Klopp Talk: The Challenge of Facing “Different” Wolves

With the season now into its second half, Wolverhampton Wanderers remain in the hunt for a top four finish as they look to capitalise on the struggles of some of the more traditional Premier League powers.

They currently sit level with Manchester United, six back of Chelsea in fourth, and that makes for a difficult prospect for Liverpool—it’s no mid-table pushover they’re facing, and Wolves will be gunning for three points.

“Not only this year, but last year they were really difficult to play,” noted Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp ahead of the match. “It depends a little bit how they set up, three or five at the back. But they do it differently.

“They make the pitch really big and ask you to do a lot of work. You have to run a lot. That’s normal and good, it’s their way to play. For us, there are solutions for that but it will not be without working a lot.”

An opponent known as much as anything else for running hard sounds rather like how many would describe Liverpool—and on the strength of the evidence so far this season, there’s no worry if the Reds will put in the effort.

Still, the reason Liverpool are were they are right now is because they don’t take anything for granted or overlook any opponents qualities. So they know they will have to play hard against Wolves. And they will.

“You cannot play at 50 or 60 percent against Wolves,” Klopp added. “I you do you have absolutely no chance. That’s the challenge for us this game.”