Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has claimed that Liverpool ‘deserved more’ from their game against Real Madrid last week.
The Reds were thrashed 5-2 at Anfield as Los Blancos put their Champions League tie pretty much out of reach. It wasn’t all one way traffic though, with Liverpool missing a couple of decent chances to score more.
And speaking via Football Daily ahead of facing the Reds tomorrow, Lopetegui insisted that Liverpool were a little unlucky.
“I think they play in the same way at home but the difficulty of Anfield is that it’s a stadium where they push a lot,” said the Spanish coach.
“I have seen the last match against Real Madrid. I think they made a fantastic first-half in my opinion, they deserved a lot more but this is football. Tomorrow I’m sure we’ll find a a good team, a good environment and we have to be ready.”
Liverpool still showing shoots of recovery
It has been a little bit lost in the analysis of a chastening night at Anfield last week, but Lopetegui is right here.
Liverpool did deserve a little more for their first-half showing. That they didn’t get anything is credit to Madrid and a consequence of their own sloppiness. But it doesn’t change the fact that they could and probably should have scored more.
Mohamed Salah had an excellent chance with the score at 1-0, but dragged his shot hopelessly past the post.
Later on, with another goal now added, a scramble in the box could easily have resulted in a third goal for Liverpool.
Of course, the game is 90 minutes and you’d back Madrid to hang on in it no matter the score. But had they had more of a cushion, it’s hard to see Liverpool going to sleep like they did during the second-half.
With a shut-out following against Crystal Palace on Saturday, hopefully Liverpool have repaired their confidence a touch. There were positives to take despite the heavy defeat against the Spaniards. Lopetegui saw them, now let’s amplify them against his team tomorrow.