Was this a night to wake Liverpool from their New Year slumber? It’s been a season of struggle for the men from Anfield, but they gave themselves a much-needed confidence boost here, beating Wolves 1-0 at Molineux to secure their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Harvey Elliott’s first-half strike - and what a strike it was too - gave Jurgen Klopp’s side the win they craved, with a new-look line up producing a performance that was unrecognisable from recent ones at Brentford and Brighton, and indeed in the initial tie between these sides at Anfield 10 days ago.
There were strong performances from the youngsters, with Elliott the match-winner and 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic outstanding at the base of the Reds’ midfield. At the other end of the scale, the veteran James Milner shone as a makeshift right-back, while the class and composure of Thiago Alcantara was there for all to see.
The win sets up a return to Brighton, where Liverpool were well beaten in the Premier League last weekend, in the fourth round, but Klopp will have been more pleased to see his team press, chase and pass the ball like he has been demanding them to. He asked for a reaction after the Amex debacle, and he got one here.
GOAL runs through the winners and losers from Molineux…