Furious Klopp says Liverpool have ´no excuse´ for failings in Wolves rout

Jurgen Klopp was “disappointed and angry” as he struggled to explain Liverpool’s dismal run of form continuing with a 3-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux.

Liverpool found themselves two goals down within 12 minutes on Saturday as Wolves debutant Craig Dawson followed up Joel Matip’s own goal, before Ruben Neves ended the Reds’ hopes of a comeback in the second half.

Wolves’ bizarre opener was the fifth goal Liverpool have conceded in the opening five minutes of a Premier League game this season, more than any other side.

With Dawson’s goal then being timed at 11 minutes and six seconds, Liverpool have only once gone 2-0 down at an earlier stage of a Premier League game, conceding twice in the first seven minutes against West Ham in 2014.

Speaking after seeing Liverpool’s winless run stretch to four league outings, Klopp hit out at the Reds’ dreadful start to the match and apologised for their defensive shortcomings.

“Obviously it was a horrible start, two goals which cannot happen like that,” he told Premier League Productions. “But it happened, and we were 2-0 down because of our own fault.

“We should have defended better. We were passive in that period. I cannot explain it. There is no excuse for it.

Wolves 3-0 Liverpool: The home side were 2-0 ahead in the 12th minute of this match; the earliest Liverpool have found themselves 2-0 down in a Premier League match since September 2014 against West Ham (7th minute).

It would only get worse for Jürgen Klopp’s side… pic.twitter.com/J0mOrlIZkl

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 4, 2023

“You’re 2-0 down, the crowd is there, but it opens up and we get some control. Then for about 45 minutes we play a good away game without scoring. That sums it up, pretty much.

“These 15 minutes cannot be allowed. It needs to change, that’s the thing. I stand here again and for the first 15 minutes I have no explanation, I’m sorry.

“In the end, we lost 3-0 and the goal in the second half was perhaps the first time they crossed the halfway line, but when you start like this you don’t deserve anything.”

Liverpool have lost three consecutive away league games for the first time since April 2012 (a run of four), while they have suffered more defeats on the road this term (six) than in their previous two campaigns combined (five).

Up next for Liverpool is a Merseyside derby against Everton, who began the Sean Dyche era with a huge victory against Arsenal on Saturday, and Klopp knows his team must improve quickly.

“We have to change it immediately in the next game,” he said. “Everton won today, and they are in a good moment, so we have to prove a point again.

“For the moment, I’m so disappointed and angry about the first 15 minutes, I can’t find the words for it.

“Then we had chances we should score. It could have been 2-1 and that would have changed everything I’m sure. Wolves deserve the three points.”

3 – Wolves have won more of their six Premier League games under Julen Lopetegui (3) than they had in their first 15 league matches of 2022-23 under Bruno Lage and Steve Davis combined (2). Stamp. pic.twitter.com/SsZwEU9NFq

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 4, 2023