Klopp renews calls to scrap FA Cup replays after Liverpool's draw with Wolves

Reds face a third-round replay after Saturday's 2-2 draw at Anfield

LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson 5 - A calamitous error gifted an early goal to Wolves, which provided the visitors an injection of confidence to get something from the game. EPA

Andrew Robertson 6 - Brighter in the second half after allowing too much space to Adama Traore early on. AFP

Ibrahima Konate 7 - Liverpool’s best defender on the day as Konate put aside a poor display at Brentford. Reuters

Joel Matip 5 - Normally assured at bringing the ball out from the back, but his decision-making was poor against Wolves, with too many passes misplaced. Almost cost his team a goal when giving away possession in his own box. AFP

Trent Alexander-Arnold 8 - Excellent going forward as one of Liverpool’s main outlets, with a pass to Nunez for the first goal that defined his overall performance. Defended well in isolation. AP

Fabinho 6 - Positioned himself astutely to deal with the danger while also showing aggression when pressing. Reuters

Thiago 6 - Not at his best. The midfielder needed time to grow into the game after giving the ball away on a number of occasions. Poor play in the build-up to the opener saw him give away possession before Alisson’s mistake. Getty

Jordan Henderson 6 - Faded out of the game after a bright start and was eventually replaced. Getty

Cody Gakpo 6 - Positive signs from his debut. Involved in Liverpool’s second goal with a pass that was helped onto Salah. AP

Darwin Nunez 7 - An expert finish allowed Nunez to secure the equaliser for Liverpool after Alexander-Arnold’s pass. Quietened down in the second half in a physical battle with Nathan Collins. EPA

Mohamed Salah 6 - Decision-making could have been better at times. He did get on the scoresheet through some good fortune before the chance, but Liverpool’s talisman needs to do more. EPA

SUBS: Naby Keita (Henderson 68’) 7 - Allowed Liverpool to find a new gear when introduced, rarely making a wrong decision. EPA

Harvey Elliott (Fabinho 75’) N/R - Didn’t do much when introduced. EPA

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Gakpo 84’) N/R - Came on in place of Gakpo but didn’t have enough time to influence the game. Reuters

Joe Gomez (Alexander-Arnold 85’) N/R - On for Alexander-Arnold for the final five minutes. AFP

Ben Doak (Salah 85’) N/R - Showed confidence but never found himself in promising areas. EPA

WOLVES PLAYER RATINGS: Matija Sarkic 6 - Not much he could have done about either of the goals he conceded on the night. Getty

Jonny Otto 6 - Showed intensity with his defending and tracked runs well from the back. Booked for a foul on Henderson in the second half. AFP

Toti Gomes 5 - A costly error for the second goal allowed Salah to capitalise, even if there were arguments the Egyptian was offside. Perhaps unlucky to have his winner ruled out for offside. PA

Nathan Collins 7 - Brave in the challenge against Nunez and put in a very respectable display in the air, particularly in the second half where he helped keep the Uruguay international quiet. Getty

Dexter Lembikisa 7 - Kept tight to Gakpo and stood up well despite Liverpool targeting his flank. The Reds didn’t enjoy as much success as they hoped for down Lembikisa’s side. PA

Joseph Hodge 7 - The 20-year-old battled well throughout the game and was quick to apply pressure to Thiago. A solid performance from midfield. PA

Ruben Neves 8 - Dictated the play well from the middle of the park and was at the heart of the majority of Wolves’ promising attacks. The Portugal international avoided pressure well on the ball and showed composure in possession, all while demonstrating his excellent passing range. AP

Rayan Ait-Nouri 6 - Bright when given space and attacked directly, though he should have done better with his finish against Alisson. AP

Goncalo Guedes 8 - Dispossessed Matip early on and then did the same by cutting off the angle against Alisson. A bright display. Reuters

Adama Traore 6 - Kept wide and impressed with his delivery into the box. Unlucky not to pick up an assist when flashing a ball across the box in the 38th minute, but quiet after the restart. Getty

Raul Jimenez 6 - Worked hard but struggled against Konate at times. His runs helped create space for players around him. PA

SUBS: Matheus Nunes (Jimenez 63’) 6 - Gave away the ball in needless moments, and looked to be the player adjudged to be offside in what could have been the winning goal. Getty

Matheus Cunha (Neves 63’) 5 - Quiet when introduced. Reuters

Hwang Hee-chan (Guedes 63’) 7 - Rewarded for his work ethic with a goal when running directly at the Liverpool defence before continuing his run to get onto the end of a cross. AFP

Nelson Semedo (Lembikisa 68’) 6 - Helped keep Liverpool’s attacks quiet down his side. Stretched play with his pace when looking to break. Reuters

Hugo Bueno (Ait-Nouri 73’) N/R - Rarely had a touch when substituted on, but didn’t make any mistakes defensively. Getty

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reiterated his desire to see FA Cup replays scrapped in favour of extra time and penalties after his side played out a 2-2 draw with Wolves in the third round on Saturday.

Klopp had been asked prior to the match at Anfield about his thoughts on FA Cup replays and said "other solutions" needed to be found to financially support smaller clubs.

The German's comments came after senior figures from the Premier League, English Football League, and Football Association met to discuss the future of the game, which included the future of the League Cup, FA Cup replays and the Community Shield.

The topic of FA Cup replays was again raised with Klopp after Liverpool's draw with Wolves at Anfield, meaning a second third-round match will be played at Molineux.

"The situation is that we could still play extra-time, or a penalty shootout, and the game is decided tonight," Klopp said. "We deserved not more than a draw tonight and whatever the consequences are, in this case it's now an extra game, so that's fine. I have no problem with that.

"Somebody told me that they will talk about it if they scrap [replays] ... there was a discussion, I didn't start the discussion, I got a question and I don’t think we should have them, but I knew we still have them.

"It was clear that we have now to go to Wolves; Wolves are probably in this moment more happy about it than we are, but until then we will be happy enough to give it a go."

A replay might have been avoided if Wolves defender Tito's goal stood to give the visitors a late 3-2 lead, but his goal was ruled out for offside against Matheus Nunes in the build-up. The video assistant referee had no camera angle available to potentially overturn the original offside decision, leaving Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui furious.

Liverpool v Wolves player ratings

Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring Wolverhampton Wanderers' second goal during the FA Cup third round match against Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool on January 7, 2023. AFP

Hwang Hee-chan scores Wolves' second goal against Liverpool. AFP

Mohamed Salah celebrates with Darwin Nunez after scoring Liverpool's second goal against Wolves. EPA

Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal against Wolves. EPA

Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal against Wolves at Anfield. AFP

Goncalo Guedes celebrates scoring Wolves' first goal against Liverpool. Reuters

Goncalo Guedes celebrates with teammates after scoring Wolves' first goal against Liverpool. Getty

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts after his error led to Wolves' first goal. AFP

Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring during the equalising goal against Wolves. EPA

Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Wolves. EPA

Liverpool players celebrate with Darwin Nunez after his equalising goal. EPA

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui speaks with referee Andrew Madley after the game. PA

And Klopp admitted he thought the goal might have stood, saying: "On the pitch I couldn’t see it, so I had no idea. For me, I thought it's a goal. It was the player in the left corner who might have been offside.

"We have one angle, which I saw in the dressing room, where it could be offside but I would not swear on it, or however you say that, but it could be. But I think this angle the VAR didn't have, if I'm right, that’s what I heard.

"I don’t know how these things can happen, but it happened. So, I understand the frustration of Wolves because you want to have the right decision in these moments."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes FA Cup replays should be replaced with extra time and penalties. AFP