Liverpool FC booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3–1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, avenging their painful Premier League defeat at Molineux Stadium just 72 hours earlier.

Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah struck in quick succession early in the second half before Curtis Jones sealed the victory, ensuring a much-needed response from Arne Slot’s side after their embarrassing 2–1 league defeat against the Premier League’s bottom club earlier in the week. A late effort from Hwang Hee-chan proved only a consolation for Wolves.

Liverpool had been labelled “slow and predictable” by captain Virgil van Dijk after that loss, but the Reds produced a far more determined display on their return to the West Midlands.

Despite spending heavily in the summer, Liverpool’s title defence has faltered badly, leaving the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League as their remaining hopes for silverware this season. Sitting sixth in the Premier League and 19 points behind leaders Arsenal FC, Slot is under pressure to deliver a trophy in his turbulent second campaign at Anfield.

Liverpool are now chasing a ninth FA Cup triumph and their first since 2022, while also preparing for a Champions League last-16 first-leg clash against Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Slot made four changes for the rematch with Wolves, including alterations in defence as Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konaté all dropped out of the starting lineup.

Relegation still looms large for Wolves, who sit 12 points from safety, but recent results—including a win over Liverpool, a draw with Arsenal and a victory against Aston Villa—had given their supporters reason to believe.

Home fans taunted Liverpool with chants of “2–1 to the Championship” during the first half, but 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha almost silenced them when his low drive forced a fine save from Sam Johnstone.

Ngumoha was Liverpool’s brightest spark in the opening period and nearly found the net again when João Gomes cleared his goal-bound strike off the line following a sharp attacking move.

Despite the youngster’s efforts, Liverpool struggled to impose themselves before the break. However, the visitors finally produced a moment of quality six minutes after the restart.

Salah and Jones combined to tee up Robertson, who unleashed a stunning 20-yard strike that flew into the far corner—his second goal of the season and first since September.

Liverpool doubled their lead just two minutes later. Robertson’s cross found Salah in the box, and the Egyptian tapped home from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR overturned the decision to confirm Salah’s ninth of the campaign.

There was more good news for Slot when Florian Wirtz returned from injury off the bench late in the match after missing three games with a back problem.

Jones effectively put the tie beyond doubt in the 74th minute, calmly guiding his shot past Johnstone to secure Liverpool’s fifth win in their last six matches in all competitions.

Wolves did grab a late goal in stoppage time when Hwang raced onto Johnstone’s long clearance and finished past Alisson Becker, but the result had already been decided as Liverpool progressed comfortably to the last eight.