ANFIELD OF DREAMS
Lambo roasts Klopp’s Reds
Paul Lambert watched his Wolves savage Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to maintain his stunning record of never being defeated at Anfield.
And Lambert – who only took charge at Molineux in November – declared it topped every one of his earlier visits as player and manager with Celtic, Aston Villa and Norwich City.
A f irst- minute header by Richard Stearman put the men in gold on their way, with Andreas Weimann doubling the lead just before half-time. Divock Origi grabbed one back in 86 minutes to make for a frantic closing per iod but the struggl ing Championship side hung on to become the seventh lower-tier team to knock the Reds out of the Cup since 2000. Lambert’s pride was clear, the 47-year- old Scot saying: “I’ve never been beaten here as a player or manager, that’s with Celtic, Villa and Norwi ch . But this surpasses everything because of the gulf in the league and the players.
“I thought we deserved it, I really did. The first goal gave us something to hold on to.
“I thought if the young players could hold their nerve and thrive on the atmosphere rather than fear it we would have a chance as a team.”
Lambert made seven changes to the side that had lost 3-1 to his old club Norwich in the league last Saturday. It paid off in style.
Klopp made eight after the Reds’ EFL Cup semi- f inal f lop against Southampton. It didn’t. In the first minute Wolves won a free-kick wide on the right and Helder Costa swung in his cross.
Calamity keeper Loris Karius stayed on his line and Stearman, who started in an offside position, took advantage to head home.
Costa almost silenced Anfield again with a 70-yard unopposed run only to slice a shot wide under pressure f rom 17- year- old Ben Woodbu rn who had tracked him all the way.
But Liverpool ignored the warning.
Roberto Firmino gave away possession on the edge of Wolves’ area three minutes before half-time and the ball was switched to Costa wide on the right. Alberto More no missed his tackle on the Portuguese striker, who threaded a pass to Weimann for the Austrian international to round Karius and finish.
It was a move that took just seconds from one end of the pitch to the other.
Liverpool ended the half with telling stats – 79 per cent possession and not a shot on target.
Klopp’s decision to send on Phi lippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can made little difference.
Origi’s late volley set up a feverish finish but Wolves almost added a third.
Sub Jon Dadi Bodvarsson forced Karius into a point blank save before keeper Harry Burgoyne denied Origi at the other end.