpool smashed Nottingham Forest and Chesterfield came close to knocking out West Brom. Could the game at Anfield through up more shocks?
Liverpool are not having the best season and do look out of sorts from their form in the last few years but it would still be a slight upset if they were knocked out by Wolves this evening. Jurgen Klopp’s side will have to overcome their opponents without Virgil van Dijk after it was confirmed the star will be out for over a month with a hamstring issue – more on that later.
The team news will be out shortly so we will see who Klopp selects at centre-back in his place. Stay tuned for all the updates ahead of kick-off at 8pm.
