Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Commentary & Result, 2023/01/07, FA Cup

That concludes our commentary of the FA Cup third-round fixture between Liverpool and Wolves! We hope you’ve enjoyed it!

Liverpool feature again next Saturday, when they travel to play Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. Wolves take on Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in the EFL Cup.

A fiercely contested FA Cup third-round tie between Liverpool and Wolves ends all square at 2-2, with a replay on the horizon. Alisson’s error after 26 minutes gave the visitors something to hang onto but Klopp’s side would fight back in style, scoring through Nunez and Salah to take the lead. Lopetegui’s team would not go quietly however and another mistake from Liverpool's Brazil goalkeeper would again give Wolves a chance to score, with Hwang tucking his shot under the arm of Alisson from close range. Another match will certainly stretch the schedule, but with nothing to separate the two, a minimum of another 90 minutes is required!

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-2 WOLVES.

90' + 4' Liverpool had been eliminated in five of their last seven FA Cup ties against Wolves ahead of this one, including two under Jurgen Klopp (2016/17 and 2018/19). Their last win over them in the competition was in February 1952.

90' + 2' The fourth official indicates five minutes of added time will be played for stoppages.

90' An awkward challenge on Cunha from Elliott leaves the Wolves forward on the ground holding his knees. It looked a painful one, but there's little doubt the visitors are also looking to sap some time from the clock.

88' Thiago spreads play to the right for Elliott, but a heavy headed touch inside the penalty area allows a pair of Wolves defenders to converge and prevent Sarkic from having to make a save.

86' Gomez fires a cross into the penalty area which again invites Nunez to attempt the overhead kick but Collins is not put off as he stands firm to make the clearance.

J. Gomez

T. Alexander-Arnold

85' Gomez slots into right-back as Alexander-Arnold is rested with five minutes to go.

B. Doak

Mohamed Salah

85' Salah is also rested, with Doak taking his place.

A. Oxlade-Chamberlain

C. Gakpo

84' Gakpo is withdrawn 84 minutes into his debut, with Oxlade-Chamberlain trusted to see out the remainder of the game.

82' GOMES SCORES A BRILLIANT GOAL BUT IT WON’T COUNT! The substitute right-back has gone through his full celebration, but it won’t stand. The ball found the net after Matheus Nunes’ corner was not sufficiently cleared and the set-piece taker had a second chance and delivered a low cross. Hwang’s shot trickled through the crowd of bodies and was turned over the line by a deft backheel flick from the centre-back, but an offside in the build-up keeps the game at 2-2!

80' Matheus Nunes strides forward and plays a pass into Cunha, who can only send his shot off Konate and behind for a corner.

79' Liverpool are holders of the FA Cup having beaten Chelsea on penalties in last year’s final. The Reds have gone out in the third round in four of their seven seasons as holders, most recently in 2006-07 when they lost 3-1 at home to Arsenal.

77' A reminder that FA Cup third-round matches that end in a tie will not feature extra-time during the first match, with the game replayed instead. Should it remain deadlocked after 90 minutes of the replay, then additional time and potentially spot-kicks will be used to determine a winner.

H. Elliott

Fabinho

75' An attacking change in midfield for Liverpool sees Elliott brought on in place of Fabinho.

Hugo Bueno

R. Aït-Nouri

73' Confirmation of the enforced substitution as Ait-Nouri is no longer able to continue. Bueno is his replacement.

72' A tough but fair challenge on Gakpo from Ait-Nouri successfully puts the ball out of play for a throw, but the Wolves winger comes off the worst of the two, remaining down while Lopetegui readies a substitute on the touchline.

70' Liverpool win back possession high up the pitch but Gomes takes the ball off the toe of Salah before Collins hoists the ball up into the air, allowing Sarkic to claim the unintentional backpass.

Nélson Semedo

D. Lembikisa

68' Wolves also make a swap, with Lembikisa replaced by Semedo at full-back.

N. Keïta

J. Henderson

68' Liverpool make a change immediately after conceding, with Keita replacing Henderson in midfield.

Hwang Hee-Chan

Goal

66' WOLVES HAVE THE EQUALISER! 2-2! Konate’s clearance is not good enough as Collins is allowed to head it back into Liverpool’s half with Wolves retaining possession. Hwang receives the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and plays a neat one-two pass with Cunha before tucking the ball under Alisson’s arm and in with a little bit of fortune!

65' Gakpo goes down during a race with Jonny for the loose ball on the edge of Wolves’ penalty area. The home supporters call for a foul and a potential second yellow card for the full-back, but the referee is more than happy to allow play to continue.

Matheus Cunha

R. Jiménez

63' Cunha comes on for his second appearance after transferring to Wolves. Jimenez makes way.

Matheus Nunes

Gonçalo Guedes

63' Matheus Nunes is also introduced for Guedes.

Hwang Hee-Chan

Rúben Neves

63' Hwang is in for Neves in an attacking change for Wolves.

Jonny

Yellow Card

62' Jonny cynically brings Henderson down to the ground and picks up the first yellow card of the match as a result.

61' Robertson’s corner from the left is met by Salah at the near post but Konate is unable to direct the flick-on towards goal, sending his effort wide of the post.

59' Liverpool’s lovely build-up goes unrewarded after Nunez displays fast feet to beat Lembikisa, before a clever one-two move with Robertson gets the striker near the byline. The Uruguay international sidefoots a cross towards the edge of the six-yard box but two defenders marking Salah manage to scramble it away.

57' CHANCE! Ait-Nouri goes through on goal and hits a low shot with only the goalkeeper to beat but it’s put far too close to Alisson, who stoops to one knee to make a clean save.

56' Alexander-Arnold's outswinging corner finds the head of a leaping Nunez, who directs his effort up and over the crossbar from close range.

54' There was a check for a possible offside in the build-up to the goal, but Gomes’ header backwards meant Salah was in a legal position - meaning the strike stands! Wolves have it all to do now after having their lead overturned.

Mohamed Salah

Goal

52' SALAH GIVES LIVERPOOL THE LEAD! 2-1! Gakpo rides a challenge in midfield and plays a lovely pass over the top for Salah, which takes a touch off Gomes' head before falling kindly to the Egypt international. He takes a touch to set himself before turning on the ball, firing a powerful left-footed volley past Sarkic!

50' Wolves have lost 11 of their last 13 games against Liverpool in all competitions – the other two games were both FA Cup wins (2-1 in January 2017, 2-1 in January 2019).

48' Henderson whips a cross towards the edge of the penalty area for Gakpo but again Collins gets into a good position to clear the ball away.

46' Wolves get the match restarted from the kick-off!

Liverpool have dominated the flow of the match but they’ll have to do better with creating clear-cut chances for their forwards, with Sarkic not tested nearly enough despite all the firepower on display. Wolves will be looking to keep the score level and the match tight by continuing to deny their opponents space before breaking forward on the counter-attack through the pace of Traore and Guedes.

An entertaining first half at Anfield comes to a close with Liverpool and Wolves level at 1-1, thanks in large part to Alisson’s distribution error. Liverpool certainly seemed the side more determined to score, dominating possession through Thiago, who has been finding both Gakpo and Nunez with success, but it was Lopetegui’s team who would break the deadlock, after Alisson presented Guedes with a gilt-edged chance less than 18 yards from goal. Klopp’s side did not buckle at the setback and kept pouring forward, with Alexander-Arnold linking up with Nunez for the equaliser on the stroke of 45 minutes.

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 WOLVES.

45' + 2' The fourth official indicates three minutes will be added to the end of the half for stoppages.

T. Alexander-Arnold

Assist

45' Alexander-Arnold shows his range of passing to pick up yet another assist for a Liverpool goal.

D. Núñez

Goal

45' A GREAT GOAL EQUALISES THE GAME! 1-1! It’s a delightful ball from Alexander-Arnold, who clips a cross to the far post from a position deep in midfield. The delivery evades both Lembikisa and Collins before falling right onto the foot of Nunez, whose first-time finish wrong-foots the goalkeeper!

44' Alisson is again shakey with his feet, putting it directly out of play for a Wolves throw-in inside Liverpool's half. It hasn't been a great 45 minutes for the Brazil international goalkeeper, though his side are still firmly in the contest.

42' Guedes cuts inside from the left but Alexander-Arnold displays good defensive awareness, poking the ball away from the forward before preventing Ait-Nouri from getting onto it.

40' CHANCE! Traore beats Konate on his way to the byline and flashes a powerful low cross across the face of goal for Jimenez, who can’t manage to get on the end of the delivery despite a sliding attempt.

38' Nunez is marked extremely tightly by Gomes, who forces the striker wide before steering him out of bounds for a Wolves throw deep in their own half.

36' Guedes has a speculative shot from a long way out but manages to hit the target, forcing Alisson across his line to punch it away.

35' Ait-Nouri is again tasked with taking the Wolves corner, but he fails to beat the first man as Robertson is not put under any pressure as he volleys it away from his goal.

33' Alexander-Arnold's long throw almost puts Wolves in danger as Nunez is allowed to latch onto the delivery but Collins manages to clear the eventual cross - at least temporarily - by putting it out for another throw-in.

31' Short of options, Alexander-Arnold chips a pass to the byline for Henderson, whose volleyed cross sails high, wide and immediately behind the net for a goal-kick.

29' Salah lays the set-piece off for Robertson, who immediately sweeps a cross to the back post for Konate. The centre-back tracks the flight of the ball well but is unable to keep it in play as Sarkic gathers for a goal-kick.

28' Liverpool are given the chance to equalise from a free-kick 30 yards from goal, after Neves charges through the back of Nunez.

Gonçalo Guedes

Goal

26' WOLVES TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0! It’s a comical goal to concede for Alisson, who takes his time passing it out, only to put it right into the path of Guedes. The Portugal international immediately fires it underneath the goalkeeper from 10 yards out to take full advantage of the gift and give his side the lead!

25' Neves executes a lovely switch of play to the right for Traore, who immediately puts the ball into the penalty area for Jimenez. The striker almost turns it home but good defending from Matip saves a goal.

23' Alexander-Arnold takes an outswinging corner for Liverpool looking for Konate but Gomes beats his opponent to the ball.

21' Good news for Wolves as Neves comes back onto the pitch to try and run off the earlier ankle injury, as Ait-Nouri wins a free-kick from an overzealous Henderson.

20' Play is stopped for Neves, who remains down on the pitch receiving treatment after an awkward tackle from Nunez. The Portugal international is deep in conversation with the medical staff, while the coaches on the touchline await word of the situation.

19' Salah cuts inside from the right in trademark fashion and looks to have a shot which deflects off Neves, taking it up into the air. Nunez attempts an audacious overhead kick, but it's Collins who gets to the ball first to clear it away.

17' Alexander-Arnold receives a powered pass from Thiago and plays it forward for Salah, who does not expect the service as it rolls beyond him and into the arms of Sarkic.

15' A Matip mistake inside his own penalty area almost allows Guedes to steal possession eight yards from goal, but the forward sends it beyond the byline during his attempt to win back the ball.

13' Thiago again looks down the left for the run of Gakpo, but the midfielder's accuracy is lacking as he sends it out for a Wolves throw deep in the visitors' half.

11' Gakpo gets free down the left wing and teases a cross into the penalty area for the run of Nunez, but Collins is first on the scene to make a leaping clearance.

9' Liverpool are not under immediate threat when in possession, with Wolves allowing their opponents to dominate the ball in midfield. Instead of pressing, the visitors are happy to drop back into their shell and wait for a mistake before hitting on the counter.

7' Ait-Nouri takes Wolves' first corner of the match but he puts it well over the head of any team-mate, allowing Alexander-Arnold to gather on the far side.

5' Gakpo has his first shot in a Liverpool kit, receiving Salah's pass to put himself wide before firing a low effort that's gathered by Sarkic.

4' CLOSE! Salah takes it himself and sends it over the wall but misses the target narrowly, putting it just high of the crossbar!

3' A foul on Salah just outside the penalty area gives Liverpool a chance to test Sarkic for the first time today from a set-piece.

1' Liverpool get the match under way from the kick-off!

Wolves opt to make nine changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Aston Villa in the Premier League on January 4. Sarkic replaces Sa in goal while Lembikisa, Gomes and Jonny replace Bueno, Kilman and Semedo respectively in defence. Hodge is selected to play alongside Neves in midfield instead of Matheus Nunes, while Podence and Hwang are dropped for Traore and Ait-Nouri on the wings. The final two alterations are in attack, where Jimenez and Guedes come in for Joao Moutinho and Diego Costa.

Liverpool make four changes to the XI that lined up in the Premier League against Brentford earlier in the week. Robertson replaces Tsimikas at left-back while Matip returns to the side in place of the injured Virgil Van Dijk. Henderson captains the side in midfield, with Elliott dropping to the bench, and there’s a first start for the newly signed Gakpo, who plays ahead of Oxlade-Chamberlain.

WOLVES SUBS: Yerson Mosquera, Max Kilman, Matheus Cunha, Matheus, Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Connor Ronan, Hwang Hee-chan, Hugo Bueno.

WOLVES XI (4-4-2): Matija Sarkic; Dexter Lembikisa, Nathan Collins, Tote Gomes, Jonny; Adama Traore, Ruben Neves, Joseph Hodge, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Raul Jimenez, Goncalo Guedes.

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ben Doak, Joe Gomez, Naby Keita, Nathaniel Phillips, Caoimhin Kelleher, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott.

LIVERPOOL XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson; Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah.

With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!

Wolves have been handed a tough first test in the FA Cup, made to travel to Liverpool in Julen Lopetegui’s first match in the competition. Having not lifted the trophy since 1959-60, the visitors will need to find something special.

Reigning champions Liverpool start their defence of the FA Cup at home against Premier League opposition, with Wolves visiting Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side won the competition for the eighth time in their history last year but they’ll need to perform better than in their last match should they wish to proceed past the third round, after losing 3-1 to Brentford in the Premier League five days ago.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the FA Cup third-round fixture between Liverpool and Wolves!

Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Commentary, 2023/01/07

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