Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Liverpool 1: Match Review

March 4, 2026

in Liverpool

Reading Time: 4 mins read

0 0

Neil Atkinson’s post-match evaluate for The Anfield Wrap after Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Liverpool 1 within the 2025-2026 Premier League at Molineux Stadium…

ONE OF THEM. Considered one of them. They scored with their first shot. You get them every so often.

Stepping on rakes. Discovering your individual weak spots and making them bleed.

Mismanaging moments. Knocking off. Skilled gamers falling quick.

Fuck all this. Sick of all this.

That is all why there might be no turning of the nook. In 2004/5 there was no turning of the nook. In 2022/23 there was no turning of the nook. In 2002/3 there was no turning of the nook. In 2011/12 there was no turning of the nook. In 2014/15 there was no turning of the nook. I think if I had been sufficiently aware I’d be saying in 1980/81 there was no turning of the nook.

A few of these years had silverware – the best of the silverware. Some had nothing however disappointment. What they’ll have had is moments whenever you simply questioned if Liverpool had left the times of rakes behind, had stopped discovering themselves in amongst excellent storms, stopped taking part in groups on the fallacious time.

Nope. Queue within the canteen and get your self a giant bowl of Liverpudlian nope.

In these seasons there have been runs and there have been moments and there was discovering one thing after which there was shedding it once more. There was and has been often getting out of the opposite facet unscathed.

Tonight is that this screaming into the rear view mirror, a stark reminder. They aren’t ok, clearly. Whereas the league desk usually lies it may’t be that fallacious. However that is one thing else; it’s a soccer workforce which is predictable in its rhythms and which due to this fact could be rope-a-doped.

Liverpool, like Arsenal, are completely satisfied to have quiet first half-hour’, particularly on the street. What that may imply although is that if I do know that – as a gobshite – then the opposition know that too and may plan accordingly. They’ll create completely different flavours of cul-de-sac for a Florian Wirtz quick Liverpool to wander down and that is how the first-half could be characterised. As a gobshite I’m largely high quality with being 0-0 at half-time on the street however as we speak perhaps, simply perhaps, Liverpool want to hold extra menace.

Or in the event that they aren’t going to hold extra menace then have the extra threatening gamers to deliver on from the bench. It’s odd to me to be this one-paced for 60 minutes whereas additionally having Jeremie Frimpong on the pitch. If we’re going to begin noodling by way of video games then begin the noodlier gamers.

Liverpool’s recreation is pockmarked by odd performances. By Christ does Alexis Mac Allister win it again. By Christ does Alexis Mac Allister lose it cheaply. Mo Salah appears a unique participant earlier than and after the 60 minute mark however this couldn’t be extra fallacious. He is similar participant; the opponents are completely different – extra drained whereas his conditioning makes him develop into video games. Hugo Ekitike does have a efficiency with a half life – he’s managing himself as a result of he is aware of there isn’t any cavalry coming.

And that is the issue with the noodling. There isn’t a cavalry. Rio Ngumoha does very well for a participant of his age however you get to the see “of his age” bits together with the astonishing expertise. Then senior gamers – the legendary goalkeeper, the legendary captain simply aren’t ok in moments that matter most.

The principle cause why the nook doesn’t flip within the seasons talked about above, in seasons the place it doesn’t occur, is that the gamers aren’t there to do it. However what has usually occurred in these seasons is that managers have pushed into the nook within the first place.

Tonight is a type of nights the place you may have sympathy with the supervisor, have questions concerning the strategy and simply be downright livid with him given the place we discover ourselves.

It’s a season which wants getting out of. Tonight was an enormous alternative to take a leap ahead when it comes to that. It was Truman strolling the wall in the direction of the exit door, large questions on what occurs subsequent, sure, however a launch and a aid. As an alternative Liverpool determined to be Truman again amongst the fucking waves with a capricious god screaming to show it up and all of us battered by the water.

They scored with their first shot. However Liverpool mentioned – why don’t you rating together with your first shot?

Actually maddening. Actually.

Neil