Premier League clubs made an average of 7.6 changes for their FA Cup third-round ties.

Liverpool rounded off the weekend’s action by making nine changes for Monday night’s loss to Wolves, whose five alterations equalled the lowest number for any top-flight team.

Only Dejan Lovren and James Milner remained from Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City – and the Croatia defender lasted barely five minutes before going down injured, meaning a debut for 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever.

Dejan Lovren
Dejan Lovren’s injury meant Liverpool’s nine changes soon became 10 (Martin Rickett/PA)

Watford were the one team across the weekend to make more changes than the Reds, naming a whole new XI against Woking on Sunday. It did not stop them winning 2-0, although the second goal came from club captain Troy Deeney after he was reintroduced from the bench.

Interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted “Probably I made it tough for us” after Manchester United were one of three other teams to make nine changes. They beat Reading 2-0 and Crystal Palace edged past 10-man Grimsby, but Bournemouth were not so fortunate as they lost 3-1 in their all-Premier League tie against Brighton.

The Cherries were one of six top-flight sides eliminated along with Huddersfield, made eight changes and lost 1-0 at Bristol City, Cardiff and Leicester who switched seven apiece for their respective upsets against Gillingham and Newport, Fulham – who lost to Oldham with a team showing six alterations – and Liverpool.

PA Graphics

Everton matched Wolves for the fewest changes, five, as they beat Lincoln 2-1. Their goals came from two of the new faces, Ademola Lookman and Bernard, in the first 15 minutes.

The Cottagers were joined by West Ham and Southampton in making half-a-dozen changes – the Hammers eased through but Saints face a replay against Derby.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery also handed in a team sheet containing only six changes, but was forced into a seventh when defender Laurent Koscielny reported an injury in the warm-up.