5 things we learned as Liverpool see off Wolves 1-0

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Liverpool beat Wolves 1-0 on Monday in a thoroughly professional display. Here are five things we learned from the game.

Klopp wants consistency

Once again, Jurgen Klopp’s XI told a story. The boss wants consistency and he went for it with the same team that beat RB Leipzig last week.

Liverpool have sorely lacked consistency all season, thanks to an injury crisis. The boss has very, very rarely had the same team out twice. Even rarer is the ability to put a good team out twice.

It was the backbone of Liverpool’s title-win last season, though. Hopefully, this is the start of some real consistency in Klopp’s selections.

Style change

Liverpool beat RB Leipzig with 40 per cent of the ball last week. It was the first time since December 1st that the team had a minority of possession (44 per cent in a 1-0 win over Ajax).

In fact, it was the lowest amount of possession all season.

Well, Liverpool again had a minority against Wolves. It’s the first time since October 2018 that they’ve gone back to back games with under 50 per cent of the ball. To us, that signifies a style change.

Liverpool are playing on the break a bit more and look more direct. And right now, it’s working.

Difference maker

Diogo Jota being up top improves Liverpool. They have a third goal-threat and one that suits a more direct style.

Jota pushes teams back and offers a constant out-ball. Both are things Liverpool desperately need right now.

We imagine he’s going to stick around in that spot, then. It’s certainly led to a sharper Liverpool side.

Experienced choices

Klopp opted for both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as substitutes. Curtis Jones did get on but only with the concussion-substitute opportunity in stoppage time.

It feels as though the boss wants experience right now, then. Jones had been playing very well and we believed he was ahead of those two in the pecking order.

Right now, though, he’s clearly behind them. It’ll be interesting to see if Klopp sticks with that thinking post-international break.

Mentality

Liverpool kept things comfortable and picked up the 1-0 win over Wolves. It’s a world away from some of their performances in 2021.

But they looked mentally strong and like the Liverpool of earlier in the season. Importantly, they got some confidence in their system going into the international break.

The two weeks off would have had a much different feeling about them after more dropped points. Instead, it’s back to back wins with clean sheets.

Things feel positive for once.