Liverpool 2 – 2 Wolves

Liverpool survived a late scare but still face an FA Cup replay with Wolves after a VAR call labeled “impossible” by Julen Lopetegui denied Toti a late winner in a topsy-turvy 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Toti backheeled Hwang Hee-Chan’s low cross into the net in the 82nd minute to spark wild celebrations at the away end, which were eventually dampened when a languishing offside in the build-up was upheld by VAR – albeit ITV Official video of Mike Dean did not have the accused camera angle.

“We saw it, and it’s not inside,” Lopetegui said ITV visiting referee Andy Madley with coach Ruben Neves. “It’s impossible, but someone told him it was inside. We saw the picture, and it’s not.”

It proved the final twist in a memorable FA Cup clash at Anfield, as Wolves took the lead after 26 minutes thanks to Alisson’s horribly misdirected pass that handed Goncalo Guedes the opener.

On the other hand, the army’s equalizer before half-time was pure quality. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 40-yard cross fell perfectly to Darwin Nunez and he finished richly past Matija Sarkic.

Liverpool turned the game on its head after half-time when debutant Cody Gakpo nodded home a high cross from Toti, who from a decision to play the ball contentiously dominated Mo Salah on the side-chance he buried.

That decision proved another bone of contention for Lopetegui, who said: “The second goal from Liverpool is the same. It’s the same rule. Sala was offside before Toti touched the ball, and of course Toti. [reacts] to the place [Salah].

Wolves were given some respite as Liverpool’s fragile backline was again dismantled by Chan, who slotted home his first club goal in 11 months – before Toti’s header denied Lopetegui the best moment of his brief modern Wolves career.

The two sides will now face each other at Molineux amid an already packed schedule this month.

How did Wolves revive to deny cup holders Liverpool?

Jurgen Klopp went against many of his Premier League colleagues by naming a first-choice Liverpool XI to bounce back from Monday’s defeat at Brentford, but much of the first half at Anfield presented him with familiar frustrations.

Gakpo and Sala both enjoyed the first chances in Liverpool’s good start, but their poor form at the back threatened to cost them even then.

Joel Matip was caught cold by Guedes as he charged into the Liverpool box and was lucky to escape unscathed.

Alisson was less fortunate shortly after, when he went under a bit of pressure to the Portuguese and was left to fire into an empty net.

Wolves weren’t flattered by the scoreline, but before half-time they took a momentary lead and had to settle down a bit.

Alexandre-Arnaldi’s cross-field ball was the point for Nunez, whose goal was almost excellent beyond Sarkic.

Confusion began seven minutes into the second half with Liverpool’s second goal.

Salah sat on Toti’s header, which he might not have attempted if he hadn’t been earlier, and headed home the gift of the goal, which was confirmed by VAR after a brief review.

Wolves went level with a golden-edged chance when Rayan Ait-Nouri fired through the game but straight at Alisson.

But soon their sense of injustice was temporarily softened when substitute Hwang, back from a stellar role with South Korea in the World Cup, burst into the Liverpool area and converted a home equal pass with Cunha.

But the visitors, and Lopetegui in particular, were fired up when Toti’s apparent winner from a corner was blocked by the flag-line when Matheus Nunes was ruled in the middle of the build-up.

After a lengthy VAR watch, Dean kept his decision on the pitch without the opportunity to review himself to force Wolves to draw and keep Liverpool’s hopes of keeping the trophy alive.

Klopp: I can’t understand Wolves’ frustrations

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:

“I couldn’t see it on the pitch. I thought it was a goal for me. There was a player in the left corner who could be a center, we have one corner that I saw in training, which I thought was offside. I didn’t want to swear on it.

“This corner, VAR didn’t have it right. We had a similar situation in the Arsenal game, the corner was missing and everyone thought it was offside but we couldn’t prove it.

“I don’t know how this can happen, but it happened. So I understand the frustrations of Wolves, you want to make the right decision in these moments, which we wanted to reconsider at the time.”

Lopetegui: and the VAR decisions were wrong

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui told ITV about visiting the referee’s room after full-time;

“She was the only one to talk about two goals. We saw offside for our goal, and it’s not. It’s impossible, but someone said it [the referee] it is offside. We have seen the picture, and it is not.

“The second goal from Liverpool is the same. It’s the same rule. We talked a lot with the referees about this type of situation, one player used his position before Toti touched the ball. Of course, Toti reacts to the position. [Salah].

“The referee was very polite, he helped us but now it’s done and we have to accept it. It’s a pity because we deserved to win against a fantastic team like Liverpool, we have to recover and go back in four days against Nottingham Forest.”

What’s next?

Liverpool’s then it’s game on Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday January 14 – kick-off 3pm.

Wolves‘The next outing sees them on their way to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday – kick-off 7.45pm.

Julen Lopetegui’s side then host fellow Premier League strugglers West Ham in a crucial top-flight clash on Saturday 14 January – kick-off 3pm.