Liverpool outplayed by Wolves
Liverpool 1 v Wolves 2
Jurgen Klopp and Paul Lambert once worked together at Borussia Dortmund. Understudy Lambert acknowledges that he learned much from the more senior Klopp. How times change. Two months ago, with Liverpool riding high, Klopp was being lauded as the manager who might finally transform the Reds into the team that their supporters feel they ought to be. But a series of poor results against lowly premier league opposition has dented, both those thoughts and Klopp’s burgeoning status. And just when you need things to change along comes a team from the bottom half of the league below you, who make you look ordinary. Now it is Klopp who could possibly learn from Lambert.
Allow me, for a brief moment, to take you back to June 2016. The UK had just voted for Brexit and in the European Championships England was pitched against a team composed of sheep farmers and fishermen from Iceland. England that night were as inept as any English side in recent memory but, painful though it was, it is the tenor of that game which I want to remind you of. For it was mirrored here at Anfield today with Liverpool playing as England, Wolves as Iceland. Liverpool dominated possession but it took them a full hour to create their first attempt on goal, albeit a tame long range shot from Philippe Coutinho. They had spent much of the previous hour allowing Wolves to break down their moves, usually on the edge of the eighteen yard box from where the visitors set up their own counter attacks. Had Helder Costa made a better fist of his run and shot in the 10th minute they could have gone in at half time 3-0 up.
As it was they had to make do with 2-0, a fifty three second opener from the head of Richard Stearman and a 40th minute effort from recent loanee Andreas Weiman, providing the goals. The Weimann goal was particularly pleasing starting as it did from breaking up yet another Liverpool attack. Collecting the loose ball on the edge of the Wolves box Matt Doherty found Helder Costa with an astute pass. The Portuguese striker, who has been transformed under Lambert, advanced deep into Liverpool territory. Holding off a strong challenge from Alberto Moreno he fed Weimann who, though he has spent most of this season warming a bench, showed great composure in rounding Loris Karius and slotting the ball into an empty Liverpool net. It was no more than the visitors deserved.
At half time one might think that Herr Klopp would initiate change. He did, to a point, by introducing new faces. But the pattern of played changed little with no change in outcome. In the 80th minute Wolves’ substitute Jon Dadi Bodvarsson nearly put the tie beyond doubt when his instinctive toe poke hit Karius. But six minutes later Divock Origi finally gave Liverpool a life line when Wolves failed to clear their lines, following a corner. Sturridge headed the ball back across the box to the vacant Origi who poked home.
Wolves refused to sit back and in time added on Bodvarsson’s solo effort, chasing a ball down the right wing before cutting in and firing at goal, was cleared off the Liverpool line. By then Liverpool, much like England, had run out of ideas. For the Old Gold it was a deserved victory and they now find themselves in the 5th round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2008.
Liverpool: Karius 6, Randall 5 Sub Coutinho 6, Gomez 6, Klavan 5, Moreno 5, Ejaria 5 Sub Can, Lucas 6, Wijnaldum 6, Woodburn 6, Origi 6, Firmino 6 Sub Sturridge
Wolves: Burgoyne 7, Coady 6, Stearman 7, Hause 7, Doherty 7, Edwards 7, Evans 6, Saville 6, Costa 8 Sub Ronan, Weiman 7 Sub Mason, Dicko 6 Sub Bodvarsson 7
Attendance: 52,469
Referee: Craig Pawson 8
©Mark Brennand