Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Wolves are “brilliantly organised” and that the tactics adopted by counterpart Nuno Espirito Santo makes life very difficult for the opposition.
The newly promoted side, who walked their way to the Championship title last season, have been punching above their weight during the current campaign, sitting seventh in the Premier League table behind the traditional top six of England’s elite.
Ahead of Friday night’s game at Molineux, Klopp was full of admiration for how well drilled Wolves are, singling out centre back Conor Coady as someone who dominates the opposition.
He told Sky Sports’ coverage on Friday (21/12, 19:06): “I think they were a little lucky against Chelsea. Chelsea should have had a penalty and the game is over in that moment but they stayed in the game.
“The Huddersfield game for example, Huddersfield did brilliant that day but they played completely different to us – they man marked and took Coady out of the game, who is a very dominant player.
“They are good organisers, they have a specific kind of play, very deep with Coady chipping the ball right and left, going for second balls and if they win the balls, that’s the main thing, brilliantly organised.
“5-4-1 is really a wall when you play against them, wherever they lose the ball, they are smart. The offensive players who are not involved immediately they bring themselves into position for where the next pass could be. It makes life uncomfortable.”
Opinion
As a Premier League manager with experience in Germany’s top flight, Klopp will know all about the sort of tactics that Wolves have taken on this season, operating very defensively when without the ball and breaking fast on the counter attack when in possession. It has been at the heart of their success this season and has helped pull off some impressive performances and results, especially against the so called big boys of the division. Draws against Manchester United and Manchester City and the win over Chelsea mean that the Molineux outfit are not to be underestimated and that is exactly what Klopp will have been telling his squad ahead of Friday’s showdown. Regardless of the result, Wolves look to be well suited to the Premier League and will believe they can take anyone on in the league.