Crisis builds as sloppy Liverpool put on horror show

Having lost their past 11 league games to Liverpool, Wolves handed them a thrashing, accentuating the sense of crisis around Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Picture: Getty Images

Having lost their past 11 league games in a row to Liverpool, Wolves handed them a 3-0 thrashing, accentuating the sense of crisis around Jurgen Klopp’s side, who slumped to their third away defeat in a row.

Wolves started the game in the bottom three, but Liverpool made them look like world-beaters rather than the efficient and attractive side which Julen Lopetegui is rapidly turning them into. The scoreline didn’t flatter Wolves as Liverpool conceded two goals in the first 12 minutes – a Joel Matip deflection into his own net and a strike on his debut from Craig Dawson – before the imperious Ruben Neves swept in the third goal midway through the second half. Liverpool were again defensively shambolic and second best for most of the afternoon, even if they rallied for a period in the second half.

“We caused the misery in the first 12 minutes. It was a horrible start and that is unacceptable,” Klopp said.

“How can I not be concerned? I can’t just say it’s just football. We had a full week to prepare and that is not allowed, but we did allow it. I don’t lose confidence in the boys but I can see how we have to improve. Today was the pinnacle of our problems.”

Wolves were their usual busy and constructive selves, but it was disastrous defending by Liverpool as much as anything else which meant the home side were two goals up before a few of the latecomers had even taken their seats.

Pablo Sarabia played a lovely ball over the top and Hwang’s shot-cum-cross bounced off the leg of Matip inside his own six-yard box and spun over the line, with referee Paul Tierney awarding the goal after checking with the monitor on his watch.

The second goal also came down Liverpool’s left, assisted by some more sloppy defending, as Cunha’s cross from the dead-ball line was headed at the near post by Joe Gomez across his own penalty area, leaving Alisson completely out of position. Max Kilman’s effort was blocked, but Dawson hammered in the rebound.

Liverpool attempted a swift response but Darwin Nunez’s effort from a sharp angle was saved by Jose Sa and Naby Keita had a couple of shots from the edge of the box blocked by the combined efforts of Neves and Cunha.

Liverpool were unable to turn the sustained pressure into a siege as Wolves still managed long periods of the game where they calmly kept possession. The defensive problems were again all Liverpool’s when Stefan Bajcetic was robbed by the substitute Joao Moutinho in the 70th minute and he sent Traore racing off down the Liverpool right.

Chants of “sacked in the morning” resounded around Molineux as a muted Klopp stood with his arms folded in the technical area. And while Liverpool kept pressing, it increasingly looked like they were going through the motions.

The Times