Wolves win the battle but lose the war

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Liverpool 2

I’m not aware that there is German vernacular for “It’s never over ‘til the fat lady sings” but in his pre match comments Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp was clearly eluding to the phrase. His team may be riding high atop the premier league but he is keen to keep feet on the ground praising the quality of Wolves’ recent performance at Anfield and the threat that they pose.

And for a fifteen minute spell during the second half of this absorbing game his sentiment was very prescient. In the wake of the most graceful equaliser by Raul Jimenez in minute 51, Wolves were dominant so much so that Liverpool appeared clueless. In minute 67 the fluidity of the home side’s movement and passing put Jimenez free on goal. The better option would have been to square the ball to the vacant Johnny, who was better placed to score, but instead the Mexican striker fired straight at Alisson. With that effort the chance went begging. It was the third opportunity that Wolves had squandered and was the difference between these two fine sides. When Liverpool had a chance they took it and nothing exemplified this more than the opening quarter of an hour.

The game was barely three minutes old when from a Wolves free kick Pedro Neto fired a low curling cross along the six yard box which failed to connect with a team mate’s boot. Three minutes later, from a Trent Alexander Arnold corner, Jordan Henderson rose amongst a crowd of Old Gold shirts to head home. Then on ten minutes a beautifully worked corner picked out Matt Doherty free at the back post. It was harder to miss than score but Doherty did so. Some form of salvation for the Irishman came on the stroke of half time when Mohammed Salah darted through the Wolves defence like a knife through butter only to have his effort blocked by a Doherty foot.

Further salvation came in minute 51 with the Wolves equaliser. Collecting the ball on the half way line Jimenez dummied passed Virgil Van Dijk before setting Adama Traore free on the right wing. Continuing his run into the box Jimenez met Traore’s beautifully flighted cross to head home. It was football at its beautiful simple best and was the cue for the aforementioned spell of Wolves dominance which ended with the Jimenez miss. In its wake Wolves began to tire and as they did, so the visitors began to create more opportunities. Salah had a couple of half chances saved by Patricio and then on 81 Fermino should have done better when free on goal, but his effort struck Patricio’s outstretched legs.

Three minutes later he made no mistake. Salah trickery on the edge of the Wolves box had the defence at sixes and sevens, before a neat ball to Fermino left him free to fire home. One could argue that the goal was undeserved but class sides are clinical in a manner that nearly sides are not. Still, to think that Wolves can go toe to toe with what is currently the best club side in the world is a remarkable achievement. Whilst I’m not keen on the sentiment for once we need to take the positives.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio 7, Dendoncker 7, Coady 7, Saiss 7, Doherty 7, Castro Otto 6, Neves 7, Moutinho 6 Sub Gibbs White, Traore 9, Neto 7 Sub Jota, Jimenez 7

Liverpool: Alisson 6, Alexander Arnold 7, Van Dijk 7, Gomez 7, Robertson 6, Oxlade Chaimberlain 6 Sub Fabinho, Henderson 7, Wijnaldum 6, Salah 8, Sub Origi, Firmino 6, Mane 6 Sub Minamino 6

Attendance: 31,746

Referee: Michael Oliver 10

©Mark Brennand