Wolves were beaten by a solitary Sadio Mane goal in a game shrouded in VAR controversy, after Pedro Neto’s equaliser was ruled out for a marginal offside in the build-up. Nevertheless, Wolves used those frustrations to have ask serious questions of their hosts after the break but were out of luck in their quest for a leveler.
On the effort of his players
“They were fantastic from the beginning to the end. We finished the game really well, in the second-half we dominated the game, we controlled the game, we had good possession of the ball, found balance from one side to another, and had chances. The result is there, but the performance makes us proud.
“It was a good game of football, it’s a tough place to come, Liverpool are a fantastic team, a fantastic manager, they had energy, but we balanced that, that’s what I take away from here. Let’s go again at Watford, that’s the only thing I’m thinking about.”
On VAR controversy
“Anfield is amazing and they were celebrating a non-goal. It doesn’t make sense. The referees should sustain their decision.
“There’s a referee miles away making decisions on a lot of things that are happening here. Who feels the game? Who is inside the game? The intensity of the actions? The referee.”
On using frustration after the break
“It’s focus we need to have, no matter what happens. There was a second-half to be played and we played it well, we were brave against a very good team. This is the challenge that makes us grow and we have to keep on going.
“It was about bouncing back from a situation you cannot control. This is what we did as a team, we didn’t make mistakes and grew against a very good opponent.”
On improving after the break
“First-half Liverpool were very strong, but that was the moment to stay in the game. We stayed in the game, stayed organised, always with their danger, we controlled a lot of things without having the ball in the first-half.
“The second-half it changed, we came out strong, pressed high and had good possession that created a lot of chances, and we finished the game very well.
“We had a lot of chances, a lot of situations to break, we were not able to get that final touch. Today was not the day, let’s work and be more clinical, but I’m really proud of the boys.”
On handling the quick turnaround
“The way we are doing things, the way they commit themselves, made me proud. We had 45 hours to get ready to compete, it’s a tough schedule for every team in the Premier League, but we had energy.
“That’s the good part, the reaction, the way we did things in the second-half makes us proud, the display of energy was amazing. It was a tough game, the boys worked very hard, which is unnegotiable.”
