Match reportLiverpool earn FA Cup quarter-final spot thanks to victory at Wolves

Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones were all on target for the Reds at Molineux.

The first two goals came in the space of two minutes early in the second half, with Robertson producing a stunning drive to open the scoring ahead of setting up Salah’s close-range finish.

Jones then added a third with a little more than 15 minutes remaining thanks to a well-placed strike.

Substitute Hee Chan Hwang netted a consolation for the hosts in added time.

Team

Arne Slot made four changes to Liverpool’s starting line-up. Joe Gomez and Robertson came into defence, while Jones and Rio Ngumoha were also selected.

Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, was named among the substitutes following a back issue.

Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate were the players to drop to the bench.

Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk (Konate, 81), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Nyoni, 82), Salah (Frimpong, 69), Jones, Gakpo (Morrison, 86), Robertson, Gravenberch, Ngumoha (Wirtz, 69).

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Chiesa, Ekitike.

First half

The opening exchanges were dominated by Liverpool in terms of possession, pinning the hosts back to work several chances.

None, though, were able to break the early deadlock between the two teams.

Cody Gakpo first struck the inside of the post with a header from a Ryan Gravenberch cross; however, the offside flag was raised following the short-corner routine.

Alexis Mac Allister had a driven effort well held by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone from the edge of the area, while Ngumoha also forced a low save after working a low shot from the flank.

Three Gravenberch attempts in quick succession from in and around the box were saved and deflected past the woodwork, before Gomez dragged a shot from distance wide of the mark.

Johnstone was forced into action once more following a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick being blocked, with Gravenberch’s resulting strike saved, while Mac Allister also saw a driven chance fly past the post.

Second half

Liverpool began on the front foot following the break and after eight minutes of play had earned a two-goal advantage.

The Reds broke quickly after a Wolves attack with Salah holding the ball up to lay a pass to Jones, who then found Robertson on the edge of the box.

The full-back took a touch to settle himself ahead of rifling a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

It took Liverpool just two minutes to add to the scoreline via Salah.

The forward hammered home at the back post from Robertson’s low ball, though the offside flag initially denied his effort.

Following a check by VAR, the goal was given with Salah deemed to be behind the ball when the cross was struck from the left flank.

Wolves responded by forcing Alisson Becker into his first save of the night, a dipping shot from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde down to his right side.

Ngumoha again proved to be a nuisance for the home defence, twice going close, first working another halt from Johnstone, before hitting the side-netting with a low drive.

In minute 74, Liverpool had their third goal of the evening and with it passage into the next round of the competition.

Jones drove forward to the edge of the area from midfield to place a shot into the bottom corner of the net in impressive fashion.

There was still time for substitute Frimpong to almost get on the scoresheet himself with a drive that was met by the hands of Johnstone during another swift break from Liverpool.

Another substitute in Konate could have scored too from a Gravenberch cross in the search for a fourth, but the ball was just behind the advancing defender in the box.

In the first minute of added time, Hwang pulled a goal back for the home side, latching on to a deep ball forward to lift an effort past Alisson in the last of the meaningful action.