January 7th marks exactly three years since a rather memorable day for Liverpool, but not in the conventional sense.
On this day in 2019, the Reds faced Wolves at Molineux in the third round of the FA Cup, but it was not a good evening for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Goals from Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves sealed a 2-1 victory for Wolves, despite a consolation goal from Divock Origi.
While the game will not be remembered for the result, something else significant took place in the west Midlands.
READ MORE: Liverpool have golden transfer chance to sign ideal midfielder for free
READ MORE: Liverpool team news hint for FA Cup as 'crazy' claim made over training
As the game marked a senior debut for young defender Ki-Jana Hoever, who replaced the injured Dejan Lovren just five minutes into the contest.
Then aged just 17, Hoever was forced to step into an unfavoured role at centre-back, having been signed and brought up as a right-back.
Liverpool had brought the Dutchman in from Ajax a few months earlier, after extensive scouting, and paying just £90,000 for his signature.
And even though the Reds lost the game, Hoever made a strong impression.
But he would go on to make just four appearances for the club, with his highlight easily being a header in the closing moments of a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over MK Dons in September 2019.
A year later it was the end of Hoever’s brief time as a Liverpool player when he was sold to Wolves in September 2020.
The Reds agreed a £13.5m deal for the Holland youth international, which saw them receive an initial £9m, with a further £4.5m in add-ons.
Sporting director Michael Edwards also negotiated a 15% sell-on clause for Hoever, who was at one stage earmarked as a future right-back at Anfield.
The £13.5m sale to Wolves represents a 15,000 per cent increase on the initial £90,000 that Liverpool paid Ajax in the summer of 2018.
And there could be more to come...
