Wolves Fans' Verdict v Liverpool: A poor display

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

Wolves fans' positive change in attitude came crashing back down to earth as they were dominated by an injury-hit Liverpool.

There was an obvious absence for Wolves in the shape of Raul Jimenez but I don't think his inclusion would've been enough as Wolves never looked like beating Liverpool and lacked belief from the get-go.

A couple of half-chances were all that Wolves could muster up which is disappointing considering Liverpool's goalkeeping situation. It's a frustrating one, to say the least, as all goals were avoidable and Liverpool could have been got at but instead, they completely dominated Wolves.

The change in shape is going to take some perfecting but I feel Wolves need a change in personnel to get the best out of it. This was unacceptable.

Clive Smith

Rome wasn't built in a day and Liverpool are a decent side but four at the back looks a big step backwards to me against teams with that many attacking options.

For twenty minutes we were in the game but after one mistake, a goal, we failed to make it a contest from then on. We looked out of position in and out of possession.

Semedo is a full-back playing like a wing-back which leaves a huge gap behind him. Coady never went up for corners when we had five at the back, so why is it a good idea when we only have four defenders?

As for the corners themselves, using two players to then deliver a ball that sets up a counter attack is always going to be flawed. Yet we repeatedly did it. Liverpool on the other hand crossed their corner into the right area and scored.

It's a worry. Eleven games in and we have been thoroughly thrashed twice now. Our identity is seriously being challenged. Being solid at the back, hard to play against, good without the ball were not much in evidence.

As well as losing our shape we were lightweight and, dare I say it, lacked heart once we went 0-1. There looked no belief that we could get back into the game.

Positives and highlights were thin on the ground. Podence did a delightful chip, Neto looked a threat during the first half while MOTM Traore looked the only one likely to create a goal. Patricio could not be blamed for anything. Our midfield three just looked so short of pace it was frightening.

Despite our ugly looking goal difference our points total is not to shabby. We know we can improve. I do wonder though what our strategy is moving forward. If we persevere with four at the back - who are the right full backs? Do we play with five and include Kilman? Or Saiss? Is it two up top or two in midfield? Who'd be a coach?

It all seems such a contrast to a year ago, when we could all name at least ten of the starters before every game.

Adam Virgo

Regardless of the opposition, it was a very disappointing performance and result. We got a lot of things wrong, made some poor mistakes, and against the best side in the league we were always going to get punished for them.

I understand why Nuno wanted the extra man in the middle but it was the wrong thing to do. Having no recognised striker meant we had no focal point and Podence struggled a lot in that central role. Adama and Neto got into some good positions but with Podence in the middle it’s not as if they had much to aim for so we couldn’t make the most of our counter attacking opportunities.

No idea what Coady was thinking for the opening goal. All he had to do was head the ball away and most defenders would have. Wijnaldum’s goal was a very good strike for the second but Boly was in no man’s land leading up to it and at that point the game was done.

If we play four at the back then I think we just need to be bold and play 4231 regardless. With the midfielders we have, 433 isn’t the right thing to do as none of them get that many goals or assists so we may as well have the extra attacker on and actually take risks.

I really hope we don’t go revert to a back five again just because of this result, it was a bad team performance and in the two games prior to this, 4231 has worked brilliantly and I do think it should be the way forward for us.

Rob Cartwright

Disappointing game to say the least. I wasn’t happy with the change (Neves) as this impacted the shape of the team.

That said, we matched Liverpool for the first 25 minutes, in what started as a very even game. It wasn’t until Coady’s mistake that gifted Salah the first goal that Liverpool got a grip on the game. We never looked like getting back in it to be honest.

How we missed Jimenez in this game. His absence left a massive hole, not just in the box getting on the end of crosses; but just as much around the centre circle winning or keeping possession of the ball while midfielders join the attack.

I think we missed a real opportunity here to go at Liverpool from the start and try and get the upper edge early on in the game.

We only created two real chances. Coady and Dendoncker having opportunities in the second half. VAR made the right decision on the penalty decision, though I’m sure Liverpool would have been given it if the other way around.

It was good to see both Boly and Coady going up for corners, though we did get caught out on the counter attack for the second goal with three forwards against two defenders.

I’ve seen enough of the short corners now! Too predictable. I think our full backs did well. Semedo looked good and was unfortunate to be awarded with the own goal. Moutinho was industrious but found it difficult to create attacks. Dendoncker put the miles in but the end product fell well short. The front three were not effective enough. We didn’t take on the full backs enough and seemed almost reluctant to get a cross onto the box.

This is why I would have played Silva from the start. He did play half an hour with little impact. Very similar to Jota in that respect. Lots to put right before Villa come to town.

John Lalley

Seeing a smattering of spectators suitably socially distanced, a brief happy memory of the much-missed Central League when reserve fixtures on big grounds were worth watching sprang pleasantly to mind. That said, there was nothing second string about the quality in this match.

Wolves having matched the champions almost blow for blow in the first period were reeled in, put in their place and ultimately outclassed. Presented with their opportunities, Liverpool were ruthless; in contrast, Wolves drew a blank and even though the outcome may be perceived as harsh, in the final analysis, the gulf in class was plainly self-evident.

Wolves showed no inhibitions early on; indeed, Podence again showing real inventive quality might have given us the lead. During that first period, his offensive combination with Neto and Traore looked potent but the vital finish proved elusive. No doubt Nuno will be considering various permutations over the coming weeks to seek the best option to cover the absence of Jimenez.

We have been short of goals all season; it’s a difficult conundrum that will require some solving. The disappointment in this game was that our competitive start was undone by a rare error in defence with the game still in the balance. Wolves gradually lost their composure from that moment onwards and somehow you sensed the worst when VAR scotched the penalty that had originally been awarded.

Coady came close to atoning early in the second period, but Liverpool immediately surged forward to settle the issue with the emphatic finishing that distinguishes top teams like them from good teams like Wolves. This is the second 4-0 drubbing of the season. The first at West Ham was a pitiful performance; this time the recriminations shouldn’t be excessively harsh.

The best team in this league exposed our limitations and there is no disgrace in that. We responded exceptionally well after the capitulation in London and the aim for us is to react positively again this time around.

Russ Evers

A night that showed how far we have come and how far we have to go. Five years ago this weekend we travelled to Rotherham and here we visited Anfield.

I thought we did OK for the first half and Podence was very unlucky with his cheeky chip which was well saved. Unfortunately the Coady error just set the scene for rest of the game and quite simply we couldn't live with Liverpool's attacking threat.

You need to be at the top of your game for the full 90 minutes away at the champions who have rediscovered their form but we were simply not at the races and played like a team nursing the pain of what happened to Jimenez.

On that level of performance, Liverpool would have put a few past out teams but we were quite often the architects of our own downfall when chasing the game to leave bigger gap at the back and it must be said in midfield. I can only remember Semedo being in our own area once and that was to unfortunately put the ball into his own net. He looks great going forward but (and especially when we are playing four at the back) we need more defensive cover especially against the better sides.

Not a game to judge a season by but the second four-goal away defeat out of six trips needs to be looked at sharply. Keep the faith.