Harvey Elliott's superb solo goal lit up Liverpool's display on Tuesday night as Jurgen Klopp’s men survived a power cut to register a welcome win.
Liverpool bounced back from a dire drubbing at Brighton with their first win in four games. The FA Cup holders will return to the Seagulls in the fourth round next weekend after finally seeing off Wolves in this replay.
But the match got off to a bizarre start at Molineux with a power cut locally before kick-off and again in the opening stages. Play didn’t stop long, though, and the tie soon sparked into life as Julen Lopetegui and Klopp clashed on the touchline.
Klopp made eight changes as only Cody Gakpo, Thiago and Ibrahima Konate remained from the 3-0 Premier League defeat at Brighton. Meanwhile, Lopetegui kept Jose Sa, Nathan Collins, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho in his starting XI from the 1-0 win over West Ham.
Wolves, unlike their floodlights, made a bright start as Adama Traore put over a dangerous cross. Liverpool created an early chance for January signing Gakpo but the Netherlands international’s shot was tame from the top of the box and dribbled through to 'keeper Jose Sa.
There was no stopping Elliott’s screamer in the 13th minute, though, to fire the visitors into the lead. The winger, 19, picked the ball up in his own half, drove forwards and hit a superb-dipping, left-foot shot which looped over Sa for the starlet’s fourth of the season.
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Portuguese shot-stopper Sa was embarrassingly caught out off his line and severely punished. He was beaten again before the break when Fabio Carvalho fired in, but the Liverpool youngster was flagged offside.
It meant Wolves had a chance to level before the break when Neves released Traore, but the Spain international lashed a right-foot shot wide. It capped a disappointing opening period from the hosts, who failed to have a shot on target.
Lopetegui responded with a double substitution at the break, but Traore’s finishing remained wild. The Spanish coach also later introduced Matheus Cunha and Daniel Podence as Wolves were much improved on their dire first half.
Cunha was swiftly involved in the action, winning a free kick on the edge of the box when Nat Phillips brought him down. But Neves curled his right-foot effort just over the bar from 20 yards out.
Brazilian striker Cunha, on loan from Atletico Madrid, also lashed a late right-foot effort over after substitute Diego Costa's lay-off. Wolves had beaten Liverpool in the FA Cup twice previously, in 2017 and 2019, but this was not third time lucky.
It was their second Cup exit in a week after losing on penalties at Nottingham Forest in a stormy clash in the last eight of the EFL Cup. Lopetegui, who on Tuesday signed Spain winger Pablo Sarabia from Paris Saint-Germain for £4.4million, must focus on his side’s survival battle, whereas Klopp can still eye silverware at home and abroad despite his Liverpool’s recent struggles.
