LIVERPOOL BEAT TEN MAN WOLVES 2-0 IN KLOPP’S FAREWELL

FIRST HALF

So, Wolves enter the field at Anfield for the last Premier. League match of the season, and what looks to be Jurgen Klopp’s final Premier League game.

Gary O’Neil makes three changes with Jose Sa taking his place back between the sticks, Santi Bueno and J. Bellegarde coming into the side. Pedro Neto makes a timely return to the bench to prove his value in Euro 2024.

Wolves start the game but clear the ball straight out for a throw to Liverpool. Three minutes into the half, Bellegarde breaks away but is fouled, presenting an opportunity for a set-piece. The ball is delivered to Toti who heads it back across; it’s cleared, good work by Rayan Ait-Nouri and Joao Gomes sees a shot charged down.

Seven minutes in, neither team has had an opening since the earlier Wolves chance. Wolves are pressing well and keeping shape. Wolves allow Harvey Elliot to break down the left wing, but they clear the danger. Liverpool press hard, and Semedo is not supported by Bellegarde as Wolves concede a corner, which is defended well.

Twelve minutes in, Liverpool are stroking the ball around well, trying to find an opening. Virgil van Dijk hits a long-range effort which Sa gathers. Wolves are defending resolutely, with Diaz having a long-range effort that Sa collects.

Sixteen minutes in, Nelson Semedo is caught in possession. From the free-kick, panic ensues in the box, and Van Dijk forces another good save from Sa. Wolves break with Cunha, who feeds Hwang, whose shot is saved well by Allison. Wolves get their first corner, which amounts to nothing.

Back up the other end, normal service resumes, and Santi Bueno blocks a Mo Salah turn and shot. Then, down the left, the ball is played across the box, and Kilman defends for a corner, which sees Gakpo shooting harmlessly wide. It’s 20 minutes played.

Twenty-five minutes gone, Lemina is not far away from a great pass to Hwang, but it’s slightly overhit. Wolves have a bit more possession, but that ends with Semedo arriving late for a tackle. This is being reviewed for a red card, and Semedo is sent off.

Wolves will be up against it now, especially with Bellegarde on the right wing/full-back. The game stops for an injury to Andy Robinson. The ball is played down the right wing, and Rayan Air-Nouri doesn’t close down the crosser. Macalister scores with a header. Rayan has pulled into the centre-half position when the ball was down the left wing, leaving too much space to close down when Liverpool switch.

Thirty-six minutes played, Sa tips over from Salah. Liverpool work the ball down the left again, Bellegarde is beaten, but Wolves defend. After some nice play, Bellegarde lays a good ball across the box, which Hwang nearly gets on the end of, but Liverpool clears. Then Liverpool press, and Endo sees his shot parried for a corner. The corner is taken, Kilman is beaten to a header by Gakpo. The ball falls to Salah, whose shot deflects off Bueno, and then it looks like Joao Gomes puts it into his own net when challenging Quansah for the ball. Bellegarde offers nothing defensively and is being run around. Doherty needs to come on and should have done it the minute Semedo walked off the pitch.

The referee indicates seven minutes of stoppage time. Toti is booked for a foul on Harvey Elliot. Cunha goes on a strong run and tangles with Van Dijk in the box, but the referee doesn’t seem to be interested, and VAR doesn’t offer a differing opinion. Liverpool attack again down the left, and Salah has a header at the back post which Sa saves. Bellegarde has been beaten again, and Salah sees his shot deflected over the bar. No changes at half-time.

SECOND HALF

Wolves start the second half on the offensive and get a couple of free-kicks, but no real chance comes from either. Then Salah fires another shot straight at Sa. Toti gives the ball away, and Gakpo beats Sa, and Diaz misses an open goal, firing against the crossbar.

Fifty-one minutes played, Alexander Arnold fires across the box, but no Liverpool players gamble to get on the end of it. Liverpool have all the possession now, and Harvey Elliot’s shot is deflected for a corner, which is defended by Wolves. The next attack by Liverpool is Gakpo, who produces a save from Sa, and the next round of attacks see Elliot fire over. Fifty-eight minutes gone, it’s going to be a long half.

Sixty minutes gone, Bellegarde breaks but is fouled, and Endo finally gets booked. Hwang is replaced by Boubacar, and Bellegarde by Doherty – this is far too late, Gary. Wolves have some decent possession and are pushing Liverpool back. Air-Nouri forces Alexander Arnold to make a risky challenge, but he cleans up for Liverpool. Then Salah breaks one-on-one with Sa, but eventually, the linesman puts his flag up.

A fantastic break for Wolves sees Cunha and Rayan playing pass in the Liverpool box, but the ball is miscontrolled, and Liverpool clears. Salah unleashes a curling shot, which Sa saves superbly. Liverpool make three changes, with Diogo Jota remaining on the bench.

Seventy minutes played, Harvey Elliot hurts himself pushing onto a far-post cross but carries on. Wolves are still trying to work an opening but can’t seem to make the final pass required. Seventy-six minutes have gone, and Rayan Ait-Nouri is replaced by Bueno, and Cunha, who has run his heart out, is replaced by Pedro Neto. Liverpool make their final two changes on seventy-nine minutes, with Harvey Elliot and Gakpo being replaced by Curtis Jones and Szoboslai.

Eighty-three minutes gone, Pedro Neto is released and runs all the way to the edge of the box but is fouled. Santi Bueno is replaced by Doyle. The free-kick is taken by Neto and saved by Allison. The ball is recycled and fed into Doherty, who heads it in, but the linesman has his flag up. After a VAR review, the goal is ruled out for offside. The remaining minutes of the game play out with not much occurring. The season ends, and this club has a lot of work to do.

LIVERPOOL 2 WOLVES 0

Performance rating: 6. Tried hard. Man of the Match: Sa – 8.