Klopp’s ploy fails in FA Cup
WOLVERHAMPTON: Premier League leader Liverpool paid the price for fielding a weakened side as it was knocked out in the third round of the FA Cup following a 21 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday
The Merseysiders fell behind to a Raul Jimenez goal on the break in the 38th minute, the Mexican firing home confidently after Diogo Jota robbed James Milner.
Belgian forward Divock Origi brought Liverpool, seven times a winner of the FA Cup, level in the 51st minute with a wellplaced effort from the edge of the area.
But Wolves scored the winner four minutes later, when Ruben Neves struck a superb low drive from 28m out.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp fielded a muchchanged lineup, including two teenage debutants in midfielder Curtis Jones and fullback Rafael Camacho.
The lineup was further weakened in the sixth minute when central defender Dejan Lovren had to go off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by 16yearold Dutchman KiJana Hoever.
Clearly disappointed with Lovren’s injury, especially given he had two other central defenders, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, sidelined, Klopp said: ‘‘I am not sure what you all would have said if immediately from the beginning if our centrehalf situation was Fabinho and KiJana; then probably a few very smart people would tell me that I don’t respect the competition or whatever.’’
Xherdan Shaqiri went close to an equaliser for Liverpool in the 69th minute but his curling freekick was pushed on to the post superbly by Wolves keeper John Ruddy. A minute later Klopp brought on Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah but Wolves held firm and maintained the lead.
The reward for Wolves is a fourthround tie against the winner of the replay between Shrewsbury Town and Stoke City.
Wolves’ Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted with the way his team, ninth in the Premier League, had handled Liverpool.
‘‘I am very pleased. The team performed very well in a tough game. We took our chances,’’ he said.