Liverpool 2-2 Wolves: Hwang Hee-chan sees Julen Lopetegui’s side qualify for FA Cup third round replay

Liverpool survived a late scare after a VAR call labeled “impossible” by Julen Lopetegui denied Totti a late winner in a topsy-turvy 2-2 draw at Anfield but still face an FA Cup replay with Wolves.

Totti headed Hwang Hee-chan’s low center into the net in the 82nd minute to spark wild celebrations at the away end, which were eventually dampened after VAR upheld an offside flagged in the build-up. ITV Reported video officer Mike Dean did not have a camera angle of the alleged crime.

“We saw it, and offside doesn’t exist,” Lopetegui said ITV After meeting referee Andy Madley with captain Ruben Neves. “It’s impossible, but someone told him it was offside. We saw the image, and it doesn’t exist.”

It proved the final twist in an unforgettable FA Cup clash at Anfield, which saw Wolves take the lead after 26 minutes thanks to Alisson’s terrific pass that set up Goncalo Guedes’ open goal.

By contrast, the hosts’ equalizer before half-time was pure quality. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 40-yard cross-field ball fell perfectly for Darwin Nunez, and he finished brilliantly past Matija Sarkic.

Liverpool turned the game on its head after half-time when debutant Cody Gakpo’s deep cross was headed home by Totti, who played the ball deliberately for a chance to controversially bury Mo Salah.

The decision proved another bone of contention for Lopetegui, who said: “The second goal from Liverpool is the same. It’s also the rule. Salah was offside before Totti touched the ball, and of course Totti. [reacts] in the position of [Salah].”

Wolves were given some relief as Liverpool’s weak backline was breached again through Chan, who bundled home his first club goal in 11 months – before Totti’s reversed winner denied Lopetegui the best moment of his short Wolves career.

Both sides now face a replay at Molineux later this month amid an already packed schedule.

Player rating

Liverpool: Alisson (5), Alexander-Arnold (7), Matip (5), Konate (6), Robertson (6), Thiago (5), Fabinho (6), Henderson (6), Salah (7), Nunez (7) ), ), Gakpo (6).

Members: Keita (6), Elliott (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Gomez (n/a).

wolf:Kirkic (6), Lembicisa (6), Collins (7), Totti (7), Castro (6), Adama (6), Neves (7), Hodge (7), Ait-Nouri (6), Jimenez (5 ) ), Guedes (7).

Members: Huang (7), Cunha (7), Nunes (6), Semedo (6), Bueno (6).

Player of the Match: Goncalo Guedes.

How Wolves continued their revival to deny cup holders Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp went against many of his Premier League colleagues to name a first-choice Liverpool XI to bounce back from Monday’s defeat at Brentford, but much of the first half at Anfield presented him with familiar frustration.

Gakpo and Salah both enjoyed early chances in Liverpool’s good start, but their carelessness at the back threatened to cost them even then.

Joel Matip was caught cold by Guedes when he broke out of the Liverpool box, and was lucky to escape unscathed.

Soon Alisson was less fortunate when he headed straight at the Portuguese under little pressure, and was left to watch after firing into an empty net.

Wolves weren’t happy with the scoreline but took their lead shortly before half-time through a move they were unlikely to stop.

Alexander-Arnold’s raking cross-field ball was the pinpoint for Nunez, whose finish over Saric was almost sublime.

The offside controversy started with Liverpool’s second goal seven minutes into the second half.

Salah latched on to Totti’s errant header, which he might not have attempted had the forward not been offside, and gifted home a goal that was upheld after a brief VAR review.

Wolves missed a chance to equalize when Ryan Ate-Nouri played in but shot straight at Alisson.

But soon their sense of injustice was temporarily softened when substitute Hwang, back from his role with South Korea at the World Cup, burst into the Liverpool area and exchanged passes with Cunha to bundle home the equaliser.

But the visitors, and Lopetegui in particular, were fuming after Mathias Nunes was ruled offside in the build-up when Totti’s clear winner from a corner was ruled out by a linesman’s flag.

After a lengthy VAR hold-up, Dean upheld the on-field decision without the opportunity to review it himself to force Wolves to settle for a draw and keep Liverpool’s hopes of retaining the trophy alive.

Klopp: I can understand Wolves’ frustration

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:

“On the pitch, I couldn’t see it. For me, I thought it was a goal. It could be a player in the left corner who could be offside, we have an angle that I saw in the dressing room that I thought was offside but I don’t swear.

“This angle, wasn’t on VAR if I’m correct. We had a similar situation in the Arsenal game, a corner was missing and everyone thought it was offside but we couldn’t prove it.

“I don’t know how these things can happen, but it happened. So I understand the wolf’s frustration, you want the right decision in these moments that we wanted then.”

Lopetegui: Both VAR decisions were wrong

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui told ITV about going into the referee’s room after full-time:

“It was just a matter of two goals. We saw offside for our goal, and it didn’t exist. It’s impossible, but someone said it [the referee] It’s offside. We have seen the image, and it does not exist.

“The second goal from Liverpool is the same. It’s the same rule. We’ve talked a lot with the referees about this type of situation, a player taking advantage of his position before Totti touches the ball. Of course, Totti reacted in position. [Salah].

“The referee was very polite, he helped us but now it’s happened and we have to accept it. It’s sad because we deserved to win against a fantastic team like Liverpool, we have to play again against Nottingham Forest in four days.”