Izuchukwu Okosi
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who has always been critical of the early afternoon kickoffs in the English Premier League has admitted his side are “not stable” after securing their third comeback win of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Hwang Hee-chan put Wolves ahead in the first half of Saturday’s lunchtime game before Cody Gakpo tied things up after the break, and two late goals ultimately fired Klopp’s side to a 3-1 victory that appears far more comfortable than it was.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt was the third time already this season Liverpool have come from behind to win, with August seeing comeback victories over both Bournemouth and Newcastle United.
“It’s really early days in the season but we need to take all the information we get,” Klopp told the media after the game.
“Turning the game around is helpful in a season but we cannot rely on it, we cannot,” the former Borrusia Dortmund coach noted.
“We have to play better in the first half of games generally. We are not stable yet, that is not possible. Too many things are new. I am ready to work on that and the boys are too.
“They did not want to wave the white flag and that is good. When you win the lesser good games you can have a good season. The boys reacted really well.”
Klopp touted as a possible candidate for the Germany national team added: “We have to play better than we did in the first half. We did in the second which was the best moment to react. In the first half we had some problems physically, we weren’t sharp, we weren’t right. We tried to find out who’s ready [after the international break] and it was not a perfect choice.
“The best news was it was over and I thought we cannot play worse. That’s why we changed pretty much everything in the second half, tactically and physically.
“Second half, we controlled it completely and it was a really good game then. We deserved to win in the end that’s clear. We scored the equaliser, kept controlling, kept trying and won the game which was massive for us.”
That slow start was also a point of concern for left-back Andy Robertson, who struck with five minutes to go to put Liverpool ahead.
“Yes, ideally we don’t go behind. We’ve already done it a few times this season,” he said. “Maybe last season that was our downfall, I don’t remember too many comebacks.
“Our away form so far has been good, too. It’s been a good start but there’s along way to go. We can’t afford to start like that in future.”
Liverpool will focus attention in the new week on their Europa League campaign.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
