Wolves send Liverpool packing

A makeshift Liverpool team containing three teenagers making their senior debuts was beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup, with a strike by Ruben Neves sealing the win.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp left star forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino on the bench until the 70th minute, and they failed to have an impact after coming on at Molineux in Wolverhampton.

Wolves went in front through Raul Jimenez in the 38th minute after James Milner lost possession in central midfield, but Liverpool equalised when Divock Origi scored from the edge of the area in the 51st.

Neves regained the lead for Wolves four minutes later, striking a low and fierce shot inside the near post past the initially unsighted Simon Mignolet.

Klopp started midfielders Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones – aged 18 and 17 respectively – and sent on another debutant in Dutchman Ki-Jana Hoever, in the sixth minute after centre-back Dejan Lovren sustained a hamstring injury.

Hoever, at 16 years and 354 days, became the youngest Liverpool player in FA Cup history and the third-youngest to make a senior appearance for the team.

Klopp said he had hoped to field a stronger side, but injuries to Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana forced him to make more changed than planned and he denied suggestions his team selection was disrespectful to the FA Cup itself.

‘‘I need to make sure I say the right words ... I don’t want headlines,’’ he said.

‘‘You all want this number of games, we have played them all so far and been successful, today we lost. That’s the story.’’