Liverpool face Wolves away on Thursday in what will be the biggest test of their fitness this season.
Fitness and the ability to push through to the end of 90 minutes is a key trait of this Liverpool side. Some could argue that it’s the key trait.
Their pressing, in particular, is a defining part of their system. The ability to counter-attack at pace whenever necessary is another one.
But it’s more than that. Liverpool don’t stop pushing until the end and are nigh-on impossible to kill off. However, the same can be said about Wolves.
Nuno Espirito Santos’s team have picked up more points from losing positions than any other side (per BBC). They also score a comfortable majority of their goals in the second half (68%).
And so on Thursday, Liverpool face a Wolves side who will test their fitness as far as it will go. Can Liverpool maintain focus and energy for 90 minutes, away from home, against the fifth-best side in the league?
We saw how difficult that is when Manchester City went there late last month. City had a 2-0 lead after 50 minutes but Wolves cut that in half on 55. Then they equalised with ten minutes to go. Then they found a winner in the 89th minute.
So it would be a big test anyway but there’s more to it. Liverpool will face Wolves just four days after an intense game with Manchester United that was full-throttle right into stoppage time.
This isn’t like the last meeting with Wolves. Not only was that at Anfield but it came after a comfortable 4-0 win over Leicester City.
You’d imagine it will be virtually the same lineup, with Jurgen Klopp simply asking them to go again. In that case, a tired Liverpool will have to stay alert and energetic for 90 minutes against a good side that doesn’t quit.
This, surely, is as tough a test as it gets for that elite-level fitness.
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