Unbeaten Liverpool surge back to beat Wolves

Speaking to TNT Sports in the UK, Jurgen Klopp admitted that he knew Liverpool couldn’t play as bad in the second half as they did in the first half.

He also said he couldn’t change five players at half time and saw that some of his players were lacking in energy after coming back from long trips during the international break this week. He also said his plan was to add more speed in attack and they got that from bringing on Luis Diaz at half time.

“We had to control the game better. We had to change pretty much everything at half time and it worked out... The first half was really bad. The second half was really good. We were good first half but Wolves were really good. They caused us so many problems... We were not able to close the gaps. In the end, massive three points.”

Asked about the impact subs had off the bench and the strength of Liverpool’s squad this season, Klopp said this:

“We have a good squad, no doubt about it... We have a good squad and a good bench today. There is quality but even with quality you can play really bad. We can take both, we can work with the first and the second half.”

On the impact of Andy Robertson, who popped up to score the winner, Klopp said it summed up the change in the team from first to second half.

“It fit the second half. We were much more flexible. In the first half Robbo would have never popped up in the right side of the penalty box,” Klopp added.

Andy Robertson, speaking to TNT Sports in the UK, laughed when asked about what was said at half time: “I can tell you some of it probably, but not all of it...!”

He also said you can point to a lot of the Liverpool players travelling around the world during the international break as a reason for their slow start at Wolves but wasn’t making excuses.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half. Wolves were the better team. We made too many mistakes,” Robertson said.

“We changed our formation slightly, went to a kind of 4-4-2 and we dominated the second half and and probably got what we deserved... We’ve got a strong squad and we can only get stronger. If we can keep everyone fit we believe we’ve got a squad that can compete.”

Here are the player ratings from our friends at FotMob.com.

Mohamed Salah was superb in the second half at creating space, and chances, for his teammates.

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Jurgen Klopp looks happy at the final whistle and that was a very good second half from Liverpool.

Wolves were excellent in the first half but were made to rue missed chances once again as Klopp tweaked his tactics and personnel and got it spot on as Liverpool surged back to win.

Nunez, Diaz and Elliott were very good after coming on and Wolves just didn’t get going in the second half. Still, Liverpool were very good and Mohamed Salah pulled the strings with two assists (can we give him half an assist for the own goal!?).

Liverpool are top of the Premier League. At least for a few hours...

Harvey Elliott’s shot is going wide but it deflects off Hugo Bueno and hits the post before hitting the net.

Game. Set. Match.

They’ve done it. Andy Robertson puts Liverpool 2-1 up late on. Their fans go wild in the away end!

Brilliant play from Robertson to link up with Salah and he then sneak his shot home at the near post.

Really poor clearance from Jose Sa set up that Liverpool attack. Wolves stopped playing at half time.

That is a really good stop by Jose Sa to deny Darwin Nunez.

Some really sharp play from Liverpool in the box and Nunez is played in but Sa smothers his effort down low. Nunez tried to squeeze it home.

The Uruguayan has looked really bright since coming on.

Liverpool get the goal their improved display warranted. They have been so much better at the start of the second half.

Jota and Diaz were involved on the edge of the box and Jota sets up Salah with a cheeky nutmeg.

Salah then drills a shot towards the back post and Gakpo is waiting to tap home. 1-1.

In fact, that is Gakpo’s final touch as he is subbed off for Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez is on for Jota. Game on!

Almost an instant impact from the half time sub Diaz.

Szoboszlai picks out Robertson with a fine pass and the Scotland international crosses for Diaz but he can’t direct his header on target.

That is so much better from Liverpool. Direct, dangerous and quick. They’ll need much more of that in the second half.

And, as expected, Klopp has switched things up at the break.

Mac Allister (who really struggled and was booked) is off and Luis Diaz is on.

That means Dominik Szoboszlai has dropped deeper to play alongside Curtis Jones in central midfield with Diaz on the left and Gakpo, Jota and Salah also drifting around in attack.

A really good first half from the hosts and they should be leading by more.

Hwang Hee-chan’s goal is the difference as Bellegard and Neto have torn Liverpool to shreds on the counter.

The best word to sum up Liverpool’s first half is: sloppy. So many needless giveaways from Jurgen Klopp’s side, especially in midfield, and they are being overrun and look very sluggish.

Will Wolves rue not scoring another couple? Surely Liverpool won’t be that bad after the break, right? An intriguing second half is coming up...

Jose Sa makes a mess of a cross but Salah can’t finish as Wolves’ defense, and Sa, make several blocks to deny Szoboszlai and Co.

Liverpool are finally starting to get some joy from whipping crosses into the box. Finally, finally, they have woken up. A little.

In the 44th minute Liverpool have a half chance and that is about as good as it has been for the Reds. A cross is whipped in from the right and Cody Gakpo flicks harmlessly over the bar.

Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are shown sitting on the bench by the TV cameras. Surely those two will be on soon, right?

Probably need one of Endo and Gravenberch on to provide some balance too.

Pedro Neto with a great piece of skill to beat Joe Gomez and he clips in a perfect cross.

Matheus Cunha is unmarked, six yards out but he jumps too high and the ball hits his chest and Liverpool clear.

What a huge opportunity for Wolves to make it 2-0.

They have hardly got the ball forward to their attacking threats as Salah, Gakpo and Jota are basically statues out there.

Wolves are dominating the game and Pedro Neto in particular is causing so many problems.

Liverpool keep on giving the ball away and they aren’t working back hard enough to win it back. There is a real lack of energy about this Liverpool display. So far.

Wolves are pushing for a second...

That goal was coming for Wolves! They have been excellent early on and Liverpool just haven’t got going.

Pedro Neto did superbly on the left flank as he beat Gomez, Matip and Szoboszlai before crossing for Hwang to squeeze the ball home at the back post.

Jurgen Klopp is livid on the sidelines. Liverpool were so open.

Great atmosphere in Wolverhampton and the home side have started well with new signing Bellegarde already looking lively. He could cause Joe Gomez some big problems today.

Alexis MacAllister has looked a little sloppy early on and after giving the ball away he is booked for stopping Matheus Cunha running towards goal.

Gary O’Neil starts new signingsBellegarde, while Hwang Hee-chan starts in attack.

Joe Gomez is in at right back for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, while youngster Jarell Quansah starts at center back with Virgil van Dijk out suspended and Ibrahima Konate only fit enough to be on the bench.

Curtis Jones starts in midfield, while Jota, Salah and Gakpo are in attack.

Virgil van Dijk will miss his second game through suspension, but Ibrahima Konate could return to the fold. Jurgen Klopp’s update when it comes to ailing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara is that both will miss this game.

Joe Gomez and Joel Matip stood firm at the back in the first match of Van Dijk’s suspension, but life has mostly been good for Liverpool because Mohamed Salah remains a dynamo. The Egyptian has two goals and two assists so far this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed in a huge way since joining the Reds midfield. Let’s see if Klopp’s found an even better way to deploy him after a week’s worth of review.

Pedro Neto has three assists in his last two Premier League matches to pace all Wolves in goal contributions this early season.

Hee-chan Hwang is the only Wolves player to score multiple goals in the 1W-3L start.

Max Kilman has been a huge part of Wolves’ distribution and defense this season, while Mario Lemina is going to have be even better now that Matheus Nunes is gone to Man City.

Wolves are basically healthy outside of Joseph Hodge’s thigh.