Liverpool are still waiting for their first win of 2023 and are lucky to still be even in this competition after a disappointing 2-2 home draw against Wolves.
The offside rule was implemented perhaps detrimentally to the away side in the third round and the game goes to this replay at Molineux.
Champions League group stage apart, the reds are enduring a poor season and the weekend's display away at Brighton was one of the worst in recent memory - a team not only lacking in quality but even worse, lacking in effort.
Jurgen Klopp has already indicated there could be some changes afoot in the summer but Liverpool need an urgent response on the pitch and tonight would be a decent time to start.
Although the prize for the winners of tonight's clash is an away game against Brighton in the 4th round.
Here's how the game unfolded.
As it happened...
Liverpool have an excellent recent record against Wolves in the Premier League, winning the last 8 home and away.
However, even when the reds were approaching their peak in 2019 they did lose in the FA Cup 3rd round away at Wolves.
Liverpool have actually lost 5 of the 7 ties so far they have had against Wolves in the competition - a definite bogey team in this competition.
The reds boss was clearly disappointed after the Brighton defeat and admits it won't be too hard to improve on that performance.
The good thing about a long career – what I obviously had – is it's not the first time that I'm in a situation like that, I'm sorry to say that but it's the truth. When things don't go well, the players look different, the view on us is different all of a sudden, people start discussing – it's completely normal.
But in the end, I said it before, these are football problems and you sort them with football. And to play better football than we did at Brighton should not be that difficult. That's the first step. We have to be compact, we have to defend.
We have to be more compact – not only tomorrow – and that's 100 per cent clear. All the success in football starts with solid defending and that's what we have to do.
Team news incoming...
Liverpool make a whopping EIGHT changes for this game.
Kelleher, Milner, Gomez, Konate, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Thiago, Keita, Elliott, Carvalho, Gakpo.
Subs: Alisson, Fabinho, Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Robertson, Matip, Phillips, Doak.
Wolves have selected a strong team. Just two changes from the side that should have won at Anfield 10 days ago.
Sa, Lembikisa, Collins, Toti, Jonny, Neves, Hodge, Moutinho, Adama, Ait-Nouri, Jimenez.
Subs: Sarkic, Bueno, Semedo, Kilman, Podence, Nunes, Hwang, Cunha, Costa.
Teams are out.
This is going to be a huge test for a second string Liverpool side.
We are underway at Molineux.
1' Pitch just went completely black due to a floodlight failure. Wolves were on the attack!
They're back on now.
9' A fairly promising move from Liverpool ends when Jose Sa fumbles and then just collects before Carvalho can reach it.
9' Liverpool attempt some gegenpressing and they create a chance, but it's a weak effort from Gakpo.
13' Sensational strike from Elliott. He picks the ball up in his own half - runs towards goal and then unleashes a left footed rocket that lifts over Jose Sa!
Great start from the reds!
Hope this explains it.
Well, we found this taped to the back of the set. As sabotage goes it was quite amusing. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/ikUhBJ38Je
— Gary Lineker ???????? (@GaryLineker) January 17, 2023
16' Tsimikas has a shot that is tipped over.
VAR systems went off with that first minute power cut, but it is now back on.
23' An elaborate training ground free kick routine from Thiago, he lobs it over the wall but its cleared.
Milner sends it back in but Gakpo was offside.
32' Elliott combining well with Gakpo here and the Dutchman has a chance at the corner of the area that is just over the bar.
And now another Liverpool press forces a corner.
36' Carvalho has the ball in the net but he was a good few yards offside.
40' Adama Traore collects a pass, he is powering towards goal but his shot is off target.
43' First name in the book is Adama Traore. It's not the first time he's had a go at Tsimikas. Dragged him down just past the half way line.
A definite improvement from the reds. The kids are doing okay.
HT: Wolves 0-1 Liverpool
Back underway. Can Liverpool hold on or even extend their lead? Or will there be a Wolves fightback?
I'll take option 1, thanks.
Wolves bringing on some more quality at half time.
Nelson Semedo and Matheus Nunes are on. Replacing Lembikisa and Joe Hodge.
51' Wolves corner, not particularly well defended but the reds eventually regain control thanks to a foul on Tsimikas.
56' Good bit of work there by Gakpo collecting from a throw in and holding the ball up well, feeds a nice ball to Carvalho but he sort of gets it stuck under his feet and its cleared.
That was in a very promising position.
57' Thiago Alcantara collects the obligatory yellow card for a foul, right in front of the ref.
63' Keita threads a ball to Gakpo - Jose Sa is out quick to deny him but he was offside in any case.
65' Podence and Cunha on for Jonny Otto and Moutinho.
Three changes.
66' Salah for Gakpo, Curtis Jones for Carvalho and Phillips replaces Milner. Joe Gomez moves to right back.
72' Phillips booked for a foul on the edge of the area. Not sure he even made contact.
Dangerous position now for a free kick.
Neves free kick just over the crossbar.
75' Bajcetic suffering from cramp so Fabinho replaces him. Thiago replaced by 17 year old Ben Doak.
79' Adama Traore crosses, Jimenez heads but only heads it on to Gomez' head.
83' Into the final 10 minutes. Wolves going for it now. Can Liverpool get their first clean sheet in 8 games?
Diego Costa coming on.
84' Diego Costa replaces Jiminez.
Seems a long time ago in this game.
You dream of scoring ones like this ✨
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 17, 2023
Harvey Elliott did it in real life! ????#BBCFootball #BBCFACup pic.twitter.com/g6VLCUjNbx
There will be FIVE minutes.
Cunha has a header on target but Kelleher is right behind that.
90+1' Wolves corner.
Joe Gomez for a foul on Podence.
Final free kick here for Wolves. Dangerous spot. 96th minute.
FT: Wolves 0-1 Liverpool
MOTM: Harvey Elliott.
Liverpool are through to the 4th round of the FA Cup.
(How much did you enjoy that?)
Klopp: A lot!
Klopp:
'It's great for the moment. It was the reaction we wanted to see and the boys delivered.'
'(On Elliott) The goal was exceptional. I don't want to make his performance smaller but we had a few man of the matches today.'
Well that was much better. A good hard fought win, and by the end of the game Wolves had a full strength side out while Liverpool had only four regular starters on the pitch.
Liverpool now face Chelsea at home at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime - and on the horizon is a Premier League trip to Wolves. Away.
let’s hope Klopp now realise that Bajcetic is miles better than Fabinho, Elliott/Doak are miles better than Salah and Konate is the cornerstone of the defence. They should be the spine of the new team. Sell Sallah to get a top midfielder in.