Wolverhampton Wanderers

Emma Milton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

If you told most Wolves fans a week ago that we would take one win and one defeat from two games against Liverpool, plenty of us would have snapped your hand off. The only debate would have been which one we would choose.

Many would have picked the FA Cup, because for a while the league has felt like the ending is already written. But after what we have seen at Molineux, taking seven points from Arsenal, Villa and Liverpool, you have to ask the question again. Is it really already lost?

In that league win, Wolves looked like the team with more hunger. We ran, pressed, tackled, and fought for every second ball. Players threw bodies on the line. It was not perfect football, but it was brave football, and it was a performance supporters could be proud of.

Friday's cup tie brought us back down to earth. The edge was not quite the same and the intensity dipped. Liverpool were the better team, they pressed us hard, and they were on top for long spells. We did not match their intensity or their control, and it showed. Going out hurts, because the cup can give you a story to cling to. But the league is the one that matters now.

And there is a case for hope. Wolves arguably have a kinder run-in than some of our relegation rivals. No Premier League game is easy, but we do not face anyone in the top six. We have big, defining matches against West Ham, Leeds, Spurs and Burnley. Those are the ones that can swing a season.

Momentum is with us too. Performances have improved, and you can see the belief Rob Edwards and the staff have worked to build. We have even picked up a few unexpected points in the last week. Keep that trajectory going and the impossible might just start to look realistic.

Yes, it is a long shot. But football is built on hopes and dreams. The Molineux atmosphere has lifted, and the fans will roar this team on if we keep seeing fight, drive and determination.

It is not over until it is over. We are out of the cup, so now every game is our cup final.

Find more from Emma Milton at Always Wolves, external

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves are 12th in the form table over the past five games and 15th over the past 10.

They have lost five of their past 15 games in all competitions, a significant upturn after losing 17 of their opening 21 this season.

In Tuesday's 2-1 win over Liverpool they restricted the misfiring champions to 0.62 xG (expected goals).

Only leaders Arsenal have managed to limit Liverpool to fewer chances in open play, with 0.28 xG in the Reds' past 16 games.

The Reds gained revenge in Friday's 3-1 FA Cup victory.

Running stats have also improved considerably and Wolves have outrun Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa since the change in management.

Previously, the squad had managed it only twice, including running only 180m more than Brighton during their 1-1 draw in October.

The squad covered 113,508m in this month's home win over Villa, the fifth highest of the season, having run 114,427m coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Arsenal at Molineux.

That was the second highest mark of the season and collectively they are running 7.8k on average higher - around an hour for a midfielder - under Edwards.

Read more on whether Wolves can pull off the greatest of great escapes

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Rob Edwards has urged Wolves not to waste time in the transfer market this summer.

The club are preparing for an expected relegation to the Championship and are holding weekly transfer planning meetings.

Edwards was relegated from the Premier League in 2024 with Luton, who dropped down to League One a year later, and he knows the importance of being ready.

"Going forward into the summer I think we'll be in a position where we can be aggressive and get some work done early," he said.

"I've stressed that to the guys as well, as someone who's lived this sort of situation before, that it's really important we can get to work with a group really quickly to put us in the best position to build something.

"There's a lot of hard work going into that. I think we'll be in a good spot.

"We've got a good idea of what the situation is and we have to use that to our advantage and make this difficult situation work in our favour."

Wolves sold striker Jorgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace for £48m in the winter window while also letting winger Jhon Arias leave for Palmeiras and defender Emmanuel Agbadou join Besiktas.

It was part of their preparations for next season with Wolves 12 points from safety with eight games left.

"There are a lot of good people in good positions now and we're working really hard to get a plan together to make sure that we're in a good position moving forward," added Edwards.

"We admit mistakes have been made, we know we're in a really difficult position right now but hopefully everyone can get on board with the changes we're going to make and can see we're going do the right thing for the football club.

"Obviously we've not got a crystal ball so we don't fully know what's going to happen but transfers are a delicate business anyway."

Pundits Ellen White and Glenn Murray join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday and Sunday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Port Vale 1-0 Sunderland

• Fulham 0-1 Southampton

• Leeds 3-0 Norwich

• Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea

• Newcastle 1-3 Man City

• Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal

• Wolves 1-3 Liverpool

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's FA Cup fifth-round tie between Wolves and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Andy: We're getting better, but only very, very slowly. On the odd occasions when we drive at the opposition, with quick over laps and one-twos, we look superb - but minutes later we're slowly moving the ball left to right, right to left, with little or no movement up front. The tactic seems to be to bore the opposition into making a defensive error. It's horrible to watch and achieves nothing and I can't understand why they've adopted it as their main tactic.

Colin: Losing possession anywhere on the pitch results in conceding a goal too frequently. There is insufficient cover when we attack one on one.

Rhys: Shameful and a disgrace. Abysmal performance and we should have lost by 10.

Wol: Poor performance by every player. Gomes looked lost without Andre alongside him. After Tuesdays win, I thought that we would have had a go at them. No shots in the first half and 29% possession when you are at home is no good. Fans paid good money to watch a sub-standard performance with no effort from some players. We need to show more fight till the end of the season and hopefully not finish bottom, which would be a nice way to end the campaign.

Liverpool fans

Jimmy: Very accomplished from the Reds. I am getting really fed up with the media campaign against Arne Slot. Anyone that is actually watching the games can see he is a smart thinker setting his teams up very well to play attractive football and win matches. He may be too patient with Mo Salah, but it isn't Slot making defensive errors and the injuries are not his fault. The club needs to buy him defensive reinforcements but he is doing a great job with a squad that was created to win next season, not this.

Rachael: Andy Robertson has been so important to Liverpool over the past nine years. Slot needs to recognise his importance and play him more regularly. We are a better team when he is on the pitch.

Duncan: Slot needs to give both Rio Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong a chance to start on opposite wings, and drop Salah. With both of them up front running at defence, we look more dangerous!

Ross: If Slot thinks Milos Kerkez is a better left-back than Robbo, then maybe the manager's team selections are why Liverpool are doing so poorly this season! It is a disgrace that Robertson has only started two games in the past three months.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was not to be for Wolves, but there are bigger issues on the horizon.

Extending their FA Cup run to the quarter-finals would have added some gloss to a desperate season which will almost certainly end in relegation.

It would have given them more momentum going into the final eight games of the season, as they look to postpone confirmation of their drop to the Championship.

Though firmly in the relegation zone, Rob Edwards has improved the situation at Wolves - they are more competitive, they work harder and the atmosphere is not one of a club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.

But their performance levels in what was ultimately their FA Cup exit did not match those of recent league wins over Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Wolves have only won three league games this season, but Edwards will be frustrated by the second-half surrender.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards, spoke to BBC Sport after his side's defeat by Liverpool: "I just thought they were really good. They are the champions. Sometimes you have got to say 'credit where credit is due' and they were better than us.

"The big thing I have just said to the lads was the second goal within probably 30 seconds of the first. We were still in the game at 1-0 and anything can happen. It was a really disappointing goal to concede and it was going to be really difficult.

"I thought they were outstanding and better than us."

On what the consolation goal shows: "They are going to keep fighting. What we've got now is eight cup finals [in the Premier League]. We have a few days now to rest. The lads have given a lot. They have began to get some hope and there is a different feel around the place at the moment. We have to make sure we come back rejuvinated in what is a cup final."

On current momentum: "I think we are building some momentum and cecause we have such a short squad it is not a bad thing at all. Everybody enjoys a few days rest and a reset."

On whether there is any belief they could escape relegation: "All focus will be on Brentford. If we can get a positive result in that one, we just want to take it as far as we can. Regardless of what happens, we will fight all the way until the end of the 38 games."

Did you know?

• Wolves suffered their 22nd defeat of the season in all competitions, one more than in the whole of last season (21). It's their most in a single campaign since 2016-17 (also 22), and most as a Premier League club since 2011-12 (25).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Saturday for a selection of your replies

Rob Edwards makes six changes for Wolves following their last-gasp 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool on Tuesday.

Sam Johnstone, Yerson Mosquera, Toti Gomes, Hugo Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Tolu Arokodare return.

Jose Sa is out with an ankle injury while Tom Edozie comes into the squad for the suspended Andre.

Wolves XI: Johnstone, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno, J Gomes, A Gomes, Bellegarde, Mane, Arokodare,

Subs: Bentley, Lima, Doherty, Krejci, Wolfe, R Gomes, Edozie, Hwang, Armstrong.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot makes four changes with the Reds hunting revenge at Molineux.

Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Rio Ngumoha start for the visitors.

Florian Wirtz is on the bench after a back issue with Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate joining him.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Jones, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Gakpo, Ngumoha, Salah.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Chiesa, Ekitike, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison.

Former West Brom midfielder Richard Sneekes is Friday's West Midlands football legend, joining Daz Hale in the studio.

The show runs from 18:00-19:00 GMT and you can listen again on BBC Sounds afterwards - find all episodes here.

And get involved by calling 08081 009956 - or text 81333, starting your message with WM.

Watch here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Referee Tom Kirk has been ruled wrong to send off Ladislav Krejci against Crystal Palace.

The versatile defender was dismissed in the last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park after collecting two bookings.

Yet the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel [KMI] - which reviews the big refereeing decisions each week - has ruled Krejci should not have been cautioned for his first offence, when he brought down Ismaila Sarr.

Just three minutes later he was issued a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart.

Palace went onto win the game after Evann Guessand's injury-time winner.

"The first challenge by Krejci was clearly not reckless or stopping a promising attack and therefore, the caution was ruled incorrect," wrote the five-person panel, which was unanimous in their decision.

"The second caution for delaying the restart was supported as correct but overall, the referee's decision to send off for two bookable offences was incorrect."

Krejci was banned for the 2-0 win over Aston Villa but returned for Tuesday's late 2-1 victory over Liverpool.

The Czech international joined initially on loan from Girona with Wolves able to make the deal permanent for £26m once certain clauses are met.

Wolves are bottom of the Premier League, 12 points from safety and have eight games left.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Mateus Mane has been the brightest spot in Wolves' bleak season, which will end in relegation with Rob Edwards' side having won just three games this season.

In his breakthrough campaign, he has started every Premier League game since making his full debut against Liverpool at Anfield in December.

He faces the Reds again in the FA Cup on Friday at Molineux - three days after Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 injury-time win in the Premier League.

Just weeks into his top-flight career Mane is used to big games.

Two years after being on the bench for Rochdale in the National League, Mane is already becoming a household name.

Soon after moving to England he started to admire Manchester City pair Sergio Aguero and David Silva and tried to copy Neymar after watching YouTube clips.

Having joined City Select Academy, Mane played for Manchester Cobras as a youngster as well as Moston Brook FC.

There was little time for much more, yet he still gave parents a run for their money.

"They'd say I was a bit cheeky as a child, but I was a young kid," he said. "Every kid can be cheeky and I'll say I was hard work for my parents. Most of the time I feel like I've grown up, I matured."

Mane still goes home on a Sunday, when fixtures allow, to go to church and his maturity is showing on the pitch too after joining Rochdale's academy in 2023 aged 15.

It was run then by Tony Ellis - now Wolves' head of northern recruitment - with Mane asked to sign after his first training session.

"He lit the place up. He's technical, his attributes were ridiculous for such a young boy," recalled Ellis, who also recommended the frontman to Wolves.

"The way he received the ball, the way he drove, his decision-making. Just a technically good footballer.

"He was happy in the environment, always had a ball, always communicating with players and staff.

"When you'd finished the session, he'd be the first one to go and put the cones away or get the balls. He gained the trust of staff and players really, really quickly."

Read more on Mane's rise to the Premier League here

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Three days on from their dramatic Premier League encounter, Wolves and Liverpool meet again. This time it's in the FA Cup, as both sides look for a silver lining to what have been disappointing domestic seasons.

Wolves are at the bottom of the Premier League table and remain almost certain to go down, despite their last-gasp win over the Reds on Tuesday. Head coach Rob Edwards replaced Vitor Pereira 11 games into the top-flight season and has improved the side significantly. In recent home games, he has sparked some much-needed positivity too.

With a Premier League miracle looking slim, this competition has taken on extra significance for Wolves. There is precedent for cup success from a similar situation: Wigan Athletic won the trophy and were relegated in the same season in 2013.

Liverpool have also fallen short of their admittedly much grander aims this season. After winning the Premier League title last year and then spending £450m in the summer, they were expected to compete on all fronts.

They remain in contention to win the FA Cup and the Champions League, but the defence of their Premier League crown has been limp; they trail leaders Arsenal by 19 points.

A trophy would sweeten what has been an underwhelming campaign and even though they are dealing with a number of injury issues, Liverpool have the talent to compete for a top-five berth, the European Cup and potentially two trips to Wembley during the run-in.

Head coach Arne Slot remains under scrutiny. The Dutchman would surely secure at least another season at Anfield if he were to hoist a piece of silverware in May. But after Tuesday's defeat, progress in this competition suddenly seems a lot less certain and much more important.

Did you know?

• Liverpool beat Wolves for the first time in the FA Cup in 2023 in a third-round replay. They won 1-0 at Molineux after the two sides drew 2-2 at Anfield.

Image source, Getty Images

More VAR controversy in prospect?

Video assistant referees are in place from the fifth round having previously not been used.

There was VAR controversy when the two teams met in the FA Cup at Anfield in 2023.

Wolves had a potential late winner ruled out for offside, but it could not be checked as VAR had no camera angle available to provide any evidence to overturn the decision.

Wolves manager Rob Edwards shares why the FA Cup is so important to him before Friday's fifth-round tie against Liverpool.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards might have been thinking his bottom-of-the-table Premier League side have a chance of 'the great escape' after they beat Liverpool on Tuesday.

So, seeing two of the three teams immediately above them, West Ham and Nottingham Forest, pick up points on Wednesday was a shame for Wolves, just when they had given themselves that little bit of hope.

Still, their recent results and performances have been much improved. Edwards has given Wolves fans something to smile about, and he will want to maintain that positivity here.

This is a big game for Liverpool boss Arne Slot, too.

The FA Cup could be important for him this season, so he cannot just focus on Tuesday's last-16 trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

After three successive Premier League wins, Tuesday's loss was another stumble for Slot's side in the race for the top four.

They were fortunate Manchester United and Aston Villa lost as well, but Chelsea's win at Villa meant the Reds are outside the top five now too.

With the heat that is around him, I don't think Slot is in a position where he can afford to play a weakened side here - he has to go strong to try to avoid another shock result.

I still think we will see another surprise, though.

Wolves are going to throw everything at Liverpool. They are still going down, but can they make it to Wembley too?

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Friday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Liverpool at Molineux (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Edwards confirmed they have no new injury concerns following their match midweek, with just Andre set to miss out because of two bookings in previous rounds.

• After taking seven points from three league games against teams in the top six, the Wolves boss said it has taken "a lot of hard work" but it is "nice to have some rewards in points" and his side "deserve a lot of credit for competing with the top teams".

• On the character being shown by the players: "We have a bare minimum - our non-negotiables. Sprint recoveries, work ethic, duels. The sprint effort is now night and day. We are in control of those things. We can't always promise we will be great with the ball, we might make mistakes, but what we can control is how hard you run and work. That stuff is why over the past 15 games or so we have been more competitive."

• Playing Liverpool for the second time in the space of four days, Edwards knows the "scale of the task" and they have to "respect" the Reds as a team: "They will want to get the win and want to prove they are better after Tuesday night, but we have to try to make them relive it."

• On squad rotation for the FA Cup tie: "We made some changes knowing what was coming up... It is hard to prioritise one game or the other. Now Friday is the most important game of our season. Tuesday was the most important of our season at that moment. So it is really difficult and about picking a team to win a game of football."

• Edwards insisted the players are ready for the "big challenge" of the quick turnaround in matches, as it is "not hard to get up for Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round under the lights at Molineux".

• On staying in matches until the hour and then making changes: "Against some teams we have conceded early and made it challenging. We don't want to give teams a helping hand. We have to be in it but not to be seen as negative. If we have a platform build off then there is the pressure on the other team as they have to beat Wolves."

Hit play above to hear more from Edwards or listen on BBC Sounds here

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round from 20:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio WM on BBC Sounds

How to follow the FA Cup fifth round on the BBC

Got a question about Wolves? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

Pundits Micah Richards and Danny Murphy join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from the midweek Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds