Always Wolves
Always Wolves
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Wolves fans share their thoughts following 2-1 defeat at anfield
PAM WELLS
Today I feel really disappointed, and I’m finding it hard to write this.
It was a game of two halves, but the opposite way round to normal.
In the first half we sat very deep, with eleven behind the ball. The only real outlets were two good runs from Mane. Liverpool kept pressing, but we defended fairly well, helped by two more good saves from Sa. It looked like we might go in level at half-time again.
But after 30 minutes Andre slipped and Liverpool scored. Then, as usual, we capitulated and they scored again two minutes later.
In the second half, from the word go, we pressed much higher up the pitch. Andre picked up a yellow, which rules him out of the United game, and Rob took Doherty off because he was on four yellows. We kept pushing and Santi Bueno was rewarded with his second goal of the season.
We were back in it. Mosquera then got injured, Arias came on, and Strand Larsen replaced Hwang. But try as we might, we just could not find the equaliser. So it’s more heartbreak again.
Man of the match: Santi Bueno
Performance rating: 5
JOHN TARAS
Predictable result, but a tale of two halves.
Liverpool camped in the Wolves half for the first 45 minutes. Wolves relied on the link-up between Arokodare and Mane to fashion a chance. We cracked again on 40 minutes, and by 43 minutes Liverpool were 2-0 up. At half-time I honestly thought it was going to be a question of how many Liverpool would get.
But the second half was different. Wolves scored from a corner on 51 minutes. The ever-threatening Arokodare forced a goal-line save from Becker, but Santi Bueno was quickest to poke it in.
Suddenly Wolves felt like they were in the game. Liverpool tried to slow things down to protect their lead. Wolves snapped into tackles and cut out the through balls. Sa made one good save down to his right, and the next goal looked like it could have come from either side. In the end, Liverpool held out for the three points.
Credit to Wolves for the second-half performance.
That said, the game was spoiled by some indifferent refereeing from Simon Hooper. Once again it felt like the officials favoured the home top-six side. More than once, shoves and pushes from Liverpool players went unpunished, including two incidents in quick succession right in front of the linesman. But if Andre or Joao Gomes did the same, it was a free kick every time. Mac Allister also got away with several dubious challenges and a few fake tumbles, all unpunished. The game is hard enough when nothing goes your way, without it looking like it’s stacked against you too.
Now, looking at some of the Wolves players:
Sadly, Father Time has caught up with Doc. He struggled to get back and cover, and couldn’t repel the Liverpool pressure. A real breath of fresh air were Arokodare and Mane. They gave Liverpool a hard time and, for me, should be first on the team sheet every game.
Andre and Joao Gomes, I fear, are holding back Wolves’ creativity. Andre doesn’t deliver good set pieces, and both he and Gomes play short triangle passes without creating much threat.
Tchatchoua has been a disappointing replacement at right back. He arrived with a reputation for speed, but rarely uses it to go past defenders.
If we are destined for the Championship, Arias and Lopez may be of no use in that league. As has already been said, losing Chiquinho, Lima, Doyle, Traore, and Kalajdzic has not helped our cause.
This season is over in terms of points. The last game is United away. Rob Edwards has to bring in the right players, the ones who want to play for the shirt. It will be a hard road back out of the Championship.
Jeff Shi, Vitor Pereira, and Teti have a lot to answer for, but what’s done is done.
Much improved second-half commitment from Wolves, but sadly the same predictable result. The gap is 16 points.
From a Wolves fan’s perspective, the first half was frustrating. We stayed organised for long periods, then switched off for two minutes and got punished. At this level, that’s all it takes, and going in 2–0 down felt harsh but familiar.
The second half was much better. We came out with intent, showed real fight and actually put Liverpool under pressure. Bueno’s goal gave us belief and for a spell you could feel the nerves around Anfield. We didn’t find an equaliser, but the response was encouraging.
A big positive was Mateus Mané, who really impressed. He was fearless, composed and never hid, looking more than comfortable on a big stage. We’re still winless and that hurts, but if we can build on that second-half performance, there’s at least something to take forward. 🐺🧡
KARL & LESLEY WHITEHOUSE
Before I start, it was a really nice touch from Liverpool to have Diogo Jota’s children as mascots for this game. Credit to them for doing that.
We both went to the match hoping for a solid performance. The team has to show the fans they are up for this challenge.
In the end, it was a game of two contrasting halves. It’s one we could have taken a point from if we had been more clinical.
The first half actually looked promising. We went at Liverpool and caused them problems. Their finishing was not up to their usual standards because we were in their faces for long spells.
Then came a crazy two minutes. We conceded twice from mistakes in the back line. Suddenly we were behind in a game where we had started well. That said, any Liverpool side can punish you in an instant, and Rob will know that.
Even at 2-0 down, we kept trying to work our way back into it, because we all knew it could have turned into a heavy scoreline.
The second half started well again. We put Liverpool under pressure, forced mistakes, and got a goal from it. Santi Bueno delivered when we needed him, and we were back in the game.
That goal lifted the team. We played with more energy and intent. Mane, who fully deserved his start, made a real difference. He gave us the width we have been missing, and he created chances with his crosses and direct play.
We kept creating opportunities, but we lacked composure in the final moment. With a better finish, we could have made the scoreline look a lot better, and maybe even taken a valuable point (three would have been even better).
The second-half performance was spirited and something to be proud of. The players did not drop off or feel sorry for themselves. But the game was lost in the first half because of those two mistakes.
We have to keep backing Rob. He is still looking for his first win, but there are positives. The gap is still getting bigger, even if other teams are only picking up single points. The unwanted records are out there, but we have to see what happens next, with another tough game coming up.
We must keep playing Mane. He is the type of player who can make things happen and cause teams problems, and that’s what we need.
Player of the match: Matheus Mane
Match rating: 7
SCOTT DRAME
Disappointed with this result.
We should have won, or at least come away with a point. Three points were there for the taking.
I think Rob Edwards picked a strong team, but Liverpool knew exactly how to stop us. The tactics didn’t work in the first half, and we paid the price.
Man of the match is hard to choose, but I’d go with Santiago Bueno and Jose Sa. Sa was unlucky to concede two, because he also made important saves.
Performance rating can’t be more than a 5. It was a terrible first half, but an excellent second half.
WOLVES FANS TALK: LIVERPOOL 2 WOLVES 1