Having locked horns for the fourth time in just eight weeks, Liverpool and Wolves have every reason to be sick of the sight of each other this season. Familiarity breeds contempt, after all.
Yet despite these frequent meetings between the pair, only three Reds players actually played in all four matches - Harvey Elliott, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo - with none of the trio starting all four. With Jurgen Klopp utilising 26 different players across all four matches, it highlights the issues Liverpool have had with injuries and form in 2023 alone, never mind the first half of the season.
Amongst all the changes, the German has called up a different centre-back pairing on each occasion as his side put in a variety of performances for contrasting results.
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Joel Matip partnered Ibrahima Konate for the original FA Cup third round tie at Anfield as the two sides fought out a 2-2 draw and the leakiness that has riddled the Reds’ defence throughout the campaign continued. However, a dismal showing from the Cameroonian next time out in the 3-0 loss away at Brighton saw him replaced by Joe Gomez alongside the Frenchman for the 1-0 replay win at Molineux.
A hamstring injury would sideline Konate when the two sides battled at Molineux in the Premier League, leaving Matip and Gomez to start in his and Virgil van Dijk’s enforced absence. The former would score an own goal as both struggled in another embarrassing 3-0 defeat on the road.
Van Dijk’s return from a hamstring injury of his own would see Matip benched once more, but the Cameroonian was recalled in place of Gomez, who had suffered the same injury in last week’s 5-2 loss to Real Madrid, for the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace. But while Liverpool would claim a third-successive clean sheet in the Premier League, defensively they were most fragile.
As a result, Konate was recalled instantly for Wednesday’s win over Wolves, partnering Van Dijk, as Liverpool made it four clean sheets in a row. Considering all the chopping and changing, and defensive frailties repeatedly on show, it is rather surreal that the Reds are actually on such a run.
What is even more perplexing is that the clean sheet kept against the West Midlands outfit was Alisson’s ninth in the Premier League this season. Only David De Gea, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope have more with the Brazilian somehow in Golden Glove contention.
Yet Wednesday’s clean sheet came with a difference for Liverpool. Against Everton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, the Reds were bailed out by the woodwork at least once. And while the Blues weren’t the most threatening offensively, Klopp’s ranks looked fragile at times as the Magpies and Eagles cut them open. As a result, they were fortunate that their opposition numbers’ scores read nil.
But against Wolves, they were in control with a Joao Moutinho long-range effort the only time Alisson was called into action. While it was a far from vintage first half from Liverpool, in the second half there was at least a feeling of ‘when the Reds will score’ rather than if.
For the first time in a long time, it was inevitable that they would break the deadlock rather than concede. Their air of self-confidence was back and Anfield responded, inspiring them over the line in the process as they urged their side on.
“I think Anfield proved a point tonight again,” Klopp said after the final whistle. “It was super, super enjoyable. It felt like a proper unit, we all together. I love that and it’s what we need again on Sunday (against Manchester United).”
Of course, this was aided by the centre-back pairing of Konate and Van Dijk being reunited, with Fabinho looking a lot more like himself in midfield. And the German would reference this when speaking to reporters post-match.
“I thought we performed tonight, we played a really good game in general,” Klopp said. “I really think the centre-halves and Fabinho together, how they covered that area, how they denied the counter-attacks, how they defended into midfield, which is very important against a team which plays with one striker, I thought they did really well.”
Wednesday’s game was only the fifth time Van Dijk and Konate have started together this season, with each player forced off injured in one of those matches. Just three completed 90 minutes together, it's not enough for what is the club’s first-choice centre-back pairing. This season, they have been far from familiar.
Yet those three are the 2-0 home victory over Napoli, the 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur, and now this 2-0 victory over Wolves. In other words, some of their more controlled defensive displays of the season.
Starting last year’s Champions League final, Van Dijk and Konate are Liverpool’s first-choice pairing for a reason. When discussing new signing Ron Yeats in the sixties, legendary Reds manager Bill Shankly famously said: “Take a walk around my centre-half, gentlemen. He's a colossus.” In the Dutchman and the Frenchman, both standing at roughly 6ft 5, Klopp now boasts two of them.
Between them, they offer everything the Liverpool boss wants from his centre-backs. Pace, power, strong in the air, firm in the tackle, good on the ball. Such attributes are exactly what the Reds need to defend high and press hard.
And their presence has provided exactly what Klopp wants to see to give his side the best chance of finishing in the top four - namely an ability to deny the opponent chances.
“In between we conceded five – we cannot ignore that completely, even when it was Real Madrid,” he said when asked about his side’s clean sheets run before facing Wolves. “Generally, the defending was absolutely okay.
“Most of the things are okay but we have to make sure we bring it all together to the next level. I love Ali making saves but I would have no massive problem with him making no saves in the game – and not because he concedes so many but because they don't have a shot on target.
“There are different ways of defending. We can have a clean sheet and the goalie has 20 saves, and you can have a clean sheet and the goalie didn't see the ball, so that's a massive difference.
“We can improve in all departments, we know that, but when you have a clean sheet then some things went absolutely right and it's the main reason, I would say, for a win because we don't concede. You have to score one and from all goalscoring results, it's the easiest one.
“Because if you need five, it's more difficult. But one, with the quality we have and can bring on the pitch, [we] should be able to do that. From there, I would love to go on – but, again, it's okay.”
Liverpool have gifted far too many chances and goals to opposing sides this season, with heads often left in hands as a result. Meanwhile, Alisson has made the fifth-most saves in the Premier League this season with only David Raya, Bernd Leno, Jordan Pickford and Vicente Guaita bettering his total of 74.
To put that into context, he made 76 saves in total in 2018/19 and 2021/22, with his highest return coming in 2020/21 when he made 84 saves. The highest he has ever previously ranked on the saves charts in his Anfield career is 15th, highlighting just how much busier he has been this season.
But against Wolves, with Van Dijk and Konate reunited, they defensively had the game under-control. The Brazilian only had to make one save with the protection in front of him far superior to anything we have seen so far for most of this season.
Going hand in hand with the Reds’ rediscovered belief that it’s only a matter of time before they score, Liverpool have just made their lives a hell of a lot easier and given Klopp exactly what he wanted.
Granted, the fact that such traits weren't present with Matip and Gomez, and the fact it has taken both Van Dijk and Konate's returns from injury to implement such confidence and comfort is a concern.
No wonder the Reds continue to be linked with new centre-backs, with reports today even suggesting they asked after Benoit Badiashile in January, only to miss out on the 21-year-old to Chelsea. But for now, such recruitment can wait until the summer with attentions firmly focused on getting back in that top four.
Liverpool are slowly starting to look like their old selves. With Manchester United next to Anfield, it’s not a moment too soon!
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