Florian Wirtz has been papering over the Liverpool cracks and FSG face big question
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Our Liverpool fans' jury members deliver their verdicts on the defeat to Wolves and the return trip to Molineux in the FA CupLiverpool make the swift return trip to Molineux tonight (Friday, 8pm kick-off) for a FA Cup fifth-round tie against Wolves having lost to the same side at the same ground 2-1 in the Premier League on Tuesday.It was a humbling defeat that has thrown the Reds' hopes of qualifying for Europe into further jeopardy and increased the scrutiny on title-winning boss Arne Slot. For while it was only his side's third defeat in their last 22 matches in all competitions, losing to a team who are destined for relegation is not acceptable.Now the focus must turn to Liverpool's only remaining hopes of silverware with the last-16 tie with Wolves followed by the Champions League round-of-16 showdown with Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday.And ahead of those crucial matches, our Reds fans' jury has returned to have its say.Rhys BuchananThe team and manager will know that our midweek performance against Wolves was nowhere near good enough.
Luckily, there’s a chance to turn the page quickly and show some fight and determination on our quest for redeeming silverware.In his press conference, Arne Slot alluded to injuries setting back our progress but it’s been massively concerning just how we just let 75 minutes drift by against a team planted at the bottom of the table.If anything. Others might counter with the riposte that Slot (his excellent campaign last season aside) has a style much more suited to European football rather than this current iteration of Premier League football characterised by raw muscularity.The phrase “same old story” carries the initials ‘SOS’: Liverpool fans and the board have to work out whether it is the manager or the playing squad in extreme distress and in need of evacuation?James NobleSwiftly returning to Molineux on Friday night feels like a positive.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are clearly an improved outfit, but open-play bluntness and poor game-management late on were, again, too prominent from a Liverpool standpoint.Mohamed Salah breaking his Premier League duck, the relative solidity displayed prior to the opener, the Champions League race remaining tight, and indications in Arne Slot’s Thursday press conference that Florian Wirtz’s return is nearing, offer some bigger-picture encouragement, at least.The chance respond within 72 hours – against the same opponents, at the same venue – is one to maximise, and one that could prove informative.Reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals is the goal, of course, but this is also one of those games that could strengthen the squad – via rest for some and minutes for others – going into what we hope will be a busy remainder of the campaign.The possibility of extra-time and penalties, while undesirable in several respects, could arguably even aid that process further, if rotation and substitutions are well-managed. Wolves may go up a few levels, too, given Rob Edwards’ midweek team selection suggested prioritisation of the cup tie.Going into Tuesday evening’s Champions League last-16 first leg at Galatasaray, who themselves face Istanbul rivals Beşiktas on Saturday, on a positive note would be very welcome.