Football News: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool Player Ratings and Review

I watched the whole Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool game on BBC and had the added benefit of course of replays and rewind to check matters!

A really very poor Wolves performance. After all the fuss we made after the first game it was odd that we seemingly made very little effort to beat a scratch Liverpool side.

Strange mix and match selection and first half unfathomable tactics. In the first 5 minutes, we gave Traore the ball 2 or 3 times and as at Anfield he had their full back on toast and created chances that we really need to do better from.

But then we simply stopped passing not just to him but to anyone. Only Traore (maybe RAN and a couple of others tried) showed enough character and ability in the first half.

Unbelievable goal to concede. A great run from RAN - (who therefore obviously was making some effort) - but after that move broke down we were caught on a fast break so that they moved the ball 60-70 yards without a challenge. Sa was then in no man's land and a weak effort sailed over his head for a goal!
In the second half we were better but it wasn't hard. Very disappointing!

Player Ratings:
Sa 4 - Had very little to do as once Liverpool scored they merely managed the game, but OMG what a howler for the goal. Also part of the dreadful movement of the ball at the back - at one time playing neat triangles with Neves and Nunes as the clock ran down!

Dexter 5 - Ok but didn't really show - who did in his half.

Collins 4 - Another game where for me his performance has too many hairy moments - assume he is being told to play but for me over playing for his ability

Gomes 4 - Not great but not his sort of game. We had the ball and they didn't really have any sort of physical presence up front for him to battle with - odd selection (Collins and Gomes as both stoppers not footballers) and not one we should repeat.

Otto 4 - Didn't show anything.

Neves 7 - Far better in second half and obviously very frustrated with the referee - not bad but weak and inconsistent he gave every 50 : 50 {40:60} the same way and not ours! Refs booking of Traore was outrageous given that he had been fouled seemingly more often than the entire Wolves team had fouled!

Hodge 4 - Not his fault but the game passed him by - it did many in the first half. Very odd selection but now that Lemina and hopefully Gomes are here he should be sent on loan to develop.

Moutinho 5 - They passed the ball around him and he struggled to get a grip on the game. As did Wolves for entire first half.

Traore 8 - Missed 2 or 3 half/good chances (finishing definitely not his strong suit) but created havoc every time we passed to him - amazingly it appeared he was always available but bizarrely, like at Anfield, we on far, far too many occasions simply failed to move the ball quick enough to give him the ball in the space and time he had found. However even when double and triple marked he had the beating of them every time!

RAN 7 - Another strong performance (our 2nd best!) from him. Excellent going forwards.

Jimenez 4 - One step forward two steps back. After some promise against West Ham, a very poor performance. Needs to be in the box more. As the BBC pointed out with some very painful graphics, we put in some very good crosses, but normally have no one there at all!

Subs:
Semedo 6 - A more positive performance as, to be fair to Dexter, the whole team upped its game in the 2nd half.

Nunes 6 - Needs to grab the game by scruff of the neck more. Very good player in there but tonight just a little muted/down as oddly most of the rest of the team were. Did we want to win or are we concentrating on the league?

Podence 5 - couldn't get into the game despite trying his best as usual.

Cunha 7 - Quite a few nice touches. Probably should have scored from at least one of his chances but like Traore blazed over when well set.

Costa 6 (Albeit for a cameo) - Game was in the last few minutes when he came on but a lovely lay off for Cunha created our best chance of the night.

All in all a very bad performance from everyone including JL. Pick up points in the league game and all is forgiven.

Not our year for a cup run - again!

Written by Thefutureisoldgold January 17 2023 23:43:02