Rating Liverpool display in Wolves win based on 4 key factors

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Rating Liverpool display in Wolves win based on 4 key factors

Tactics

Jurgen Klopp picked the same starting XI that played against Everton. It probably backfired a bit as the players looked somewhat leggy and slow in the first half, failing to create any proper chances apart from Robbo's cross for Salah.

Liverpool lacked fluency going forward and struggled to break down Wolverhampton's low block in the first half.

The Reds improved after the break as Wolves started to get tired. Liverpool found more space between the opposition's lines as Mane and Salah took initiative.

This led to Origi's goal at the death, with Van Dijk picking Salah on the right-hand side, Mo driving past Hoever and cutting back to Origi, who did his job.

Overall, the Reds did well to unlock the hosts' deep defensive line after the interval. Trent and Thiago did a particularly good job with their delivery, creating chances through inventive, out-of-the-box passing.

However, it still feels as if it made more sense to play fresher players such as Ox and Minamino from the off to put Wolves under more intense pressure right after the starting whistle.

Tactics rating: 7/10

Defence

Just 16% of the game happened in Liverpool's third, a stark contrast to 42% in the home team third. This helped contain the home side to only 3 shots (one on target).

Two things contributed to the Reds' superior defensive performance: offside traps and Liverpool winning the midfield battle.

Wolves tried to catch Liverpool on the break whenever they could but the Reds had an antidote: offside traps. It worked perfectly as Wolves were caught offside seven times.

Fabinho did a fantastic job against the hosts' attackers. The Brazilian was his usual self, registering two tackles and three interceptions. Thiago's defensive work went off the radar a bit but it was there: two tackles and two interceptions.

These two factors, in addition to Matip's and Van Dijk's solidity at the back, contributed to Liverpool keeping their ninth clean sheet in the league.

Defence rating: 10/10

Finishing

While Liverpool created enough chances to comfortably win the game, they had to wait until the 94th minute for Origi to break the deadlock.

Jota's shocking miss aside, Trent, Salah, Robertson, Mane, Thiago all could have scored.

It was another case of an opposition goalkeeper playing a game of his life against Liverpool.

But the Reds certainly need to work on their finishing. They can't allow this number of chances to go to waste.

Finishing rating: 3/10

Fighting spirit

Liverpool have reminded everyone that the never-say-die mentality is their standout quality.

The Reds could have held their hands up in the air after that Jota miss or Jose Sa's brilliant save on Mane in the 87th minute. They could have thought the game was not meant to be won due to rotten luck or the Wolves' keeper heroics.

But they kept pushing and were rewarded in the 94th minute, also known as the Divock Origi time. The striker received the ball from Salah inside the box, turned around and smashed home a winner that will be talked about as one of the most dramatic Liverpool goals this season.

Fighting spirit rating: 10/10

Overall rating: 7.5/10

AuthorAleksei Blokhin
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