EPL

Liverpool rediscover rhythm after Real Madrid 'knock', says Klopp after Wolves win

By Sports Desk March 01, 2023

Jurgen Klopp was pleased to see Liverpool recover from their "knock" against Real Madrid as they beat Wolves 2-0 at Anfield.

The Reds blew a two-goal lead at home to lose 5-2 against the Spanish giants in their Champions League last-16 first leg last week, but kept their fourth clean sheet in four Premier League games on Wednesday.

Second-half goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah secured three points that send Liverpool up to sixth in the table, and six points off the top four.

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in four or more consecutive games in the Premier League for the first time since February-April last year (five).

"We knew it would be a difficult game, we controlled the game in a lot of periods," Klopp told BBC Sport after the victory. "There were situations rather than chances, we got in a rush in these moments. We got our rhythm back in the second half, we just had to be solid defensively and keep making chances.

"In general we did defensively well tonight, Diogo [Jota] in the 10 was really important, the midfield was together, defensively we had a high line and won decisive challenges. Ali [Alisson] didn't have spectacular saves to make which was good.

"We had a knock against Real Madrid, we played a really good first half then we started the second really bad. We looked a lot more stable today, we have to carry that on."

It could have been a frustrating night for Liverpool, who were kept at bay for large periods by Wolves, and Darwin Nunez was denied the opener just after the hour when referee Paul Tierney reviewed the goal and decided Diogo Jota had committed a foul in the build-up.

"For the boys on the pitch it was a clear goal, but you have to stay focused. We forced the first goal and the second was wonderful," Klopp said.

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui conceded that the hosts deserved to win, saying he was pleased with his team's first-half efforts but acknowledged they had been unable to keep it up in the second.

"Maybe we could have disrupted their rhythm," he told Premier League Productions. "We weren't able to do much damage in the space. We put Adama [Traore] on but didn't find the moment, they were aggressive on the press. In the first half we overcome some moments on this press, in the second half no.

"When you have this type of match, you have to keep the ball and be calm. In the first half we did this, we matched them, but in the second we did not have these chances."

Related items

  • Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolves: Bellegarde beauty earns visitors first point Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolves: Bellegarde beauty earns visitors first point

    Wolves earned their first point of the Premier League season following a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

    Chris Wood's towering header was cancelled out by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's stunning strike as the spoils were shared at the City Ground.

    The hosts took the lead in the 10th minute as Wood rose to nod home from Elliot Anderson's corner.

    However, the visitors were level just two minutes later in spectacular fashion, with Bellegarde firing a stunning long-range volley into the roof of the net.

    Gary O'Neil's side had Sam Johnstone to thank after the break, with the debutant producing a strong hand to deny Wood his second goal of the game.

    Matheus Cunha curled a shot just wide while the offside flag denied Wood later on, with Forest unable to snatch victory but extending their unbeaten start to the campaign.

    Data Debrief: Wolves end losing streak while Wood matches Collymore

    After opening the season with two defeats and eight goals conceded, Wolves stopped the rot with a welcome point against their Midlands rivals, while ending a five-game Premier League losing streak in the process.

    Meanwhile, Forest remain unbeaten in their opening three games of a top-flight season for the first time since 1995-96.

    Heading his side into the lead, Wood became only the second Forest player to score in both their first two home matches in a Premier League season since Stan Collymore 30 years previously. 

  • Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win

    Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.

    Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.

    With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.

    Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.

    Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.

    Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home

    Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.

    Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.

  • Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win

    Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.

    Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.

    With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.

    Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.

    Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.

    Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home

    Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.

    Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.