The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Liverpool, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | Jurgen Klopp brought his remarkable Liverpool reign to an end with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, capping a memorable Premier League tenure with the Reds.
Klopp announced back in January his intention to leave Liverpool – who finish third in the league this season – and Sunday’s triumph marked a fitting farewell for his nine-year stay on Merseyside.
Nelson Semedo’s first-half dismissal opened the door for Liverpool to capitalise as Alexis Mac Allister, who was scythed down by the right-back for the red card, struck first after 35 minutes.
Jarell Quansah doubled the hosts’ lead soon after in the opening 45 minutes as Liverpool eased to a final-day victory, with this defeat ensuring Gary O’Neil’s Wolves end the season 14th in the table.
The Anfield crowd entered the stadium unusually early to create a roaring atmosphere for Klopp’s farewell, but Liverpool were slow to get going after the emotional pre-match build-up.
A nervy opening almost proved the home side’s undoing as Hwang Hee-chan arrowed narrowly wide, with Virgil van Dijk denied at the other end just moments earlier.
Yet Wolves’ encouraging showing was turned on its head when Semedo was shown a straight red card – following a VAR check recommending a review – for an over-the-ball lunge on Mac Allister’s ankle.
Making use of that one-man advantage, Harvey Elliott floated into right-wing space before curling for Mac Allister to flick a neat header into the top-left corner.
Wolves suffered another blow just six minutes later as Mohamed Salah volleyed from Cody Gakpo’s flick-on before Quansah prodded home with a simple finish from point-blank range.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half as Luis Diaz missed a glorious opportunity to make it 3-0, smashing against the crossbar with the goal gaping after Gakpo had rounded Jose Sa.
Mac Allister deflected narrowly over soon after Sa had thwarted Gakpo in a one-on-one situation, while Van Dijk blocked an open goal for Matheus Cunha in a rare Wolves chance on Alisson’s target.
Matt Doherty thought he had sliced the deficit with five minutes remaining, but the Wolves substitute was caught fractionally offside as Klopp signed off with a comfortable victory.
Liverpool’s Kop End at Anfield stood in unison for one final time, waving goodbye to their great manager Klopp, who guided the Reds to seven major trophies across his impressive spell.
His trophy-laden spell ends with UEFA Champions League glory and a Premier League crown as the most memorable moments of what was a storied spell on Merseyside.
Klopp leaves Liverpool with 209 wins from 334 Premier League matches, with his Reds scoring 714 goals and conceding just 331 across his successful period at Anfield.
Klopp’s impressive tenure was aided by the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah as part of a fearsome front three – though the Egyptian is the only one who remains with the club.
Salah made his 250th top-flight appearance for Liverpool here against Wolves, while he has scored 155 Premier League goals for Liverpool under Klopp, with only Thierry Henry (175 under Arsene Wenger) netting more under a single manager in the competition.
The Reds forward also has the second-highest combined goals and assists tally by any player in their first 250 appearances for a single club in the competition (223 – 155 goals, 68 assists) – behind only Henry for Arsenal (243 – 171 goals, 72 assists)
****
SOURCE: Premier League
