Wolves Fans' Verdict v Liverpool: Three letters to hate

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

Reaction to the Result

I’m genuinely looking forward to being able to speak about a game that has involved where a VAR decision has gone in the favour of Wolves but yet again, here we are condemning another shambolic Stockley Park performance.

When the odds are already stacked against you, facing the best team in the world, it then becomes the impossible task when VAR incorrectly awards a goal for Liverpool.

It’s a definite hand ball and the Premier Leagues explanation makes this division the laughing stock of Europe. Credit to Wolves in the second half as they dominated Liverpool for the majority of the half when it could’ve been quite easy for their heads to drop.

Man of the Match

Ruben Vinagre has to be my man of the match. Considering he’s coming up against one of the best right backs in the world, he tore him to shreds every time he went forward and nullified him defensively. A mature performance from you young man.

Something to Improve

There’s nothing much more Wolves could’ve done, but there were a couple of half chances in the latter stages of the game that could’ve been converted.

Clive Smith

Reaction to the Result

Nuno did wonders with the team selection and formation. We came away disappointed at the manner of the result but the side deserves great credit for playing the way they did. We were in the game right until the end and three late chances could well have earned us a point. It might sound corny, but I felt really proud of Wolves today.

Man of the Match

Several players had good games, while, for the likes of Vinagre, Neto and Kilman, it must have been a significant learning experience.

Dendoncker and Neves were both excellent in the middle. Jota showed a good level of energy to keep their defence honest. Most of our work was done defensively as you'd expect and here Bennett did well alongside MOTM Coady who was talking, pointing, encouraging and also playing a blinder. Superb effort from the skipper.

Whoever did the talking at half time deserves credit. They managed to remove the negativity of the VAR decisions from the players head's and we put in an impressive performance. Keeping control of their emotions must have been quite a challenge.

Something to Improve

It took a couple of players a while to get to the pace of the game, but that is more of an observation than a criticism.

Adam Virgo

Reaction to the Result

It’s sad how after a competitive game and performance against the best team in the league currently, all everyone is talking about is VAR, this is what football is becoming.

Their goal I personally think Lallana was fine, if that was us it’d probably get disallowed but I’d be angry if it did. The most annoying thing is the Van Dijk handball leading up to it, I’ve only seen images and not a proper video so can’t say too much but it does look suspicious.

Neto’s offside goal I mean it’s clear that when it’s that close, they should just go with the on-field decision because that’s the fairest way. If you have a zero margin of error system with humans controlling that system, there can still be human error in the system so surely it’s far easier to just go with what the ref/linesman say if it’s ridiculously close.

Anyway, the performance from Wolves was brilliant I thought, away at Anfield with some changes to key positions, we worked so hard and thoroughly deserved a draw at the very worst. So many positives to take into Watford.

Man of the Match

Ruben Vinagre was absolutely quality I thought, especially in the second half. He ripped Alexander-Arnold up constantly and he keeps showing that he’s a good option to bring on when Jonny starts and we need a goal.

Pedro Neto got robbed of his first Premier League goal, was a very good finish and he had a decent game too.

Max Kilman, Bennett and Coady all played really well, limited Liverpool to only a few good chances. Jota also played well, battled hard, wasn’t afraid to go up against Gomez, Van Dijk etc. Unlucky with his chance when he robbed the Dutch centre back.

Something to Improve

It was a changed team and the performance was exceptional. There were a few times late on when we were wasteful with some chances and we should have done better but that’s the only criticism I can give. VAR and the Premier League certainly have a lot to improve on though, that’s for sure.

Rob Cartwright

Reaction to the Result

The game has gone. Finished.

No longer can you let your emotions run away and celebrate. It’s pathetic.

I feel proud of our performance, but aggrieved with the stupid interpretation of the off side rule. No issue with the Liverpool goal. It looked like handball but the replay showed it wasn’t. Not sure why Lallana held his arm out; it could well have been a foul.

I’ve seen replays of the Neto goal and I cannot believe it was given as offside. He’s robbed of his first Premier League goal, at the Kop end, and its a disgrace.

Wolves played great in second half and were worthy of at least a point. We silenced the home support and penned them in their own half for 49 minutes.

We had 4 good chances. Moutinho and Saiss both skied a chance from 20 yards.

Traore had bad luck when a run and shot took a big deflection.

Vinagre took a shot, at the end, when Jimenez was better placed in the six yard box.

Man of the Match

All 4 of the new starters did very well.

Vinagre had an excellent game, both defensively and in attack. He more than justified his involvement and gets my Man of the Match.

Something to Improve

For the third game running, I cannot fault the performance or effort.

I would like to have seen Traore come on at half time. He had the beating of the Liverpool defence, but only had half an hour to impact.

We’ve enjoyed an amazing 2019. Happy New Year to all Wolves fans.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

Reaction to the Result

Liverpool are clearly a good side with great individual talent, but their path to being champions is littered with appalling VAR decisions.

It missed a blatant handball by the otherwise totally inept Virgil Van Dijk, then the abysmal referee blew the whistle as Sadio Mane put the ball in the net.

And as for the offside by apparently the width of two bootlaces... well until you can prove the lines you use are 100 per cent accurate then rules simply have to be changed.

It’s a game of soul and emotion and when that is gone there simply is no game.

VAR is ruining this game – please make it stop.