Liverpool vs Wolves LIVE: Cody Gakpo STARTS for Liverpool on his debut as Jurgen Klopp’s side begin the defence of their FA Cup against Premier League opposition at Anfield
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the FA Cup third-round clash between Liverpool and Wolves at Anfield.
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In their last 11 attempts, Liverpool have actually only lost in the third round once – that being against Wolves in 2019.
So the stat gods will have plenty of decisions to make as they look to influence the outcome of this one.
Will Liverpool maintain their run against Wolves, or will Wolves’ FA Cup record against the Reds come out on top?
Quite the array of stars in that dressing room.
Salah, Darwin, Gakpo – a pretty incredible front three on paper – is it one of the most scary in the country at the moment?
Inside our dressing room ahead of #LIVWOL 👀 pic.twitter.com/0ZwQKMUtjd
It’s already been a busy old day of FA Cup action, and we’ve had our fair share of upsets already!
Have a look down below at just a select few of the games that have already been played out this afternoon.
And a special day incoming for Dexter Lembikisa, making his first start for Wolves.
He’s made two substitute appearances in the past, but this is the moment he will have been dreaming of!
Best of luck, Dexter 👊 pic.twitter.com/TP2xAjczXK
A slightly stranger stat – Wolves have faced the FA Cup holders on seven occasions, and on four of those occasions, either Wolves or their opponents have gone on to reach the FA Cup final.
The only time they’ve ever in fact manage to knock out the holders of the trophy, was nearly 65 years ago, when they beat Man United in the semis, before besting local rivals Leicester to lift the trophy in 1948-49.
Incidentally, that was the third of Wolves’ four FA Cup titles. Their first – in 1892-93 – was against Liverpool’s arch nemesis Everton.
What a goal this was – I remember watching it on Match of the Day and still not really understanding it after rewinding it a few times.
Xabi Alonso with a belter against Luton 17 years ago to the day.
Wouldn’t be a bad way for Gakpo to open his account for the club either.
#OnThisDay in 2006…
Xabi Alonso scored this 70-yard goal in the #FACup 😍 pic.twitter.com/N6TaNwomIj
So it’s FA Cup weekend, and we were treated to an fantastic game last night as Man United beat Everton 3-1 at Old Trafford to get things started.
Interesting to see who a Liverpool fan would have been backing for that one…
To re-live the action, click below story.
As I’m sure we all remember, Liverpool are the current holders of the cup, having beaten Chelsea on penalties to seal a domestic cup double and their eighth overall trophy in the competition.
But that seems to be something of a double-edged blade for the Reds, as they’ve gone out in the third round of four of their last seven campaigns when beginning the tournament as the reigning champions.
They’ve not come into the FA Cup as holders since 2006-07, when they were dumped out at this stage by Arsenal, who ran out 3-1 winners at Anfield.
Here’s a look at the sides as they arrive at the stadium for tonight’s big clash…
Arriving at Anfield. #COYW pic.twitter.com/sqRimpEYFW
Checking in for the #EmiratesFACup third round 📍#LIVWOL pic.twitter.com/dDR0Stg1hh
Despite their poor FA Cup record, though, Liverpool are one of the teams that Wolves will have been desperate to avoid, given their current record against them.
Wolves have been beaten in 11 of their last 13 meetings – with those two FA Cup victories in 2017 and 2019 the only successes they’ve had of late.
The Reds are currently on a run of seven consecutive wins against Julen Lopetegui’s side, scoring 14 and conceding just two in those meetings.
Cody Gakpo is the man of the moment for Liverpool, after the snuck under the radar to snap up the ex-PSV sensation for £44million.
But will he get on the scoresheet tonight?
Look away now, Liverpool fans. The Reds have lost five of their seven meetings with Wolves in the FA Cup.
The last time they actually beat the side from the Black Country was way back when in 1952, when almost 62,000 fans crushed into Anfield to watch one Bob Paisley get on the scoresheet in the fourth round affair.
Two of those five defeats for Liverpool came within the last six years, with Jurgen Klopp’s side coming out on the losing end January 2017 and January 2019 – with Wolves winning both 2-1.
So Cody Gakpo starts for the Reds as Jurgen Klopp makes four changes to the side that lost to Brentford, with Henderson, Robertson and Matip also coming into the fold.
It’s wholesale changes from the visitors, though, with only Collins and Neves keeping their place as newboy Matheus Cunha drops to the bench.
And here’s the Wolves XI!
🇲🇽 Raul back leading the line.
🎓 Lembikisa's first start.
Our #LIVWOL line-up.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/alnebjnzpk
Gakpo starts!
A Reds debut for Cody Gakpo 😍
Here's how we line up to take on Wolves in the #EmiratesFACup tonight 👊
Good evening and welcome to tonight’s live action featuring Liverpool and Wolves in the third round of the FA Cup!
The holders will take on four-time winners Wolves at Anfield to round off the second day of third round action, after nemesis United got us off to a flying start last night with a win over Everton.
The game is set to kick-off at 8pm, so stick with us as we bring you all the stats, stories and latest news ahead of the game!
But first…
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