ANDREW BENNETT REPORTS ON WOLVES TRIP TO LIVERPOOL IN THE FA CUP
Robbery in Liverpool!
FA Cup round 3 is not over for Wolves who will have to play a replay to decide who makes the next round. To quote BBC ‘Wolves held Liverpool’ despite having a valid goal disallowed and for large parts dominating with many fringe players. A great Saturday night showing how Julien Lopetegui is getting his message across and the boys are going to fight for the rest of this season.
The teams:
Wolves: Sarkic – Jonny, Toti, Collins, Lembikisa – Neves, Hodge, Adama, Ait Nouri – Guedes, Raul.
Liverpool: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson – Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson – Gakpo, Salah, Nunez.
FIRST HALF
Simply based on the starting line ups the game commenced as you would imagine, domination of the ball by Liverpool’s first team facing off a side in Wolverhampton Wanderers who came to Anfield making 9 changes. Within a couple of minutes Salah earned his side a free kick which he blasted into the Anfield Road end. Despite Liverpool’s possession and seeming control they couldn’t break us down. A shout out to young Lembikisa who was keeping Liverpool’s debutant and World Cup star Cody Gakpo quiet.
Our only chance of note in the first 15 minutes was from a Matip mistake who passed the ball to Guedes who from a tight angle shot wide. This was the beginning of Wolves coming into the half and frustrating our hosts who seemed particularly vulnerable on the counter attack with Ait Nouri and Adama’s pace. Wolves came close from Raul who couldn’t get the right purchase on a shot from an Adama cross to the near post.
Then on 26 minutes pure jubilation in the away end, Raul put the pressure on Thiago who passed it back to Allison who then directed a pass towards Trent Alexander-Arnold to find Guedes in the path of the ball to easily tap home from under 10 yards.
This goal sparked a real swing in momentum, Wolves high pressure and Ruben Neves excellence formed another few chances and much more of the ball for the visitors. Chances came from a long range shot from Guedes and Adama bursting down the right putting a beautiful ball across the box that no one sadly made contact with. If anyone was to score another goal at this point it only looked likely from the Visitors. Of course with this said on the stroke of half time, a beautiful ball across the box from Alexander-Arnold found Nunez who slid the ball home. An equalising goal from nothing after Collins lost the ball and Lembikisa lost his man at the back post.
SECOND HALF
This half began with really not a lot happening until Salah found the ball in the box and easily slotted home. The ball landed on him after Toti misjudged a header. This goal asks questions to the rules of offside as Salah was offside when the ball was played and if Toti left it the ball would’ve fallen to Salah, then Toti misjudged his header the ball drops to Salah. Begs the question how the attacker should benefit in this scenario.
Wolves almost quickly equalised when Ait Nouri was put through on goal, his shot straight at Allison was easily saved. A few moments later Raul had a shot blocked after a good run, we had options available and should’ve played the ball through over taking the shot. Then the subs started coming, Nunes, Cunha and Hwang coming on for Wolves to replace Neves, Guedes and Raul. A few moments later a one-two between Hwang and Cunha brought Wolves level with Hwang scoring through Alison’s legs.
Wolves then started as they did in the first half to put on more pressure. The main moment of discussion came when on the 80th minute, the linesman ruled out a goal from Toti which came from a corner. Upon review it appears the goal was disallowed after VAR couldn’t find the accurate angle to prove an offside. Replays show in all phases of play we were onside. The shocking officials performance continued a few moments later, when Cunha was pushed on the edge of the box and no foul was given.
The game entered 5 minutes of additional time and petered out with nothing much of note happened, with the exception of being totally baffled how Wolves didn’t leave with a victory. Liverpool will now have to return to Molinuex for a 3rd round replay.
ARTICLE BY ANDREW BENNETT
From my first Wolves match against Chelsea in 2003 I fell in love with the team and matchday experience. I work in digital marketing and have lived in Germany and Estonia over the past few years, this doesn’t stop me following Wolves and ensuring all my international friends become invested to the Wolf pack. I enjoy football, board games, a pint and travelling always excited to try new things. You will find me in the north bank on a matchday.