Liverpool edge out Wolverhampton in an FA Cup replay courtesy of Harvey Elliott’s stunning goal | FA cup

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Jürgen Klopp got the reaction he demanded and the reward he craved. Liverpool will quickly return to Brighton, who had a humbling Saturday in the Premier League, after fending off a determined but toothless Wolves to secure a fourth round visit to the Amex Stadium.

The Liverpool boss wanted another bite at Brighton simply to show a different face to Roberto De Zerbi and his team after a 3-0 comeback that he described as one of the worst of his coaching career.

He got it thanks to a fine first-half strike from Harvey Elliott, who lit the tie with a powerful 25-yard strike, and a solid display as Wolves pressed for an equalizer throughout the second half.

Julen Lopetegui’s side had extra motivation after being denied victory in the first meeting at Anfield due to a controversial offside decision. They had the drive as well as most of the ball, but not the required finishing touch.

Lopetegui made seven changes to the team that started Saturday’s victory over West Ham, while Klopp made eight changes after Liverpool’s horrific defeat against Brighton.

His rotation was extended up to goalkeeping, with Carabao Cup selection Kaymen Keeler taking the place of Alisson, while Naby Keita made his first start since May in Liverpool’s problematic midfield alongside 18-year-old Stefan Bagcetic and Thiago Alcantara.

Wolves got off to a great start, albeit after floodlights failed as Adama Traoré charged aggressively down the right wing in the first minute. Rayan Ait Nouri skated his cross in the dark. Referee Andre Mariner’s decision to appeal a goal kick to Liverpool did not sit well with Wolverhampton supporters.

The hosts, and Ruben Neves in particular, were looking to release Traore behind Kostas Tsimikas at every opportunity. Their first chance came across the opposite wing when Raul Jimenez sent Ait Nuri wide on the left and, after cutting inside James Milner, the winger’s shot was parried by Joe Gomez.

Wolves’ penalty requests for Gomez’s handball were denied by Mariner and VAR – the ball hit the defender’s elbow from close range – and their mood deteriorated further when Liverpool swept to the top seconds later.

Harvey Elliott lets fly in from distance to score for Liverpool against Wolverhampton. Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters

It was a great finish from Elliott, although Lopetegui was right to ask questions about Wolves’ defense and goalkeeper Jose Sa’s positioning. After receiving the ball from Thiago inside his own half, the 19-year-old advanced into the Wolverhampton area and kept running as the home defense dropped back and called for the midfielder to shoot. Elliott grabbed the call and his effort flew over Sa, who was stranded off his line, into the roof of the net.

Liverpool performed with renewed confidence after the breakthrough. Thiago’s influence increased with Bajcetic, Fábio Carvalho and Elliott providing energy and options around him.

Liverpool nearly doubled their advantage when Carvalho found Tsimikas in space inside the area but the full-back flew inches over the SA crossbar. Carvalho beat the Wolverhampton keeper with a shot from Elliott’s pass but it was reported as offside.

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Elia Adebayo scored the winning goal in injury time as Luton progressed to the fourth round with a 2–1 victory over Wigan.

Extra time was on the cards after Cauley Woodrow quickly canceled out Thelo Aasgaard’s opener in the second half but Adebayo blasted in from close range at the death.

Sam Bell scored a stunning goal nine minutes from the end of extra time for Bristol City to win 2-1 at Swansea. Substitute Robins cut in from the left and former goalkeeper Andy Fisher fired to seal the replay and reward his side with a home draw against West Bromwich Albion. It was the 20-year-old Bale’s first goal for the club.

Mark Sykes’ third goal in two legs had put Bristol City ahead against the run of play with a neat finish on the hour mark, but Swans substitute Ollie Cooper equalized in the 73rd minute, seconds after coming on.

Birmingham made a comeback in the second half to avoid an upset by winning 2-1 at Forest Green. Goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Kevin Long sent Birmingham through to the bottom of League One though after Ben Stephenson’s early goal came into fear.

Accrington’s FA Cup third round replay with Boreham Wood was postponed after inspection deemed the surface “unplayable”.

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Wolves continued to have a lot of possession but never had an advantage. Traore’s shot, cut wide after he walked a Nevis ball over the top, was close enough to the hosts’ side to unnerve Keeler in the first half.

Lopetegui made a double substitution at the break, introducing Matheus Nunes and Nélson Semedo, but the pattern remained the same from his side: promising and patient work fell through in the final third.

Liverpool’s defense deserves credit for eliminating their opponent and isolating Jimenez, but the lack of creativity and quality in Wolves’ attack was also evident. Positioned in space on the edge of the area by the Mexican international, Traore summed up this aspect of the home performance by sending his shot into the top layer.

A mistake by Liverpool substitute Nat Phillips on Jimenez resulted in a dangerous free kick for Neves just outside the penalty area, but his shot cleared Keeler’s obstruction.

Wolves continued to press for a well-deserved equalizer with their dominance in the second half. Neves-Traoré’s run almost paid dividends when the burly winger headed to the sideline and crossed over Kelleher for Jiménez. The centre-forward connected from two yards out but his header hit the back of Gomez’s head and deflected.

Mariner, not the most popular inside Molineux official of all time, awarded a goal kick. It was not the night of the wolves. He was not tied. Liverpool will return to the Amex Stadium with a point to prove.

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