Reds pay huge FA Cup price

WOLVERHAMPTON — Liverpool paid the price for naming a second-string side, that included three teenagers at Molineux, as Jurgen Klopp’s men crashed out of the FA Cup after a 1-2 defeat on Monday night.

Goals from Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves either side of half-time sent the hosts into round four despite Divock Origi’s fine strike briefly bringing Liverpool level after the break.

Fresh from a first English Premier League defeat of the season to Manchester City in a thrilling top-of the-table Premier League clash on Thursday, Klopp made nine changes to his starting line-up.

Only James Milner and Dejan Lovren retained their places, but Lovren limped off after just six minutes and was replaced by 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever.

Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones were also handed debuts, however it was Liverpool’s most experienced player, Milner, who was at fault for the opening goal. Diogo Jota caught the former England international in possession in midfield and put Jimenez clean through before Fabinho could intercept.

The Mexican steadied himself before firing low past Simon Mignolet for his seventh goal of the season with the only notable chance of the first-half.

Without Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, Liverpool were struggling to get any momentum going forward.

But the visitors were level out of nothing when Origi collected a loose ball on the edge of the area six minutes into the second period and smashed the ball high past John Ruddy.

Wolves, though, have made a habit of upsetting the Premier League’s established top six in their first season back in the top flight.

After beating Chelsea and Tottenham and holding City, Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League, Liverpool can now be added to the list of scalps for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side thanks to a wonder strike from Neves.

The Portuguese international took aim from 30 yards out but had too much power and accuracy for Mignolet to find the bottom corner.

Only a wonder save from Ruddy denied Xherdan Shaqiri a stunning equaliser and Liverpool a replay as the Swiss’s free-kick was touched onto the inside of the post by the Wolves goalkeeper.

Klopp had a final roll of the dice by throwing on Salah and Firmino for the final 20 minutes.

But even their firepower failed to spark a fightback and Klopp’s team selection will now be seriously questioned. With Liverpool already out of the League Cup, the German coach will need to deliver a first top-flight title in 29 years or the Champions League to avoid ending a fourth season in charge without winning a trophy.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will host Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup, with West Ham handed a trip to League One side AFC Wimbledon. With 25 FA Cup titles between them, old foes Arsenal and Manchester United will face off at the Emirates, with a potential shock in the air between London rivals Wimbledon and West Ham.

Barnet, the only non-league team in the last 32, were drawn at home to second-tier Brentford, while Leicester’s conquerors Newport face a trip to Middlesbrough.

FA Cup fourth round fixtures

Swansea City vs Gillingham AFC Wimbledon vs West Ham Shrewsbury or Stoke vs Wolves Millwall vs Everton Brighton vs West Brom Bristol City vs Bolton Accrington v Derby or Southampton Doncaster vs Oldham Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday or Luton Newcastle or Blackburn vs Watford Middlesbrough vs Newport Manchester City vs Burnley Barnet vs Brentford Portsmouth vs QPR Arsenal vs Manchester United Crystal Palace vs Tottenham. — AFP