Liverpool conceded in injury time again, but thankfully, being three up, it mattered little. Second-half goals from Andy Robertson, Mo Salah and Curtis Jones were more than enough to see Arne Slot’s men through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, in a game in which 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha was outstanding.
Liverpool fans quite rightly got what they wanted at Molineux following the debacle of Tuesday night. Slot, having heard the clarion calls for changes, finally gave Rio a start, and from the outset, he was Liverpool’s best player. With an exciting ability to go either way past his defender, he was positive, impactful, and constantly trying to make something happen. Frankly, it was just as well, as in the first half, though Liverpool were dominant, they produced little. They were wasteful in open play, wasteful with corner after corner, and still not moving either the ball or themselves quickly enough.
With Hugo Ekitike and Ibou Konate left on the bench and Gakpo playing down the middle, the changes certainly led to improvement, but it took a special strike from the superb Robertson to break the deadlock. A stunning low drive from the edge of the penalty box came just a minute before he provided an assist for Salah. Two up and playing with more confidence, Jones then settled the tie on 74 minutes with an assured left-foot finish to the keeper’s right.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Liverpool without a late goal, and typical of this season, they conceded in injury time. Dominik Szoboszlai, playing at right-back, was unable to cut out a long punt upfield, and Chan scored with some ease past Alisson Becker.
So a clean sheet eluded Slot and his players, but a victory in the first of three potentially season-defining games was perhaps critical. Slot certainly looked relieved at the final whistle, and he will no doubt have already turned his attention to a difficult journey to Galatasaray on Tuesday in the Champions League before facing Spurs at Anfield a week on Sunday.
