WOLVERHAMPTON, England — Suddenly, it appeared as though Liverpool had reverted to their former self. Andy Robertson celebrated by raising his fist in the air while Mohamed Salah was surrounded by his ecstatic teammates.
This was a familiar scene for the duo, who had just linked up to net their second goal on Friday night at Molineux Stadium, steering their team toward a confidence-boosting 3-1 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The away supporters enthusiastically sang praises for two of their contemporary legends, reminiscent of reviving an old favorite song.
Both Robertson and Salah have not been at their exceptional best this season, with Salah’s performance in particular contributing to Liverpool’s overall struggles. However, on a night when Arne Slot’s team needed to perform, it was fitting that two of their most esteemed players rose to the occasion. With this victory, Liverpool became the first team to secure a place in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
It was not only the players that brought back memories of Liverpool’s glorious past but also the way they scored their goals. Having faced criticism throughout the season for their lack of speed and dynamism, it was evident that the Reds’ second-half breakthrough stemmed from two rapid counterattacks—executed brilliantly by Robertson and Salah before Curtis Jones sealed the win with an impressive solo effort.
The fact that Liverpool’s first two goals came within 95 seconds of each other underscored the idea that Slot’s squad performs best when they unleash their attacking potential. For the second time in just 72 hours, Wolves scored in stoppage time; however, unlike Tuesday night when André’s late goal secured victory for the hosts, Hwang Hee-Chan’s goal was merely a consolation.
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After suffering another disappointing late defeat in midweek Premier League action—also against Wolves at Molineux—the FA Cup provided Liverpool an opportunity to quickly rectify their mistakes and help silence the criticism that has arisen following each poor result this season.
However, despite Wolves manager Rob Edwards suggesting that his team’s Premier League victory might have made Liverpool “angry,” there was little indication of anything beyond mild frustration in the first half on Friday night.
While Liverpool displayed more energy and intensity than in their previous match, they still found it challenging to create clear opportunities against a Wolves side content to absorb the pressure. Slot’s choice to start the talented Rio Ngumoha added extra momentum on the flanks, with the 17-year-old forcing an early smart save from Sam Johnstone and consistently troubling the opposing defenders.
Nevertheless, the reliance on the teenager as their main creative outlet reflected the overall stagnation of their play, with the visiting Reds generating a first-half expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.44.
Liverpool significantly outperformed their rivals in nearly every aspect—Wolves did not register a single shot before halftime—but still had nothing to show for it at the break. As the whistle blew for halftime, Slot may have begun to worry it would be another case of the same old story for his team.
Robertson, however, seemed determined to ensure that history did not repeat itself. Having observed most of Tuesday’s match from the bench, the Scotland captain criticized Liverpool’s performance, asserting that the level of play “wasn’t good enough.”
“You don’t win many football matches playing the way we did,” Robertson told BBC Sport prior to Friday’s match in the West Midlands. “I think we probably brought intensity into the game a bit too late.”
Seemingly resolved to prevent his team from falling into the same trap, Robertson took action when the ball came to him at the edge of the penalty area, curling a magnificent shot past a helpless Johnstone. Barely more than a minute after the restart, the Scotsman took charge again, sprinting down the left wing to deliver a typically dangerous cross into the penalty area.
Salah was positioned to finish from close range, marking his 254th Liverpool goal and putting the Reds in a commanding position. Curtis Jones confirmed the result when he advanced to the edge of the 18-yard box and curled a superb shot into the bottom corner, prompting the traveling Liverpool fans to erupt in a chant of: “We’re going to Wembley.”
Their celebrations were still ongoing when Robertson—the last Liverpool player to exit the pitch—wrapped up his post-match media obligations. Having been linked with a potential move away from the club in January, it was evident that the defender—whose contract expires in the summer—enjoyed the opportunity to relive past glories and lead his team to a victory that could prove crucial in their pursuit of a successful conclusion to the season.
“He loves the club and he loves to play in front of these fans,” Slot remarked about the defender in his post-match press conference. “These fans were again amazing, especially just three days after they were so disappointed. Like us, they had to come back on a Friday evening here. I don’t know if they were all the same, but there were definitely more because in the FA Cup you have even more away fans.
“Robbo has, in the one-and-a-half years that I’ve been here, given his all for the club. I think the fans will tell me that it’s not just one-and-a-half years he has done this. He has done this for all the years that he’s been here.”
Robertson’s performance against Wolves provided a glimpse of the old Liverpool. If he—and the rest of his teammates—can replicate those standards in the upcoming months, Slot’s team could still salvage something from this unpredictable campaign.
