FA Cup rules guide: VAR, extra time, no replays, and substitutions for Wolves vs Liverpool
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.
