CRAIG HICKEY SHARES HIS THOUGHTS FOLLOWING ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR WOLVES
This game is one we always looked forward to being involved with when we first got back into the Premier League. Playing an iconic club like Liverpool and potentially winning is a dream that we would all like to happen. Alas the last few games have not got us to the recent dizzy heights of a 3-0 win back in the (recent) day. So writing this before the game, I was concerned, defensive issues and chances for us to score spurned have been our undoing so far this season. As Manny completed his 48 hour walking challenge, did the team reward him and us with a positive result?
Team news is unchanged except Toti in for Dawson who is ill, no sign of the three at the back that some want. Let’s see if we can at least get a point.
A bright start, simple passing helped us progress up the pitch and we defended well apart from some scary moments when we start playing it around between Johnstone and the back four. It wasn’t until 31 mins that Liverpool got their first shot on target from a free kick. It was a debatable decision to give it as it appeared that Andre got the ball, Anthony Taylor saw otherwise. We managed to get down the pitch and into good positions on both flanks but we couldn’t get anyone on the end of some good balls into the box. Sam Johnstone began to get busier and on 39 minutes pulled off a great reaction save after Szoloszlai ghosted in at the far post and connected with a low cross.
Mario Lemina was in the wars today, recieving treatment for a few knocks, taunted by the Liverpool fans. We played really well for 45 mins and then in injury time, Jota out ran Larsen on the left, clipped it into the box and Konate powers his header home. 0-1. That’s such a blow just before half time as we’ve played really well, especially at the back. We go in at half time undeservedly behind.
Half-time Wolves 0-1 Liverpool
We started the second half with a bit more concentration and defend better than we have from the restart. A few breaks forward come to nothing, the play on the edge of the area breaking down through slack passing.
We finally hit back on 54 minutes through an Ait Nouri tap in. Liverpool had a total calamity at the back, Allison waiting for his defender to pass back, Forbs nips in and it’s pinball in the box before a Rayan Ait-Nouri tap in, 1-1.
It lasted 2 minutes, a high ball into the box caused Semedo to grapple with Jota and brought him down. I initially thought it was nothing from my seat high up in the Steve Bull, the ref didn’t and Salah smashed it home. Liverpool take the lead and they haven’t even played well. Our defence had more to do in the second half, we seemed to be losing space down the flanks. Johnstone had to get down low to turn a Curtis Jones effort around the post.
Wolves just couldn’t break the defence of Liverpool and when Forbs wriggled through on the left, he should have squared it to Hee Chan but his shot was deflected away. Our forward play wasn’t cutting enough, for me Cunha had a mediocre game, Bellegarde struggled to get past his man but Forbs looks dangerous.
If there was some positives today it would be the Toti and Santi partnership in a back four. The game ended with a midfield battle between the two sides and nothing else was worth reporting. We had Guedes on the bench, our top scorer with 3 goals but he didn’t get a look in. We deserved at least a point today.
Full-time Wolves 1 – 2 Liverpool
FINAL THOUGHTS
Another defeat and the hardcore will be calling for Gary’s head, for me that isn’t the answer, the back four system worked better today. We have had a run of tough games but we wanted to play these top sides and go toe to toe and you can’t match their quality every week. If we want to get out of this mess we need to score more than one goal, it’s obvious I know and battle.
Controversial comment from me, it’s been difficult in previous seasons, Nuno was on 4 points after 7 games in his second season in the Premier League. We were on 10 points after 15 games in 2022, we survived. We need to stay calm and pull together, if it’s less than 15 points by the end of November, I would agree to a change. The players know they need to step up and next week is a good a time as any, let’s all stay realistic, otherwise the toxic attitude will spread as fast as Covid did.
ARTICLE BY CRAIG HICKEY
A 53 year old season ticket holder in the Steve Bull stand. Go along with my two young lads who love the Wolves and so far, the positive times. Long may it continue.
