Liverpool 1-2 Wolves: FA Cup fourth round as it happened
Kick-off: 12:30pm
- Goals from Richard Stearman and Andreas Weimann gave Wolves a first-half lead.
- Divock Origi pulled one back in final five minutes but Paul Lambert's side held on.
- Liverpool suffer third consecutive home defeat after their shock loss to Swansea City and their EFL Cup semi-final loss to Southampton.
Wolves have another! What a superb counter attack from the Championship side. Again, it comes from a Liverpool corner, with Costa freed to race towards the heart of Liverpool's defence before shrugging off a challenge from Moreno to thread a ball across for Weimann, who is racing into the box unmarked. His first touch is perfect, nicking the ball away from Karius, allowing him to roll the ball into an empty net.
What do we put Liverpool's alarming slump in form down to, then? Joel Matip's absence at the start of the year didn't help, made all the more confusing by the incident that saw him temporarily barred from playing thanks to a club vs country row with Cameroon.
Or how about Philippe Coutinho's absence? While the Brazil international has been involved in the first-team in the last five matches, a six-and-a-half week layoff with an ankle injury means he is not yet firing on all cylinders.
Or perhaps it is the big Sadio Mane-shaped hole in attack. With Senegal qualified for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool could be without the former Southampton star for three more games - including a huge clash with Chelsea next Tuesday.
You might recall Ben Woodburn making Liverpool history earlier this season. Back in November, the 17-year-old helped his side to a 2-0 win over Leeds United in the EFL Cup, breaking Michael Owen's record in becoming the club's youngest ever goal scorer in the process.
Jurgen Klopp has again opted to look to sprinkle his side with some youth this afternoon. 21-year-old Connor Randall comes in at right-back with 19-year-old Joe Gomez shifting across to centre-half. Ovie Ejaria, 19, starts in midfield with perhaps the most promising of them all in 17-year-old Ben Woodburn joining in attack.
Jurgen Klopp has made nine changes to the side that lost to Southampton on Wednesday. Only Loris Karius and Roberto Firmino retain their places, with Daniel Sturridge paying the price for another disappointing performance with Divock Orihi replacing him in attack.
Conor Randall comes in at right-back in place for Trent Alexander-Arnold while Joe Gomez, who signed a new long-term deal on Friday, slots in at centre-half. There is also a start for 17-year-old Ben Woodburn.
Liverpool have undoubtedly been shaken this week and Wolves have every intention of rocking the boat even more this afternoon. Paul Lambert said this week:
We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. We go up against a great team and a great club, with the history and everything attached to it. But in one given game, you can win. Whatever eleven I put on the pitch ... we'll be ready. We'll be competitive and we'll be trying to win.
Team news: Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has no new injury concerns to contend with and could also be boosted by the return of Nathaniel Clyne. The right-back sustained a rib/abdominal problem during the first-leg loss at Southampton earlier this month and was later ruled out of both the 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester United. He returned to play the entirety of a shock home defeat by Swansea City but dropped out again against Saints mid-week. The 18-year-old academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold has deputised well in his absence.
Team news: Liverpool
Adam Lallana is expected to miss out this afternoon. The England midfielder featured for the full 90 minutes of the EFL Cup semi-final second-leg defeat to Southampton at Anfield earlier this week, but required treatment during the latter period after sustaining a gash to his thigh.
After back-to-back home defeats, the mood at Liverpool is slightly more negative than this time last month. That defeat to Swansea City and their EFL Cup semi-final elimination at the hands of Southampton has marked a thoroughly miserable week for Jurgen Klopp; some respite is needed this afternoon.
The Liverpool is expected to name a stronger side than the ones fielded against Plymouth Argyle.
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