Liverpool Rio Ngumoha. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland) Liverpool advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win against Wolves on Friday as the Reds avenged a painful Premier League defeat at Molineux just 72 hours earlier.Arne Slot’s team struck twice in quick succession in the second half with Andrew Robertson’s long-range rocket and Mohamed Salah’s predatory finish.Curtis Jones wrapped up a much-needed win in the fifth round for Liverpool after a humiliating 2-1 defeat against the Premier League bottom club three days earlier. Hwang Hee-chan’s late response was no consolation for Wolves.Labeled “slow and predictable” by furious captain Virgil van Dijk after the disaster, Liverpool set a record in their return to the West Midlands.Despite spending £450 million ($599 million) on new signings in a tight season, Liverpool put up a miserable title defense, leaving the FA Cup and Champions League as their last chances for silverware.Crouching in sixth place in the Premier League – 19 points behind leaders Arsenal – Slota needs a trophy to ease the mounting pressure in his turbulent second season at Anfield.Liverpool continue their bid for a ninth FA Cup triumph and first since 2022 as they step up their Champions League challenge with a last-16 tie away to Galatasaray on Tuesday.Slot made four changes for Wolves’ return, including three in defence, as Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Ibrahim Konate all dropped out.Avoiding relegation is unlikely for a team currently 12 points from safety, but Wolves beat Liverpool and recently drew with Premier League leaders Arsenal and beat Aston Villa.Well aware of their impending doom, Wolves fans taunted Liverpool with chants of “2-1 to the Championship” in the first half.Ngumoha stands outLiverpool’s 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha almost silenced the jeers with a low drive that forced a good save from Sam Johnstone.Liverpool’s unique threat in the opening third was carried by Ngumoha, whose header after a penetrating attack was clearly headed by Joao Gomes.Despite Ngumoh’s best efforts, it was another uninspired half from Liverpool in a season marred by criticism of their prosaic approach.Sloto’s men finally produced a rare moment of magic in the 51st minute to break the deadlock.Salah and Jones worked the ball to Robertson and he shone with a superb strike into the far corner from 20 yards.It was the Scotland left-back’s second goal of the season and his first since September.After scoring against Wolves on Tuesday, Salah was back on target and doubled the lead two minutes later.When Salah pounced on Robertson’s cross from close range, the Egyptian’s ninth goal of the season was initially ruled out for offside before VAR overturned the decision.Also good news for Slota is that German playmaker Florian Wirtz came off the bench in the closing stages after missing three games with a back injury.Jones sealed Liverpool’s fifth win in their last six games when he stroked his shot past Johnstone in the 74th minute.Liverpool switched off on the break when Hwang raced onto Johnstone’s long punt and got in front of Alisson Becker.
