Surely Julen Lopetegui had expended all his energy during this topsy-turvey FA Cup third-round tie when kicking every ball and encouraging his team with gusto, but the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager almost took off late in the evening.
Lopetegui accused the officials of denying his team the glory of knocking holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup with a “clearly wrong” offside call. Toti Gomes thought he had given the visitors a late Anfield winner only for the linesman’s flag to halt his celebrations, and the video assistant referee unable to find enough conclusive evidence to contradict the call.
Lopetegui said Wolves had their own “tactical camera” in operation which showed there was no reason to disallow the goal, which would have secured a 3-2 victory.
Matheus Nunes centred for the centre-back to beat Alisson with a skilful touch using his heel only for Nunes — who was on the other side of the pitch — to be judged to have run from an offside position, after taking a corner, to collect possession when Hwang Hee-chan miscued a header to send the ball back out of the area.
“I have seen the replay in the dressing room on our tactical camera,” Lopetegui explained. “We scored a certain goal. I have to accept it but it is not offside. It is very clear. One mistake means we cannot continue in the next round.
“We have seen it. The offside doesn't exist, I'm sorry. It's impossible. Someone has told him it's offside, but we've seen the images. It doesn't exist. Two touches are our players, and the second touch he doesn't want.
"The decision is wrong. I make mistakes every day, and sometimes they do too. Today we have the help of VAR, and it is a pity, because I'm sorry, it's not offside.”
Lopetegui went to the referee’s office to speak to the official, Andy Madley, after the game. “We can’t do anything. We talked to the referee. He was very polite to hear us. They can make a mistake. The truth is we have scored three goals,” he said.
“He tried to explain to me but it was very, very clear. More or less I could show him the goal was valid. Today we are unlucky with the decision and also unlucky because we had enough chances to win this match.”
The Wolves manager also sensed injustice regarding the goal that put Liverpool 2-1 ahead early in the second half. A generous interpretation of the laws deemed Mo Salah onside because Gomes’ header which fell for the Egyptian was judged to be ‘deliberate play’ thus clearing him to receive it.
“One player took advantage of his position, Salah, who was offside before Toti touched the ball, so he got an advantage,” said Lopetegui. “Toti, of course, is only going for it because of the offside player. So we have to accept that, too. In the end, their goal was [considered] valid and ours was [considered] offside.”
'We did not deserve more than a draw'
Neither team will have wanted a replay but that is what they get. Wolves’ start lacked composure, no doubt down to the nine changes that Lopetegui made, but once they went ahead in the 26th minute the away side grew in confidence.
For Liverpool, this was another mess. Jurgen Klopp had gone as strong as possible but his midfield were stretched and often a beat too slow. This was hardly the response to Monday’s messy league defeat at Brentford, nor a sign that the current holders are able to retain the FA Cup. The home team’s defence was once again culpable, and unusually it was Alisson with the blunders.
The Liverpool goalkeeper side-footed the ball straight to Goncalo Guedes to score Wolves’ opener after the Brazilian had already diced with danger when throwing the ball out to Thiago Alcantara who was under pressure.
The home team’s response came via two goals either side of half time. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross-field delivery fell into Darwin Nunez’s stride and the striker caressed a side-footed volley past Matija Sarkic. It was the type of goal Nunez has been waiting for and deserved.
Cody Gakpo, making his Liverpool debut, sent the ball towards Salah, who was in an offside position, yet Gomes’ header which looped to the forward’s feet allowed him to finish and put the home side ahead. Liverpool, however, do not currently do plain sailing.
On 66 minutes, Lopetegui’s substitutes combined. After Ibrahima Konate’s weak clearance, Nathan Collins found Hwang who slipped a pass to Cunha and attacked the near post. Cunha centred, the ball struck a sliding Konate, then hit Hwang and squirmed through Alisson’s legs. Liverpool should count themselves lucky a winner didn’t materialise.
“We deserved no more than a draw. I don’t think we should have them [replays] but I knew we still have them,” Klopp said. “Wolves are more happy than we are but we will be happy enough to give it a go.”