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Liverpool are set to make a quick return trip to Molineux, facing Wolverhampton Wanderers for the second time in just a week, this time in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday evening.

Key details for the Wolves vs Liverpool FA Cup tie

The matchup pits Wolves against Liverpool once more in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The clash is scheduled for Friday, March 6, at Molineux Stadium, with kick-off at 8pm.

VAR usage

In this fifth-round fixture, full VAR support will be available to help the referee correct any obvious mistakes. While earlier rounds had restrictions on the technology, it’s fully implemented here.

Extra time and penalties

Should the score be tied after 90 minutes, the game will move into 30 minutes of extra time. If still level at the end, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout right away to advance to the quarter-finals.

No replays policy

Replays were eliminated starting from the first round proper in the 2024/25 season—a change carried into 2025/26—to reduce scheduling pressures for teams involved in expanded European competitions. As a result, the outcome must be resolved on the night at Molineux.

Substitutions rules

Teams can name nine substitutes on the bench and use up to five during regular time, spread across three separate opportunities (half-time doesn’t count as one). If the match enters extra time, both sides get an extra substitution, bringing the potential total to six.

New eight-second goalkeeper rule

As part of a trial in the 2025/26 season, goalkeepers are limited to holding the ball for no more than eight seconds. Exceeding this triggers a corner kick for the opposing team (instead of an indirect free-kick), and referees will use a visible hand signal to count down the final five seconds.

TV and streaming in the UK

The game airs live on TNT Sports 1 and BBC One, with pre-match coverage starting ahead of the 8pm kick-off. TNT subscribers can also watch via the discovery+ app on various devices.

Radio and audio options

Live commentary is available nationally on BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT. Fans can also tune into club-specific audio through the official Liverpool and Wolves apps (Matchday Live for Liverpool, Wolves TV for Wolves), plus coverage from local BBC stations.

Team updates and injuries

Liverpool remain without long-term injured players Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo. Florian Wirtz has been dealing with a back problem but may feature in a limited role from the bench. Wolves come in buoyed by their 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday, though both managers are likely to make some rotations due to the short four-day gap between games.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has hinted at a possible future reunion with his ex-Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson at Celtic, suggesting the left-back “might join” him there “soon.”

The former Reds midfielder recently signed for the Scottish champions as a free agent last month and has praised how chats with Robertson played a big role in convincing him to move to Parkhead.

Robertson, Liverpool’s current left-back, is approaching the final four months of his Anfield contract (which expires in June 2026). While he’s been linked with various Premier League and Championship sides, a return to his boyhood club in Glasgow has also surfaced as a possibility.

In an appearance on The Official Celtic FC Podcast, Oxlade-Chamberlain explained: “Having him [Robertson] as a reference point was perfect for me. He’s told me where I need to live, where I need to go. He’s told me everything. He’s a proper Glasgow boy. I just said to him, ‘It’s a shame you’re not here with me.’

“Maybe came a bit early… he might join me soon. He’s a bit younger than me, Robbo. I’d hope to see him here one day. I think he’d be amazing here.”

As a lifelong Celtic supporter, the prospect of Robertson heading back to the club that released him at age 15 would make for a classic full-circle story, especially amid uncertainty about his immediate future at Liverpool.

That said, ex-Scotland forward Kenny Miller made a fair point: Robertson might hesitate to join right away, as he’d be battling for the starting spot with fellow Scotland international Kieran Tierney.

At 31, Robertson has already slipped into more of a backup role at Anfield following the arrival of Milos Kerkez last summer, and he’s unlikely to want another move where he’d start on the bench.

There could come an ideal moment for a Celtic return down the line, but it might not be immediate. If he does depart Liverpool this summer—as some reports suggest is probable—the hope is he’ll land somewhere he can play regularly week in, week out

Yan Diomande has been linked with a move to the Premier League, and Liverpool is hoping to sign him.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich attacker Michael Olise was a target for the Premier League champions, but he’s unlikely to leave this summer. Therefore, Liverpool has decided to shift their focus towards the Ivorian attacker.

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Yan Diomande is in fine form

The 19-year-old has been exceptional for RB Leipzig and has all the attributes to become a future star. It has been confirmed that Liverpool are looking to secure his signature in the coming months, and talks have already ‘taken place’. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool comes forward with an official proposal to sign the player.

They have the finances to pay a premium for him, and the 19-year-old could be tempted to join them. Diomande has previously admitted that he is a Liverpool fan, and the opportunity to play in the Premier League will be an extra incentive.More Stories / Latest News

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Liverpool could use Diomande

Liverpool needs an explosive wide player who can take on defenders and beat them in one-versus-one situations. They need more unpredictability in the final third. Diomande has 17 goal contributions this season.

Plettenberg claims that Liverpool has prioritised the signing of a ‘high-class’ winger in the summer. It remains to be seen whether they can wrap up a move for the 19-year-old.

Diomande is an elite prospect, and Liverpool would do well to secure his signature. He would be a super future investment for them, and he could develop into a star in the Premier League.

The attacker will cost around €100 million in the summer, and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool is prepared to pay up for him. Even though the asking price is quite high, Diomande might be able to justify the investment in the long term.

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Lionel Messi Slammed For Reaction When Donald Trump Spoke About US Conflict With IranLionel MessiFollowLikeLink copied to clipboardAdd us on4By Rob SwanMar 6, 2026, 8:17 AM GMTLionel Messi has received strong criticism for his reaction when Donald Trump spoke about the United States’ ongoing bombing of Iran.Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were invited to the White House to meet the US President on Thursday following December’s Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final win over Vancouver Whitecaps.Various clips from the meeting have been widely shared on social media, including Messi’s reaction when Trump mentioned Cristiano Ronaldo’s name while speaking to him. Inter Miami’s squad were also asked whether Messi or Pele – the player Trump said is the greatest player of all time last summer – is the superior footballer.But during a far more serious moment, Trump provided an update on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.The US and Israel launched a joint-attack on Iran last weekend, with Trump calling for a regime change after carrying out “major combat operations”. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel, as well as striking the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.Donald TrumpRelatedExpert Reveals Condition Which Could See World Cup Postponed Amid US ConflictBy Hal FishSpeaking in front of Inter Miami’s players, including Messi, Trump said, per the New York Times: “The U.S. military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule.”Trump continued. “We are destroying more of Iran’s missiles and drone capability every single hour … We want to fight now more than they do. We’ve had 47 years, depending on the way you count it, 47 years of horror with this group.”He added: “When you see somebody walking down the street without their legs, without the arms, whose face is so badly affected and hurt, it mostly came from, 95%, Soleimani and Iran.“Other presidents lived with it, I didn’t live with it. Our people are doing a great job. Again, the greatest military anyone’s seen. Thank you.”Messi Slammed For Clapping TrumpLionel Messi and Donald TrumpLionel Messi and Donald TrumpIn response, sports journalist Leyla Hamed posted a strong tweet, criticising Messi and his teammates for reacting to Trump’s words with applause. She wrote: “Donald Trump casually announces more illegal bombing of Iran in front of the entire Inter Miami squad.“Hundreds of children have been killed in Iran in the last few days. Lionel Messi and his teammates respond with applause. Bizarre.”Some of the responses to the tweet are in complete agreement. Palestinian journalist Abubaker Abed wrote: “Truly disgusting. First Ronaldo and second Messi applauding. Football is dead. Messi and Ronaldo are finishing off their careers with a deplorable and unprofessional chapter.”However, others have shown sympathy towards Messi, who recently admitted that he wishes he’d learned English when he was younger.He told the ‘Miro de Atras’ podcast, per Goal: “To not have learned English as a boy. I had the time to have at least studied English and I didn’t do it. I deeply regret it. I experienced situations where I was with incredible and spectacular personalities to be able to talk and have a chat and you feel half ignorant.”I always thought: ‘What an idiot, how I wasted my time.’ When you’re young, you don’t realise it. Today that’s what I tell my children, [the importance of] having a good education, to study and be prepared. I always tell my children to take advantage of it. They have a different situation to the one I had, although I never lacked anything…”Another X user wrote in response to Hamed’s tweet: “I’m a Ronaldo fan and could easily jump on this and say Messi is a bad person but he doesn’t even understand English. He probably just saw everyone applauding and went with it.”However, when another person commented: “Some fellow Messi fans saying ‘he doesn’t understand what Trump’s saying’. Probably doesn’t, but ‘Iran’ was mentioned and he and the others have seen what’s been happening the last few days so still not an excuse,” Hamed replied: “Exactly. The world knows who Trump is. People need to stop infantilising athletes seriously.”FootballLionel MessiLionel MessiInter Miami CFInter Miami CFFollowLikeShareThreadWe want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.Be the first to postThis thread is open for discussion.Be the first to post your thoughts

Arne Slot has hinted at a possible comeback for Florian Wirtz in Liverpool’s FA Cup clash against Wolves on Friday night.

The 22-year-old German attacking midfielder has been sidelined for the Reds’ previous three games due to a back issue that arose before their recent victory at Nottingham Forest. His absence was particularly felt in the 2-1 Premier League loss at Molineux earlier this week, where Liverpool struggled to create chances without his flair and vision.

In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Liverpool manager offered a cautious but optimistic update on Wirtz’s recovery. Slot explained that the player trained partially with the group the day before and progressed further in his rehabilitation. “Let’s see how he is today,” he said. “In the best-case scenario, he could be available for a few minutes tomorrow.”

Slot also confirmed that, apart from those dealing with longer-term injuries, the rest of the squad is fit and ready for the fifth-round tie at Molineux, which offers a chance to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

While the head coach has opened the door to Wirtz featuring, his comments were tempered with caution—emphasizing that any involvement would likely be limited to a short substitute appearance at best.

Given the upcoming tough Champions League trip to Galatasaray on Tuesday, it’s understandable if Liverpool opts to hold back their number 7 for that match, allowing extra recovery time to ensure he’s fully sharp for the bigger fixture in Istanbul.

Wolves, who managed to contain Liverpool effectively in the league encounter without Wirtz’s creativity causing problems, would surely welcome his absence again on Friday.

Ultimately, it appears Slot would only call upon the former Bayer Leverkusen star if truly required in the cup game. Still, this latest update is encouraging, showing that the game-changing talent is close to making his return for a Liverpool side that has missed his influence.

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Liverpool return to Molineux tonight hoping for immediate redemption after Tuesday’s painful Premier League defeat, with Arne Slot confirming he intends to name a strong side in the FA Cup clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.The Reds were beaten 2-1 in dramatic fashion earlier this week when Andre’s stoppage-time deflection secured victory for the hosts, a moment that sparked debate about the build-up to the goal and the pressure applied in midfield.Stephen Warnock pointed to the decisive moment in the move that led to Wolves’ winner, explaining: “It was a mistake from Curtis Jones – he plays a ball into Alisson and Alisson’s never going to get any purchase on it.”Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman also highlighted Virgil van Dijk’s frustration with Rio Ngumoha during the incident, saying the captain appeared unhappy with the pressure on Andre before the shot.With another meeting between the sides arriving less than 72 hours later, the attention now turns to who will actually be available for tonight’s FA Cup encounter.With another meeting between the sides arriving less than 72 hours later, the attention now turns to who will actually be available for tonight’s FA Cup encounter.Liverpool team news ahead of Wolves clashAccording to Liverpoolfc.com, the Reds do not have any fresh injury concerns following the defeat earlier this week.However, five players remain unavailable.Stefan Bajcetic, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni are still sidelined and will not feature tonight.There is some positive news regarding Florian Wirtz though.Arne Slot revealed the German attacker is nearing a return after missing the last three matches with a back injury.Our Dutch head coach said: “He trained half and half yesterday with the team. What I mean with that is he was a ‘joker’, you say over here I think, so he made the next step in his rehab.”Slot also suggested the playmaker could make a short cameo if everything progresses well.He added: “So, let’s see where he is today and if he then could be available for a few – a few – minutes tomorrow, in the best scenario.”Wolves team news and suspension updateWolves are actually in a healthier position heading into the tie.Head coach Rob Edwards confirmed his squad is largely fully fit ahead of the 8pm kick-off.The only guaranteed absentee for the Midlands side is midfielder Andre, the Brazilian is suspended after receiving two yellow cards in this season’s FA Cup.Aside from that setback, Edwards insisted his squad is in good shape for the match.He said: “Apart from Andre, who is suspended, we’re in a good spot now where everyone’s fit and available for tomorrow night.”With Liverpool still balancing several injuries and a demanding run of fixtures ahead, including Galatasaray next week, Slot must decide how much rotation to introduce while still naming the strong side he promised.UncategorizedPost navigationWhy Rio Ngumoha Could Leave Liverpool on Loan This Year – Insider Explains the SituationRelated PostsAll my players were talking about him in the dressing room… I even set up two players to mark him, but we still failed.” — Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler names the ONE Liverpool player who destroyed his game plan at Anfield.Liverpool’s 2–0 victory over Brighton at Anfield was a performance built on structure, control, and ruthless efficiency. While the goals…BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool Star Announces Shock Departure from AnfieldLiverpool Football Club has been rocked by unexpected news as one of its key players has reportedly decided to leave…Real Madrid want Dominik Szoboszlai RIGHT NOW. The price on the table couldn’t be more tempting: a world-class all-round player in a swap deal and a massive salary package. Contact has already been made — and the figures being discussed have left fans stunned.Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a bold and strategic move in the summer transfer window, with plans emerging to bring…Leave a ReplyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment *

The managerial situation at could become one of the biggest stories of the upcoming summer as uncertainty grows around head coach .

Recent reports suggest the club’s ownership group will review Slot’s position once the 2025/26 season comes to an end. While no final decision has been made, the club is expected to carefully assess the team’s progress before determining the next step.

Pressure Mounting at Anfield
Liverpool’s current campaign has been far from smooth, raising questions about the long-term direction of the team.

Although the Reds remain in the race for European qualification, inconsistent performances throughout the season have triggered debates among supporters and football analysts about whether Slot’s rebuilding project is advancing quickly enough.

Slot arrived at Anfield with a strong reputation after impressing in the Dutch league, where he built exciting attacking sides that relied on intense pressing and fluid football. The club believed his tactical philosophy suited Liverpool’s traditional style.

However, adapting to the demands of the has proven to be a difficult challenge.

Liverpool’s title hopes have faded during the campaign, and the team has spent long stretches outside the top four. Defensive struggles, injuries to key players, and the task of integrating younger talents into the squad have all contributed to the team’s uneven performances.

Xabi Alonso Emerges as Leading Candidate 
If Liverpool eventually decide to make a managerial change, one name appears to be high on the owners’ list — former Reds midfielder .

Alonso’s reputation as a coach has grown rapidly thanks to his impressive work in Germany, where he has earned praise for his tactical intelligence and ability to develop young players.

Beyond his coaching success, Alonso’s deep connection with Liverpool also adds emotional appeal. During his playing days at Anfield, the Spaniard was a key figure in one of the club’s most iconic eras.

He played an important role in Liverpool’s unforgettable victory in the — a historic comeback that remains one of the greatest nights in the club’s history.

Because of that legacy and his understanding of the club’s culture, many believe Alonso would be a natural fit should Liverpool decide to move in a new direction.

What Happens Next?
For now, Slot remains in charge and Liverpool’s focus stays on finishing the season strongly. But with pressure rising and the summer approaching, the club’s leadership will soon face an important decision about who should lead the team into the next chapter. 

If performances do not improve before the end of the campaign, the conversation about Liverpool’s next manager could become one of the most talked-about stories of the summer transfer window.

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Liverpool have received disappointing injury news on Jeremy Jacquet just ahead of his summer arrival at Anfield. The Reds sealed a £60m deal for the promising centre-back in January, with the 20-year-old set to stay at Rennes until the end of the current campaign before joining Arne Slot’s squad for pre-season.

Tragically, the injury struck only days after the transfer was confirmed: Jacquet suffered a serious shoulder problem during a Ligue 1 match, which has now been deemed to require surgery this week. Liverpool have stayed in touch with Rennes about his care and recovery plan.

A Ligue 1-experienced doctor quoted by L’Equipe outlined a likely recovery period: around five months for a full return to competitive action involving contact, duels, and challenges (with four months possible under an aggressive rehab program and up to six months if progress is slower). In the most optimistic case, he’d be ready to link up with Liverpool right at the start of pre-season; in the worst, he might miss the opening weeks of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

This setback will make it tougher for the young defender to adapt quickly to his new club, teammates, and tactical demands after such a prolonged layoff.

Liverpool could face real defensive challenges at the beginning of next season if Jacquet’s comeback is delayed, especially with Ibrahima Konate’s contract expiring in June (and no new deal confirmed yet) and Giovanni Leoni still sidelined from his ACL injury until later in the autumn.

Hoping the operation goes smoothly and his rehab progresses quickly so Jacquet can launch his Liverpool career on a strong, healthy note—he has all the signs of becoming a major asset for the club

Expert Reveals Condition Which Could See World Cup Postponed Amid US ConflictDonald TrumpFollowLikeLink copied to clipboardAdd us on4By Hal FishMar 5, 2026, 10:31 PM GMTWe may be just months away from the 2026 World Cup, but there are plenty of questions that remain in regards to just how the tournament will play out. Most pertinently, there are concerns about Iran’s participation.Iran are scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the USA this summer. They face New Zealand on 15 June in Los Angeles, Belgium on 21 June in the same city, and finally Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. However, following recent geopolitical events, they may not attend the World Cup.After the United States and Israel launched military attacks against the country, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, said: “With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup.”Since then, Iran have launched missiles and drone attacks against Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman. As conflict grows, there may be genuine fears regarding the United States’ ability to safely host the World Cup.Could the 2026 World Cup Be Postponed?Donald TrumpDonald TrumpThe good news is that it appears very unlikely that the summer tournament could be postponed. Professor Simon Chadwick, who has previously served as director of research for the organisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has also advised global sporting organisations, has spoken on the topic.Talking to SPORTbible, Chadwick explained that attacks would likely have to occur in the US and Europe before there was any realistic chance of the World Cup being called off. He said:“With only three months to go to the World Cup, postponement of the tournament to next year seems unlikely. Logistically, economically and politically, it would be a major challenge to reschedule the mega-event. So long as conflict remains contained within the Middle East, it would be hard to justify or explain postponement.“However, if attacks spill over into Europe and North America, the matter would escalate and become much more serious. Furthermore, if air travel is disrupted or oil supplies are significantly affected, practical considerations might force FIFA and the US to think about alternative arrangements for the competition.“One nevertheless suspects that Donald Trump and his administration would strongly oppose rescheduling, as they would likely see it as capitulation. Postponement has to be a possibility, although for the time being at least, the tournament seems more likely to go ahead as planned.”

Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah could be on his way out of Liverpool F.C. this summer, according to Football Insider, if a major bid arrives from the Saudi Pro League.

Since joining from AS Roma in 2017, Salah has been the cornerstone of Liverpool’s attack, delivering record-breaking performances and helping the club secure the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League title. His debut season alone saw him score 44 goals across all competitions, cementing his status as one of the world’s elite forwards.

However, with just one year left on his contract and the twilight of his career approaching, Liverpool must weigh whether to extend the legendary No.11’s stay or prepare for life after him. While Salah remains capable of flashes of brilliance, his consistency has dipped during the 2025/26 season.

Interest from the Saudi Pro League has been persistent, with Al-Ittihad’s reported £150m bid in 2023 already rejected. Financially stronger than ever, Saudi clubs are likely to return with new offers. Allowing Salah to leave now could bring in a substantial fee, reduce the club’s wage bill, and avoid losing him for free in 2027—though keeping him ensures a proven match-winner and locker-room leader.

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