Key events
Pre-match postbag. “Doesn’t this game now mean more to Liverpool than it does to Wolves? I’m therefore predicting a Liverpool win tonight, followed by an almighty slump in their league form” – Andrew Goudie
“I’m a Liverpool fan who’s got a lot of respect for Wolves and their style. The result at Molineux on Tuesday was disappointing, but I felt happy for the jubilant home fans who’ve had a rough season. The sight of arguably the greatest half-and-half scarf of all time, honouring the memory of Diogo Jota, was very emotional” – Peter Oh
“The romance of the cup, eh? Wolves and Liverpool, storied histories both, in the greatest cup competition of them all. On a Friday night! I might even crack open a can of whisky. And perhaps you won’t mind if I keep you and your other reader abreast of events elsewhere with bonus Scottish Cup action? To be specific, Dundee United’s trip to the Falkirk Stadium in the Scottish Cup quarter finals. What an occasion that promises to be. It could be an epic night. Cheers!” – Simon McMahon (and yes, please be our guest)
Arne Slot speaks to TNT Sports. “We want to do much better than when we were here three days ago … we are able to do better and we should do better … we had lots of ball possession but not as many chances as I was hoping for … [Rio Ngumoha’s] playing time has increased a lot … the next step if you go from five minutes to 10 to 15 to half an hour … is starting a game … especially if he does well … [Hugo Ekitike] has to play every single game and that is not common … you want to rotate once in a while … [the FA Cup] is an important trophy to win, so that’s what we are trying.”
Diogo Jota served both of these famous old clubs with distinction. Beloved by Wolves and Liverpool supporters alike, Jota and his brother André Silva were fondly remembered during the Premier League game on Tuesday, and doubtless will be again tonight. Jota has also been memorialised in a piece created by former Wolves player turned artist Jody Craddock, painted using ink made from petals of floral tributes left at Molineux last summer. It was unveiled this week and will hang permanently in the stadium reception.
Remembering Diogo 💛
A memorial artwork created by Jody Craddock, painted with ink made out of the petals from floral tributes left by fans in memory of Diogo Jota, has been unveiled at Molineux. pic.twitter.com/aStwzk8pGt
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 6, 2026
Wolves boss Rob Edwards speaks to TNT Sports. “It’s really important … I wouldn’t want to say this is our stronger team, we have a really tight-knit group now … really good options … we wanted to try to win both games … we picked a team on Tuesday night to try to do that and we’ve done that again tonight … we’re expecting a little bit more aggression from Liverpool … to really come at us … we’ve got real speed on the outside … [Liverpool] are going to want to prove a point tonight … we have to be right back at it … I don’t see them changing loads tactically … we feel we’ve got a good plan … we can enjoy it … [the fans] deserve something to shout about.”
Wolves make six changes to the side named for the Premier League match on Tuesday night, and go big. Sam Johnstone, Angel Gomes, Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde, Tolu Arokodare, Yerson Mosquera and captain Toti Gomes are in. José Sá, Matt Doherty, Ladislav Krejčí, David Møller Wolfe, Adam Armstrong and André are out, with all bar Sá and André on tonight’s bench.
Liverpool also name a strong side, with four changes to their starting XI. Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha are in; Ibrahima Konaté, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong drop to the bench. Florian Wirtz returns from injury to take a place in the dugout alongside them.
The teams
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone, Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Toti Gomes, Tchatchoua, Bellegarde, Angel Gomes, Joao Gomes, Hugo Bueno, Arokodare, Mane.
Subs: Bentley, Doherty, Wolfe, Armstrong, Hwang, Peter Lima, Rodrigo Gomes, Krejci, Edozie.
Liverpool: Alisson, Jones, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Ngumoha.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Chiesa, Ekitike, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison.
Referee: Farai Hallam (Surrey)
Preamble
Some of you may be old enough to remember this …
… which puts Arne Slot and his team, several of whom appear to be running on fumes, under all sorts of pressure tonight. Wolverhampton Wanderers, in form yet unencumbered by expectation, were dangerous on Tuesday and could be again tonight. A place in the quarter-finals is the prize; the teamsheets – given Wolves haven’t quite given up on a Great Escape just yet, while Liverpool struggle to keep all of their plates spinning – will be interesting and possibly extremely revealing. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
