Keita and Bajcetic provide substitutes.
Nobody who supports Liverpool would have predicted that asking Naby Keita and Stefan Bajcetic to help shock a sputtering season back into life would be necessary last summer.
But Jurgen Klopp’s team’s current campaign hasn’t been typical.
The Liverpool manager realized it was time for an infusion of new life and enthusiasm after the tried-and-true midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Thiago Alcantara had a string of disappointing performances.
Enter Keita, making his first start since Wolves visited the Premier League at the end of the previous season, and Bajcetic, an 18-year-old making his senior debut.
Klopp’s trust was quickly repaid. In a rare 90-minute outing, Keita pressed with purpose, helped Harvey Elliott find space from deep to score the game-winning goal, and was constantly attempting to advance Liverpool. He might still have a part in the months that are likely to be his last at Anfield.
The revelation, however, was 18-year-old Bajcetic, who maintained his composure and cool in the midst of a chaotic FA Cup match midfield.
Although his teammates were willing to clean up any errors, his passing wasn’t always accurate—that can improve with practice—but the Spaniard was unfazed and shown a keen sense of danger.
Thiago, too, deserves credit, the criticism of his display on Saturday surely still stinging as he probed constantly. He could also claim a cheeky assist for Elliott’s strike. This midfield combination worked well.
New signings show promise
So rare had the sightings of Fabio Carvalho been in recent weeks that, speaking ahead of this game, Jurgen Klopp was asked what was happening with the young forward.
“There are no, from my point of view, personal situations or stuff like this,” said the Liverpool boss. “He’s behaving well. It’s just sports decisions that you make for the moment.”
The inference, of course, is that despite Liverpool being shorn of four forwards, for good reason has summer signing Carvalho been shuffling his feet on the bench for the previous five games having been hooked at half-time after scoring in the Carabao Cup defeat at Manchester City almost a month ago.
Opportunity, though, came knocking here as Carvalho gave a welcome reminder of his attributes when filling the left flank role that has proven so troublesome for the Reds due to the relentless injury issues this season.
Of course, the implication is that even though Liverpool is down four strikers, summer addition Carvalho has had good reason to dragging his feet on the bench for the past five games after being hooked at halftime after scoring in the Carabao Cup loss at Manchester City almost a month ago.
HoThe 20-year-old may be proud of his efforts after working hard and developing a bond with Cody Gakpo. His pressure caused issues for Wolves, and an offside decision nullified a strong first-half goal.
Gakpo, on the other hand, performed significantly better than in his previous two appearances since joining from PSV Eindhoven. He was a natural in the false nine position and was helped by a midfield that complemented his skills.
A better night for two forwards still finding their feet at Liverpool, Carvalho and Gakpo were removed midway through the second half.wever, opportunity knocked here as Carvalho provided a much-needed reminder of his qualities when filling the left flank position, which has proven to be so problematic for the Reds owing to the constant injury issues this season.
Gomez offers a hint
According to Jurgen Klopp, Caoimhin Kelleher is not competing here. However, the goalkeeper benefited from the fallout from Saturday’s abject performance at Brighton by receiving only his third start of the year and his 20th overall appearance for Liverpool.
Given the absence of threat posed by a Wolves attack that was well restrained by a Liverpool defense that has recently drawn justifiable criticism, Kelleher can’t have had many calmer evenings.
The best defender was Joe Gomez, who excelled at both center and right back to stake his claim in Virgil van Dijk’s ongoing absence. Ibrahima Konate was a close second.
The Reds earned their first clean sheet since November and their first domestic away clean sheet since the goalless draw at Everton in September thanks to the performance of James Milner, who was playing for the first time in almost a month, and Nat Phillips, who came in in the final period.
And this was only this season’s sixth victory in 15 games played away from Anfield. So that was a start in the right way.