The Liverpool Offside - Premier League 2019-20: Wolverhampton vs. LiverpoolZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2020-01-24T00:00:00+00:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/208423792020-01-24T00:00:00+00:002020-01-24T00:00:00+00:00Digging Deeper Into Liverpool’s Victory Over Wolverhampton Wanderers
<figure>
<img alt="Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FqQap1QB00AhpRgTOnee7lL1470=/20x86:3236x2230/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66157671/1195526322.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><em>With a victory over the Premier League side in the books, we dig a little deeper into what it means for Liverpool.</em></p> <p id="bCJSpD">Wolves and Nuno Espírito Santo made it harder for <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> than any team has in the Premier League for some time, but in the end Jürgen Klopp’s mentality monsters came through as <span>Roberto Firmino</span> scored a late second half goal to secure the three points and so the Reds’ potentially historic season continues. Now, we dig a little deeper into Thursday night’s victory.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="v81n6N">
<h2 id="yKc8s4">Winners and Losers</h2>
<h5 id="MiEafQ">Actual Neutrals</h5>
<p id="rnyjQz">We’re not entirely convinced any of the neutral fans commentator sorts like to talk about actually exist, but if they’re out there somewhere, tuning in to random mid-week Premier League football without any rooting interest whatsoever and hoping for a show, they got that here and then some. A frantic start, Wolves keeping their composure despite going down early and Liverpool’s strong first half play, and then the underdogs hosts coming out firing in the second half to level the score and make the Reds sweat.</p>
<h5 id="3axewO">The Injury Gods</h5>
<p id="jX2PEi">It almost seemed too good to be true, all Liverpool’s injured players working their way back just in time for a final push in the league and a return to action in Europe with the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> knockout rounds. Fabinho was back and Joël Matip was back and <span>Dejan Lovren</span> was back and <span>James Milner</span> and Naby Keïta and <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span> were all on the verge of coming back.</p>
<p id="tSSaJm">Which means that perhaps it shouldn’t be a complete shock that the injury gods got the last laugh and a win when Sadio Mané pulled up holding his hamstring with the first half winding down. If there’s any positive to be taken from it, at least Mané walked off under his own power and didn’t try to keep playing, suggesting a slight strain caught early. Or at least that will be the hope of every Liverpool fan and Jürgen Klopp as well. Even if things turn out for the best and it’s just a minor strain, though, it was a moment to remind everyone that things never go quite as easily or as well as they might, and if it’s more than just a mild strain Liverpool’s final push in the league and return to Europe just got a whole lot more difficult.</p>
<h5 id="GNGsvI">Supposed Neutrals</h5>
<p id="XyJTHd">But let’s be honest, at least 97.3% of so-called neutrals aren’t actually if they’re turning in to a spot of the mid-week football. They’re big fans of football generally which means they’re fans of other clubs and so do have a rooting interest of some kind. And for those, or at least for the overwhelming majority of them who have an interest in Liverpool somehow managing to throw away their seemingly insurmountable lead, a tense and exiting affair that sees Liverpool take all three points in the end is hardly a win.</p>
<h2 id="wC46R4">Credit to the Opposition</h2>
<p id="LA7Gps">Some will say Liverpool weren’t at their best, but much of the talk heading into the match was about how Wolves were a side built to frustrate the Reds—a side that would work just as hard as Liverpool with an unusual tactical set-up that could make life difficult—and frustrate they did.</p>
<p id="2nVrDv">After a frantic opening, after <span>Jordan Henderson</span>’s opener, it turned into something of a cagey affair between a pair of hard running, hard working, uptempo sides—but Liverpool consistently looked the more talented. They looked as though, given time, the game was always going to be theirs. Only Wolves weren’t over-awed by their opposition. Unlike sides that kick off against Liverpool almost as though they believe they’ve already lost, Wolves didn’t believe that they’d lost even after going down.</p>
<p id="aA1DN1">They fully deserve credit for sticking to their guns, playing their game, and keeping things close through the first half, and for having the mentality—one could maybe call it a Liverpool-esque mentality—to go one better in the second half. They lost in the end, but they put in a performance as good as anyone has this season against the Reds.</p>
<h2 id="z60OVz">What Happens Next?</h2>
<p id="1iDPSX">The procession continues. Not that we’re convinced Liverpool have won the league yet. Mostly, maybe, but not completely. Never completely until it’s mathematically over. And speaking of mathematically over, as things stand <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> can hit 93 points if they win out from here. While unlikely, until the math says otherwise that’s the marker the Reds have to beat.</p>
<p id="3zR9Z0">To do that, for Liverpool to get 94 points, they need to earn 27 points in their final 15 games, which means nine more wins—assuming, again, that City don’t drop any more points—if you’re fond of keeping the math simple. Which means the earliest Liverpool can actually, really, officially win the league is against Manchester City on April fourth. Which would be neat.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2020/1/24/21079266/match-recap-digging-deeper-liverpool-2-1-victory-wolverhampton-wanderers-epl-title-2020Noel Chomyn2020-01-23T22:27:12+00:002020-01-23T22:27:12+00:00Jordan Henderson on Liverpool’s Premier League Win Over Wolves: We Kept Fighting
<figure>
<img alt="Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_WrpYFrFs96kpB5B0xdm6EfRBl8=/0x0:2732x1821/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66157238/1201516543.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Big performance from the captain.</p> <p id="6kHWSE">This one was difficult. Wolves genuinely had <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> on the ropes for stretches. But, like clockwork, they found a way and took all three points back to Anfield again.</p>
<p id="oxFbQY">There were definite frustrations in the game, with Sadio Mané’s injury being the biggest concern, but ultimately the mood was overwhelmingly positive for a team that just consistently manage to do this. There is always a way. <span>Jordan Henderson</span> was key today, scoring the first goal and setting much of the tempo, and he knew what a tough scrap it was.</p>
<p id="tMfVg0">“You know it’s going to be difficult”, Henderson told BT Sport after the game, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/50284076">as reported by BBC Sport</a>. “Wolves are a good team and make you work. It’s an intense game but we kept going and kept fighting.</p>
<p id="l0YeiT">“We defended well. The big man at the back was brilliant again and the keeper. We had chances too so that’s something we want to work on - put the game to bed quicker”.</p>
<p id="ANku0M">Speaking of his goal, which came off his shoulder from a set piece, Henderson explained that “could be the first one! I’ve been getting in the box on corners recently. Thankfully I managed to get something on it and it went in.</p>
<p id="s7xz3M">“You’re probably bored of me saying it but It’s just about the next game. I want to keep going. Every game is the biggest of the season. We have the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> game on the weekend. We need to keep building on what we have achieved so far.”</p>
<p id="QvSvdD">Liverpool will win the league. Tonight was yet another example of why.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2020/1/23/21079287/jordan-henderson-on-liverpools-premier-league-win-over-wolves-we-kept-fighting-premier-league-eplGraceOnFootball2020-01-23T22:03:11+00:002020-01-23T22:03:11+00:00Wolves 1, Liverpool 2 - Match Recap: Back to Those Late Winning Ways
<figure>
<img alt="Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sPW0jK7DOFlTUMfoWtB8qe7bYjc=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66157044/1195525955.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>You absolutely cannot stop this train!</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="z8PpiP">
<h1 id="MHfoiy">Wolves 1 - 2 <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>
</h1>
<h5 id="XMrxZz">Liverpool: Henderson 8’, Firmino 85’<br>Wolves: Jimenéz 51’</h5>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="oAig77">
<h2 id="mI8x9i">Pre-Match </h2>
<p id="8cw6bx">Jürgen Klopp names an unchanged starting XI from the one that defeated Manchester United at the weekend, a rare occurrence for the German. Wolves possess a unique threat, however, and will undoubtedly put the Reds to one of their sterner tests for the remainder of the campaign.</p>
<h2 id="xfQ3F1">First Half</h2>
<p id="Ch6dfb">A high-octane opening ten minutes sees the Reds take the lead after a set-piece, Trent Alexander-Arnold placing one of his vintage deliveries perfectly onto the onrushing Captain Jordan Henderson, who buries the ball in the net behind Rui Patricio, via his shoulder.</p>
<p id="uLDreg">Either side of the goal, the hosts have decent chances, the latter of the two through Matt Doherty, who arrives all alone at the back post following a short Wolves corner and a wicked inswinger from Ruben Neves, but the Irishman is unable to put his header on target.</p>
<p id="f3UiWr">The hosts hold onto the ball well, attempting to use their skill players in the wide areas, as Liverpool look to counter through Mohamed Salah. The strategy nearly succeeds in the 20th minute, as Sadio Mané finds the Egyptian with a gorgeous deep cross off his left foot, but Salah’s feinted shot takes him too far across the goal, and a defender gets in the way of the finish.</p>
<p id="vIAnPL">The Senegalese is denied only minutes later by more last-ditch defending from the Wolves backline, before he is forced to come off on the half hour mark due to what appears to be some sort of hamstring injury. We cross every limb we possess that it is nothing serious. You should too. Takumi Minamino comes on to makes his Premier League debut.</p>
<p id="ynAJev">As has been the case in recent months, the Reds slow the game down towards the end of the half, holding onto the ball and denying the opposition any meaningful possession, without creating much for themselves. That is until the second minute of added time, when Salah goes on a glorious run past two defenders, but Doherty makes an excellent recovery and gets himself in the way of the Egyptian’s shot.</p>
<h2 id="l4GFLy">Second Half</h2>
<p id="Um8CHm">The second half begins in the same way the first did, with the ball flying back and forth between the two teams’ final thirds. Two minutes into the frame, Salah picks Traore’s pockets outside the Wolves area and unleashes a powerful drive towards the far corner, but Patricio pushes it wide for a corner.</p>
<p id="YWcdbD">Only minutes later the hosts equalise, and it’s that nuisance Adama Traore at the heart of it once again. The Spaniard takes advantage of an overzealous <span>Andrew Robertson</span> on the break, receives the ball from Raul Jimenez in the space the Scot vacated, and chips a cross onto the head of the Mexican, who tucks it into the far side netting. The Reds’ finally concede, after 725 minutes of pristine sheets.</p>
<p id="rMYNjO">The Wolves are purring now, and only minutes later Robbo brings down Traore just outside the area, earning a yellow card. The free kick is launched into the box, but Alisson punches it back out to safety.</p>
<p id="SW4k0m">On the hour mark, the Reds attempt to strike back and Firmino should score, as he pounces on the rebound from a blocked Minamino effort, but the Brazilian somehow manages to hit a prone Patricio who has left his near post gaping as he dove for the initial effort.</p>
<p id="Fk1ND0">The league leaders are genuinely shook now, and Jimenez is once again released down that inside left channel, but Alisson does a tremendous job, stays tall, and saves the point blank effort with his face.</p>
<p id="0WiBcp">The Reds make the necessary substitutions, as Fabinho comes on for an <span>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain</span> whose legs cannot yet last more than an hour. The visitors regain some semblance of control, and slowly, methodically begin to probe for a late winner.</p>
<p id="V2q1W0">It nearly comes with ten mintes to go, as Firmino skips past Conor Coady, but Patricio again makes a save, this time with his legs as the ball rolls towards his far corner. He cannot deny the Brazilian forever, though, and with five minutes to go, Big Bob receives the a Henderson pass in the area, skips past Roman Saïss, and hammers the ball into the top corner with his left. Beautiful.</p>
<h2 id="i8Sf3p">Final Thoughts</h2>
<p id="D75stm">Literally unstoppable. You love to see it.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2020/1/23/21079086/wolverhampton-1-liverpool-2-match-recap-epl-2020-henderson-firminoAudun Manum2020-01-23T16:30:00+00:002020-01-23T16:30:00+00:00Wolverhampton vs. Liverpool Live Updates: Lineups, TV Listings, Match Highlights, and How to Watch Online
<figure>
<img alt="Liverpool FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NR3Lsgj477vHDpxujiuggIUFnhk=/0x0:3477x2318/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66154389/1192392403.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Lineups, television and streaming options, and live Premier League coverage as Liverpool face off against Wolves.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="nF1RJX">
<h2 id="5CykwD"><strong>WOLVERHAMPTION WANDERERS VS LIVERPOOL FC</strong></h2>
<h5 id="gROMBB">
<strong>| Thursday, January 23rd |</strong><br><strong>Premier League | Molineux Stadium</strong><br><strong>8PM GMT/3PM EST</strong>
</h5>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="foHFbm">
<p id="d2xqBj">Since their return to the Premier League, Wolves have been especially adept at taking points from the “Big 6,” including Manchester City twice this campaign. Liverpool have thus far avoided being one of their victims, but the nervy 1-0 win at Anfield last time out speaks to Wolves’ ability to give even the best sides a game. Liverpool will need to be on it again in order to regain their 16-point cushion at the top of the league. Wolverhampton will be particularly keen to end Liverpool’s unbeaten run under the lights, in front of their home crowd. </p>
<p id="e7OyLh"></p>
<h2 id="ksOpJi"><strong>PREVIEW & VIEWING OPTIONS</strong></h2>
<p id="YyAk3b"><strong>Full Preview: </strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2020/1/22/21077401/wolverhampton-liverpool-epl-2020-preview-team-news-predicted-lineups-how-to-watch">Wolves vs. Liverpool</a></p>
<p id="YCQqgJ"><strong>Television:</strong> BT Sport 1 (UK); NBCSN (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100l4uLf/creativeref:1011l39034/adref:LO" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>DAZN</strong></a>* (Canada); No Coverage (India); Astro SuperSport 3 (Malaysia); SuperSport 3 (Nigeria); No Coverage (Singapore); SuperSport 3 (South Africa); other listings at <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/"><strong>LiveSoccerTV</strong></a></p>
<p id="sQNVUV"><strong>Online Streaming:</strong> <a href="https://fave.co/2zta1NX" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>NBC via FuboTV</strong></a>* (USA) | <strong>Online Radio:</strong> <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fvideo&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2020%2F1%2F23%2F21077173%2Fwolverhampton-liverpool-epl-2020-goal-highlights-teamsheets-tv-channels-online-streaming" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>LFCTV GO</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="8tQaOQ"><strong>WOLVES</strong></h2>
<p id="IdPaXH"><strong>Starting XI</strong><em> </em>Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny; Traore, Jimenez, Neto</p>
<p id="uzvnbv"><strong>Bench</strong> Ruddy, Kilman, Boly, Jota, Gibbs-White, Giles, Ashley-Seal</p>
<h2 id="r7dfxy"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></h2>
<p id="MnumHa"><strong>Starting XI</strong><em> </em>Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Salah, Firmino</p>
<p id="f01GtB"><strong>Bench</strong> Adrian, Fabinho, Minamino, Origi, Matip, Jones, Williams</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="QeOWM0">
<h2 id="RDN6E5"><strong>FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS</strong></h2>
<div id="zgGzXm"><div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/zqz38/jpdobr" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="wbF5bI"><strong>8’ Henderson: THE CAPTAIN WITH THE HEADER TO TAKE THE LEAD! </strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="fwtI8f">
<h2 id="Eruxfs"><strong>SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS</strong></h2>
<div id="lMUCgG"><div style="width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.327%;"><iframe src="https://streamja.com/embed/V4lZ" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="Z2PqEn"><strong>84’ Firmino: Count on Bobby to find the winning goal!! </strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="klg8Kw">
<h2 id="SsWAwn"><strong>JOIN THE CONVERSATION</strong></h2>
<p id="pXZxbx">If you haven’t already, sign up for an SB Nation account and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373"><strong>join the conversation on The Liverpool Offside,</strong></a> where we’ll have full coverage of every Liverpool match this season, breaking news, opinion, and tactical discussion.</p>
<p id="7chDuq"><small>*Liverpool Offside has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Liverpool Offside may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.</small></p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2020/1/23/21077173/wolverhampton-liverpool-epl-2020-goal-highlights-teamsheets-tv-channels-online-streamingZachary Marx2020-01-23T14:00:00+00:002020-01-23T14:00:00+00:00Fabinho Looks to “Get Stronger” and Reclaim His Place in Liverpool’s Starting XI
<figure>
<img alt="Liverpool FC Training" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/083JLHj89elJXAYTRi-ZhCG9d7w=/0x0:2262x1508/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66152534/1201007338.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Liverpool’s star defensive midfielder is fully fit and looking forward for the chance to impress against Wolves.</p> <p id="8uE8Dz">After seeing a handful of minutes off the bench against <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> to mark his return to full fitness, Fabinho is expected to see his playing time bumped up today against Wolves as <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> embark on a spot of mid-week Premier League action.</p>
<p id="e14E7c">It’s good news for the Reds, for whom Fabinho was arguably the player of the season for much of the autumn before being sidelined by an ankle injury—the club’s record in his absence, though, means despite that he’ll now have to earn back his place.</p>
<p id="xD4b4A">“The injury is better, I’m really confident in my ankle,” Fabinho said of his Sunday return before touching on what comes next. “With the more minutes I get under my belt, the more time playing, I’ll be able to get back to full fitness—and get even stronger.”</p>
<p id="b3LLd5">While he may have to get even stronger to regain his lock on the starting eleven, in his absence a lot of players—particularly captain <span>Jordan Henderson</span>—have put in a lot of minutes, and Fabinho’s return will mean a chance to rest and rotate them.</p>
<p id="9xLesQ">Starting, it’s expected, against Wolves, who pose a difficult challenge and are in the thick of the top four fight along with Manchester United, Tottenham, and Sheffield as the quartet all chase <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> for the fourth and final place in next season’s <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>.</p>
<p id="OEXTtT">“It’ll be a very difficult game, definitely,” he added. “We saw when they came to Anfield, it was one of our hardest games this season and we’ve seen at home they are a match for anyone—they beat [Manchester] City, so they are a very dangerous team.</p>
<p id="o3IaDK">“But we’ve had a good amount of time to prepare, we know their team well, we know their strengths, so we’ll prepare and go there looking for the victory.”</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2020/1/23/21078333/fabinho-injury-recovery-get-stronger-reclaim-liverpool-starting-xi-face-wolves-epl-2020Noel Chomyn2020-01-23T11:30:00+00:002020-01-23T11:30:00+00:00Sadio Mane Reminds Us That No One Wants To Win More Than Him
<figure>
<img alt="Liverpool FC Training" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2tEEvkW4u79zcWCwt7fc8kYL5vQ=/0x0:4325x2883/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66152039/1201007329.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Liverpool winger has been in stellar form this season. And he wants to win all the big, shiny things. </p> <p id="0Yru0v">This <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> side is incredible. This is not breaking news. </p>
<p id="Q2RlbP">It would have been the easiest thing in the world for this team to fall apart after losing the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> final in Kiev. We’ve—eh-hem—seen it with other teams. But no, they responded with an unrivaled hunger, responding with a 97-point league season and bringing home Ol’ Big Ears. </p>
<p id="3XlkWp">This would have sated the desire of other, lesser teams. Not this Liverpool side. They looked at each other and said, “Winning things is great, how about we just win all the games?” And they saw it, and it was good.</p>
<p id="V5fFVW">If any single player can be singled out for being the hungriest for success, <span>Sadio Mane</span> has to be near the top of any such list. And in an interview with the official site, Mane talks about this experience of wanting to win. </p>
<p id="xWUbzY">“For sure we achieved things and we want to achieve more and big things with this club,” Mane said. “We want to win trophies – Premier League, Champions League again, which won’t be easy, we all know that. </p>
<p id="FPq9qj">“But what you have seen in these last few years, everything is possible and we can do it and do it again. We just need to be hungry in a good way and push ourselves until the end. </p>
<p id="ULvuL6">“When we lost the [Champions League] final against Real Madrid... I think from that everything changed and we said to ourselves, ‘It’s possible’. We also have a young team and from that I think everything changed. </p>
<p id="gpuldV">“We got more belief and we get more confidence and we said, ‘Everything is possible, why not try? We all want to win things, so why can’t we make it together and do it?’ I think that’s working very well.” </p>
<p id="TZBMzX"><em>Working very well</em> is a bit of an understatement from the Senegalese striker. Indeed, this team is doing things no other European side have done, and might just go down as one of the greatest ever English sides, if they can continue this breathtaking form until the end of the season. </p>
<p id="rGFDH0">Of course, that battle starts again tonight against Wolves. Up Sadio, and up the Reds. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2020/1/23/21078304/liverpool-fc-sadio-mane-quotes-interview-title-race-epl-jurgen-klopp-champions-league-madridZachary Marx2020-01-23T03:00:00+00:002020-01-23T03:00:00+00:00Five Questions Ahead of Liverpool’s Trip to Wolverhampton
<figure>
<img alt="Liverpool FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/enKgj5NtnJIMJMNCRFSASAilMfw=/0x0:3228x2152/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66150338/1190727887.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Never has a more inspired group of queries been assembled, said Klopp.</p> <p id="dF5M9d"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> will walk out at Molineux on Thursday prepared for a big fight. Wolves are trying to get their mojo back after a difficult start to 2020 and nothing would kickstart the hoorah-cycle like being the first team to take maximum points from an unbeaten side sitting high atop the league table.</p>
<p id="sxneBr">In light of the punishing task Jürgen Klopp and his team have ahead of them in Wolverhampton, here’s five questions with which to burden your mind.</p>
<ol>
<li id="7f0hO6">Saying Wolves for Wolverhampton Wanderers is one of those colloquialisms that get passed on effortlessly through the years. It’s easy to see why. Wolves is a much more direct name than Wanderers, for a start. Wolves. You get right to the action of it. It’s also a more interesting word to say. Wolves. It’s almost fun. Wanderers is just as it sounds. It meanders, and then it lingers. It’s hardly the kind of word you would use to characterize Nuno Espírito Santo’s side. What word would you use to describe Nuno’s beard? </li>
<li id="OUUX0w">Which Liverpool player, besides <span>Dejan Lovren</span>, would use your chapstick without telling you? </li>
<li id="g7HBwc">Adama Traoré and Raúl Jiménez. João Moutinho and Rúben Neves. Wolves are a good attacking side. Goals are spread around the team but Jiménez himself has a total of ten this season, along with six assists. On a scale of 1 to grapefruit spoon, how dangerous do you expect Wolves to be at Molineux?</li>
<li id="T0WcKt"> In the reverse fixture at Anfield, Wolves caused Liverpool’s defense a fair bit of problems. Virgil van Dijk had his pocket picked by Diego Jota, then fell over while in hot pursuit, leaving Alisson to make a save. Trent Alexander-Arnold also ended up rolling on the grass while chasing after a long ball with Rúben Vinagre. Thankfully, the resulting shot was hit wide of the post. Alisson, as ever, had it covered, though. In many matches this season, Alisson has been the difference for Liverpool when something dangerous slipped through Liverpool’s defense. Against <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> last Sunday, however, Alisson made a difference at the opposite end of the pitch by launching a perfect ball out to <span>Mohamed Salah</span> after recovering a late corner. Salah scored and the place went wild. Liverpool 2-0 winners. Alisson ran the length of the pitch to celebrate, sliding on his knees for the final five yards to a shirtless Mo. Predict the final score at Molineux. Who knocks them in?</li>
<li id="byDnrr">With <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> finding themselves in the news again due to a new trove of information regarding their FFP shenanigans, and also with United magnificently losing by two to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> at Old Trafford on Wednesday, how good is everyone feeling right now? </li>
</ol>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2020/1/23/21077822/five-questions-liverpool-wolverhampton-mohamed-salah-alisson-becker-jurgen-klopp-nuno-espirito-santoMatt Wood2020-01-22T21:30:00+00:002020-01-22T21:30:00+00:00Klopp Talk: The Challenge of Facing “Different” Wolves
<figure>
<img alt="Liverpool FC v Manchester United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OdENkoSajNkqnoFTzcnPlfHu-6o=/0x0:2583x1722/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66148953/1194853444.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Liverpool are going to have to work hard to beat Wolves. On the evidence, that shouldn’t be a problem.</p> <p id="22Y24o">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.</p>
<p id="wE5UDz">They currently sit level with <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a>, six back of <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> in fourth, and that makes for a difficult prospect for <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>—it’s no mid-table pushover they’re facing, and Wolves will be gunning for three points.</p>
<p id="Vg4I3m">“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.</p>
<p id="UQloym">“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.”</p>
<p id="JlO6ZJ">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.</p>
<p id="rd3dcF">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.</p>
<p id="NBkc2s">“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.”</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2020/1/22/21077293/jurgen-klopp-challenge-liverpool-facing-wolves-different-defence-hard-workNoel Chomyn