Fans slam Liverpool for 'disrespecting' FA Cup

Football fans have crucified Liverpool on social media after an incredibly under-strength Reds side crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp showed where the competition ranked on the current English Premier League leaders’ list of priorities by leaving star forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino on the bench until the 70th minute.

Even after their introduction, it failed to have an impact on the result at Molineux.

Wolves went in front through Raul Jimenez in the 38th minute after James Milner lost possession in central midfield, but Liverpool equalised when Divock Origi scored from the edge of the area in the 51st.

Neves regained the lead for Wolves four minutes later, striking a low and fierce shot inside the near post past the initially unsighted Simon Mignolet.

The stunning goal proved to be the winner as Wolves knocked their more fancied opponents out of the Cup for the second time in three seasons.

Klopp started midfielders Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones – aged 18 and 17 respectively – and sent on another debutant in 16-year-old Dutchman Ki-Jana Hoever in the sixth minute after centre-back Dejan Lovren sustained a hamstring injury.

Hoever, at 16 years and 354 days, became the youngest Liverpool player in FA Cup history and the third-youngest player to make a senior appearance for the team.

The raft of changes and surprise selections shocked many in the football world, with many fans criticising Liverpool for “disrespecting” the competition.

Klopp said he had hoped to field a stronger side, but injuries to the likes of Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana forced him to make more changed than planned and he refuted suggestions his team selection was disrespectful to the FA Cup itself.

“I need to make sure I say the right words … I don’t want headlines,” he said.

“You all want this number of games, we have played them all so far and been successful, today we lost. That’s the story.”

Wolves’ former Liverpool defender Conor Coady said his side deserved their win.

“It was always going to be a nervy end so you have to defend, but the lads stood tall against a good Liverpool team,” Coady said.

“It was a hell of a victory for everybody.”

Wolves will travel to either Shrewsbury or Stoke in the fourth round.

Liverpool has won the FA Cup seven times, but not since 2006. It leads the league by four points after 21 games and is through to the round of 16 in the Champions League.

But some of the momentum in its season might have been lost, with the defeat to Wolves coming four days after a 2-1 loss at Manchester City – its first league defeat of the season.

With agencies