Internet Desk: The home factor was not enough for Liverpool on Saturday. At Anfield, Klopp’s men lost to Wolverhampton by 2-1 with a goal in the first minute of play and is out of contention for the FA Cup.The visiting team was superior throughout the match and remains steadfast in the competition.
The Wolves did not give the Reds time to impose their game rhythm. In the first minute of the match, the visiting team charged a foul near the area with a cross from the left that left defender Richard Stearman facing the goal. With a clear kick, the English sent the ball to the back of the net and opened the scoring at Liverpool’s home.
When the match began to balance, Wolverhampton showed they were not satisfied with the result at hand. In the 40th minute of the first leg, the Angolan Helder Costa started in speed, on the counterattack for the Wolves. Whoever expected it in legal position was Austrian Weimann, who received the ball in time to dribble the goalkeeper and send it to the goal.
Liverpool even tried to react, but the day was the Wolves. In the 40th minute of the second half, striker Origi took a corner-kick and got the cross. On the head, the player narrowed the gap on the scoreboard, but did not do enough for Liverpool to continue in the championship.
With one more great performance this Saturday, Chelsea advanced easily to the last 16 of the FA Cup. The team led by Antonio Conte practically dominated the match and beat Brentford, who play in the second division of English football, 4-0. With goals from Willian, Pedro, Ivanovic and Batshuayi, Chelsea secured their place in the next phase of the competition.
Remaining in the lead of the Premier League, with eight points more than second-placed Arsenal, Chelsea have confirmed the superiority of their cast under a cloudy sky at Stamford Bridge. And the crowd vibrated early in the first half, with a Brazilian goal. Willian, in the 13th minute, collected the foul Pedro suffered with mastery and sent the ball in the angle, opening the score for the owners of the house.
With the advantage, Chelsea grew even more on the visitors. The ball barely left the defense field of Brentford, which suffered from pressure from the constituents. At 20, Pedro started in a shot from the middle of the field, to the right, and took advantage of the beautiful pass of Willian. Of left-handed and a little clumsy, the Spaniard extended to his team.
Brentford even tried a rush at the end of the first half. Despite being visibly downtrodden with both goals of the Blues, he was incisive in the attack and gave Begovic work in the final minutes. However, well placed, the goalkeeper removed the danger for the London team.
In the same way that left the field, Chelsea returned to the second half: fast and keeping possession of the ball. Brentford, meanwhile, came back with full focus to try to stop the blue team. On 17 minutes, Yennaris infiltrated danger in the area of Begovic, dribbled the markers and managed to finish, but on top of the archer.
Once again abusing the speed, Pedro took a quick counterattack in the 23rd minute and passed to Ivanovic, who scored his first goal of the match – Chelsea’s third. This, even, can be the farewell of the idol of the London club. Even with the decided game, the Blues not have given up the show. After 37 minutes, Batshuayi sent a free kick in high over the penalty box.
Diego Costa, who entered the second half to replace Pedro, almost rocked the net in the end but was stopped by the Brentford defense.