New boss injects belief but VAR needles Wolves
A SENSE of injustice ripped through the Old Gold ranks as they left Anfield and that begged two conclusions. The first was on VAR. Trying to understand why Wolves had been denied what looked to be a legitimate winner by Toti Gomes was head-scrambling. Wolves had done enough to beat Liverpool and to have their efforts compromised by technological failure wasn’t good enough. The second conclusion, though, had a significantly more positive aspect. Wolves look revitalised and that, in no small part, is down to the man who was a figure of perpetual motion on the touchline, organising, inspiring and galvanising a club that had lost its way.
Julen Lopetegui has an impeccable c.v. He shaped the early careers of some outstanding Spanish players and knows the pitfalls that come with managing at the sharp end with clubs such as Real Madrid and Sevilla. Wolves will not lose their place in the Premier League if the impact he has overseen since the restart is maintained and the fact he made nine changes to his side against Liverpool but lost no rhythm or hunger spoke volumes for his work on the training pitch.
It has not been an easy start for Lopetegui but one win from four matches is not reflective of the mood he has changed and the momentum he is trying to create. Liverpool, whose form is flummoxing Jurgen Klopp, were thankful that the breaks favoured them.
‘He has given belief, he has given confidence, he has injected a bit of energy,’ said Wolves centre back Nathan Collins of Lopetegui. ‘We trust him, he trusts us and the relationship is just so good. We are backing each other and fighting for each other. He injected us with something, we don’t know what it is, but it is helping us and working out for us. It has given us energy and we feel more together as a team. There is a long way to go but we are enjoying it.
‘His c.v. shows all the work he has done. Straight away, tactically for every game has been spot-on nearly. If he keeps doing that, then let’s hope it works out. We will have a good chance.’
Looking at Wolves over the last 12 months, it felt as if things had gone stale but Lopetegui’s arrival and the work he did with the squad during the World Cup hiatus has reinvigorated them. Their relegation rivals will be feeling significantly more uncomfortable now.
‘It is easy to buy into the manager because of those credentials,’ said Collins, whose side earned a replay with goals from Goncalo Guedes and Hwang Hee-chan. The victor at Molineux gets a fourth-round trip to Brighton. ‘Like I said, we trust him and look at the team he put out. He said he trusts us; he said he has belief in us and we put in a performance for him. That is the main thing.’ Klopp, by contrast, is trying desperately to put the pizzazz back into Liverpool. They look slovenly and unsure of everything at this juncture and not even a superb goal from Darwin Nunez, to go with another from Mo Salah, provided solace. ‘Whatever you play: high line, deeper line, ball-orientated, man-orientated — you have to win challenges,’ said Klopp. ‘There is no alternative.’