Share and Follow
Following a disappointing performance, Liverpool offered an apology of sorts with their latest showing. Their first trip to the Black Country this week left them in shadows, but their second journey finally brought some brightness.
Although it’s wise not to overstate the significance of their comfortable victory at Molineux, which advanced Liverpool to the FA Cup quarter-finals for only the third time in 11 years, the relief of avoiding back-to-back losses to Wolverhampton in a mere 72 hours was evident among the Reds.
Arne Slot hasn’t enjoyed many easy nights this uneven season, but this win was a welcomed exception. Liverpool dismantled their lesser opponents with the efficiency and professionalism that their lineup promised.
Andrew Robertson, an avid golfer, struck a left-footed shot in the 52nd minute with the precision of a well-executed drive, sending the ball soaring down the fairway. His intense expression, as his teammates celebrated, spoke volumes about the emotions behind the shot.
Robertson also played a key role in the crucial second goal, delivering a pass across the six-yard box that Mohamed Salah hammered into the net. Although there was an inexplicable 90-second VAR delay to confirm the goal’s validity, the correct decision was ultimately made.
Andrew Robertson scored a superb opener to help Liverpool beat Wolves 3-1 in the FA Cup
Robertson has struggled with a lack of minutes this season and there seemed to be some anger behind the strike
The full back quickly turned provider for Mohamed Salah to double Liverpool’s advantage
As did Liverpool. Losing once at this stadium was careless in the extreme, to lose twice in such short proximity would have been a calamity but on they march, trundling forward in the competition that offers their most realistic chance of success. You suspect, quietly, they will fancy it, too.
When they play as they did in the second period, when the passes ping and the interchanging is like the cogs of a clock, you wonder why it has been such a difficult watch at times but then you think of what happened on Tuesday – and in the opening 45 minutes – and it all becomes apparent.
Back at the scene of the crime, there was never any doubt that Liverpool were going to be reminded of what happened and the persistent chanting of “2-1 to the Championship!” from Molineux’s South Bank was nothing more than salt being rubbed into wounds.
There had, inevitably, been much talk about this being a perfect fixture for Liverpool to get that experience out of their system but what was it based on? For so much of this campaign, the team has been like an out of frequency radio, occasionally sounding right but so often jumpy.
Wolves, absolutely, had it within them to capitalise. Nothing about how they have played since Rob Edwards has arrived would make you think they were the worst team in the Premier League and, in so many ways, this was a free hit for them. What did they have to lose?
Quickly, though, it became apparent this wouldn’t be a free-flowing dust up. Wolves were intent on doing as they had done three days earlier – a narrow block, in three clear lines, limiting space – and Liverpool don’t have the options out wide to stretch opponents.
The more you watch, the more you wonder why they didn’t push harder to be in the conversation for Antoine Semenyo. Yes, Liverpool have their policy and structure and Semenyo, at 26, isn’t in their ideal profile age bracket for a target but he would have been an ideal signing.
None of this mattered here. Liverpool had to find a way through and Slot, after much clamour, gave Rio Ngumoha the start many wanted to see and it was he, after a jinking run and a step inside, who had the first shot of the game in the 10th minute, one beaten away by Sam Johnstone.
Curtis Jones added a third for Liverpool to help them banish the demons of losing to Wolves in midweek
Salah has now scored in successive matches, while the victory eased pressure on Slot
Hwang Hee-Chan grabbed a consolation goal for Wolves in stoppage time at Molineux
Ngumoha, with his youth and vibrancy, finds a crackle accompanying his every move on a pitch. Things seem to happen when he is introduced from the bench and he has the trait all defenders hate, a stepover followed by a dart to the left or the right.
He would grow into the game and it was fitting that he would start the five man move, after the break, that saw Cody Gakpo find Salah, who in turn ushered the ball onto Curtis Jones before teeing up Robertson for a good, old thwack. It was a goal from the moment it left his boot.
With their confidence up, Liverpool went hunting for more. Again Ngumoha invited Robertson to overlap, he saw an old pal at the back post and now Salah has two goals in his last two games and you wonder if the flood gates have opened for him.
Perhaps we will only truly get a reflection of that when Liverpool travel to Galatasaray next week for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie but at least they go there with their tails up, the gloss being provided by a fine finish from Jones only for Hwang Hee-Chan to grab a late consolation.
It was the same end, almost at the same time, as Andre’s killer blow on Tuesday but this didn’t have any implication. For that Slot can be thankful.