Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Wolves as Andy Robertson and 5 more stand out

Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Wolves as Rio Ngumoha did well and Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah scored to put the game beyond the hosts early in the second half

Andy Robertson was decisive for Liverpool.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON // Liverpool ensured its name will be in the FA Cup quarter-final draw by comfortably dispatching of Wolves just four days after losing on the same ground in the Premier League.

Yet again, the first half was goalless. Rio Ngumoha looked a threat to a point, but while he was less predictable than Cody Gakpo, he was faced with a sea of orange jerseys time after time.

A few minutes into the second period, though, a good pass from Gakpo set Mohamed Salah away and the move resulted in Andy Robertson opening the scoring with a low strike into the corner. The Scotland captain then teed Salah up with a perfect cross and Curtis Jones added his name to the scoresheet too.

Winners

Taking the chance to start a game, Ngumoha looked sharp, as ever. His feet are almost impossible to keep up with but there wasn't always that much in the way of end product in the first half.

The teenager was a livewire and a bright spark to a point, but in time, he will need to create chances more regularly. In part, that is why he isn't being used every week, but he did improve after the interval.

Elsewhere, Robertson scored and assisted at the start of the first half and proved decisive in the result. Liverpool needed someone to break through and beat the Wolves defense, and he was the man to step up.

Losers

Gakpo and Salah have been criticized a fair bit in recent times, and not unjustifiably. Out wide, they have offered little, and while the Dutch international was through the center here, he was a passenger for much of the first half.

In the second half, both Gakpo and Salah stepped up. The former was much more involved and the latter scored from close range. That kind of impact is what they need to replicate moving forward.

Player ratings

Alisson Becker (6). Starting ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Brazilian barely touched the ball in the first half. In the second, he did what he needed to and couldn't stop Hee-chan Hwang beating him and denying him what should have been a clean sheet.

Dominik Szoboszlai (6). Slotting in and doing a job at right-back, his passing wasn't always perfect and his energy was missed in the middle of the pitch. Like most of his teammates, mainly fine, but nothing more.

Joe Gomez (7). Giving Ibrahima Konate a break, he was back in his favored center-back berth. Sharp, quick and good on the ball in the main, and looked good in the context of not having played much lately.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Had a few aerial battles with Tolu Arokodare, where he came out on top, but couldn't do much with the balls that his teammates swung in from set-pieces.

Andy Robertson (8). It was no surprise that he came in for the cup clash, and he was a solid defensive performer. Wasted a couple of good positions to cross by overhitting the attempted ball in early on, but netted the opening goal with a really nice effort and set up Liverpool's second soon after. Decisive.

Ryan Gravenberch (7). Only playing 45 minutes in the previous fixture earlier in the week because he picked up an early booking, the Dutchman looked much livelier here, and kept himself out of trouble. Showed his quality a few times under pressure to spin away from his man.

Alexis Mac Allister (6). One who could arguably have done with a rest, the Argentine was fine in the center of the pitch but nothing more. His impact was minimal and he kept things simple.

Mohamed Salah (6). A goalscorer against Wolves earlier in the week, he came up against some familiar issues. He wasn't really able to beat his man for pace, and his set-piece deliveries left something to be desired. Just about onside when he netted the Reds' second.

Curtis Jones (7). In midfield and not at right-back, he was one brought in to freshen things up. Got on the ball a bit, but not as much as he is capable of to begin with, and wasn't as involved as he would have wanted. Took his goal very well and like most Liverpool players, improved in the second half.

Rio Ngumoha (7). Given the start that many were calling for, his feet were as quick as ever. Going left and right, he was able to switch it up and keep his various markers guessing. First half, his end product was limited. Second, when gaps opened up, he started to show what he can do.

Cody Gakpo (6). Starting up front to give Hugo Ekitike a much-needed rest, he struggled to get into the game in the first half, heavily outnumbered by three Wolves center-backs. Better in the second half but had to drop very deep to get a touch at times.

Substitutes

Florian Wirtz (6). On earlier than anticipated given he is only just back from an injury, the German was able to ease back into things with Liverpool comfortably in front at this point in the game.

Jeremie Frimpong (6). Also still easing himself back into the swing of things after an injury, the speedy former Bayer Leverkusen man played on the right wing. Lively, but the job was already done by the time he came on.

Ibrahima Konate (6). On near the end to give Van Dijk a bit of a rest. Slotted in and did what he needed to but somehow didn't score from close range.

Trey Nyoni (6). Getting another chance, he looked assured in midfield. Like Ngumoha, one to keep an eye on. Kieran Morrison also came on but too late to earn a rating.