Wolves 1-3 Liverpool: FA Cup 2025-26 match report

A clinical second-half surge

The FA Cup quarter-final tie at Molineux Stadium on Saturday afternoon ended in a 3-1 victory for Liverpool, as Arne Slot’s side dismantled a resilient Wolverhampton Wanderers defensive structure with a blistering four-minute spell early in the second half. While Rob Edwards’ 3-5-1-1 setup succeeded in frustrating the visitors for the opening 45 minutes, the tactical discipline required to contain Liverpool’s fluid 4-2-3-1 ultimately proved unsustainable under the weight of sustained pressure.

The first half was defined by a cautious, attritional battle. Wolves were compact, looking to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm through a congested midfield. Santiago Bueno’s yellow card in the 17th minute underscored the physical demands placed on the home side as they sought to stifle the creative influence of Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones. Despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, Liverpool struggled to find the necessary precision in the final third before the interval, heading into the break with the scores level at 0-0.

The decisive moment

The complexion of the match shifted dramatically shortly after the restart. In the 51st minute, Andrew Robertson broke the deadlock, finishing a move orchestrated by Curtis Jones. The goal appeared to dismantle the Wolves' defensive resolve, as Liverpool doubled their lead just two minutes later. Robertson turned provider, delivering a precise ball for Mohamed Salah, who converted to make it 2-0. A brief VAR review in the 55th minute confirmed the validity of the strike, effectively ending any momentum the hosts had managed to cultivate.

Arne Slot utilized his bench effectively to manage the intensity of the game, introducing fresh legs in the 69th minute as Mohamed Salah and Rio Ngumoha entered the fray. The tactical shift did not slow Liverpool’s attacking output; in the 74th minute, Curtis Jones capped a dominant individual performance by scoring the visitors' third goal, assisted by Ryan Gravenberch.

Wolves attempted to salvage some pride through late substitutions, bringing on Tolu Arokodare and Toti Gomes in an effort to regain a foothold. While the game had largely drifted away from the home side, they managed a consolation goal in the 90th minute when Hwang Hee-Chan found the net following an assist from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. By that stage, however, the result was beyond doubt, with Liverpool having already secured their passage to the next round.

Looking ahead

For Liverpool, the victory serves as a testament to their squad depth and the efficiency of Slot’s tactical transitions, keeping their pursuit of domestic silverware firmly on track. Conversely, the defeat marks the end of Wolves' FA Cup journey, leaving Rob Edwards to focus his squad's efforts on their remaining league objectives for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.