LONDON — Defender Andy Robertson was the unlikely architect of Liverpool’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Wolves which eased some of the pressure on head coach Arne Slot.
The Scotland captain broke the deadlock with his first goal since September and then crossed for Mohamed Salah to score on this ground for the second time in four days, all within the space of three second-half minutes.
Curtis Jones extinguished the hosts’ hopes by curling home a low shot from the edge of the area as the 2022 winners cruised into the quarter-finals for only the fourth time since reaching the final in 2012.
After Tuesday’s dreadful Premier League defeat here, the visitors – and Slot in particular – could not afford any more damage and were deserved winners.
Seventeen-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha made the most of a rare start with a man-of-the-match performance ahead of Robertson but it was the veteran left-back who produced the game-changing moments.
The defender, who next week turns 32, proved he still has plenty to offer the team but with the status of his expiring contract remaining unresolved there may be a dwindling number of opportunities for him to contribute having been relegated to second-choice by Milos Kerkez.
Ngumoha would benefit hugely from having such experience behind him as he continues his rapid development but, with Liverpool potentially looking at options for the left wing, that may be of less importance to the Reds hierarchy.
The youngster departed in the 69th minute – replaced by £116million summer signing Florian Wirtz who was back from injury – having been a constant problem for Wolves’ right-sided wing-back Jackson Tchatchoua, who at times in the first half doubled up with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to maintain their block in deeper positions.
Wolves boss Rob Edwards made six changes, including goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, from Tuesday’s win but the intent to frustrate and capitalise on the break remained the same.
Liverpool, who made four changes, was criticised for being slow in the first half in midweek and the players obviously got the message.
Twice in the first minute they picked out Ngumoha, making only his fifth start, as they tried to utilise his pace and for the majority of the half it was he and not Salah who saw the most ball.
Cody Gakpo headed against the post but was flagged offside, Johnstone saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Ngumoha and Joe Gomez drove wide from a deflected Ngumoha shot as they pinned back their hosts without actually opening then up as the half-finished goalless.
Five minutes into the second half, Santiago Bueno stabbed a rare near-post shot wide but soon after Liverpool took the lead.
Ngumoha picked up a loose ball deep in his own half and it was moved left to right through Gakpo and Salah before coming back to the left where Robertson had joined the attack and he let fly from 20 yards to beat Johnstone.
