In fullRead Jürgen Klopp's Wolves programme notes

The Reds return to home turf this evening looking to build on a run of seven points and three clean sheets from their past three Premier League outings.

Previewing the visit of Wolves, the manager expresses the importance of producing a ‘proper Liverpool game’ versus an opponent they are meeting for the fourth time in 2022-23 and against whom they lost last month.

“Good evening and welcome to our Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a team whom we have faced a few times lately and one which is showing plenty of signs of improvement under Julen Lopetegui,” writes Klopp.

“In the three matches we have played against Wolves this year, we have had all three of the possible outcomes – one draw, one win and one defeat – so the even split of results will have to change tonight and it is our job to ensure that we do everything in our power to ensure things go in our favour.

“The good news for us is that our league form is better than the last time we played Wolves. In our last three matches, all against tricky opponents, we have won two and drawn one without conceding a goal. At any time, this would be a decent return I would say, but especially now when we are looking to emerge from what everyone knows has been a difficult period for us.

“It was interesting after our draw away to Crystal Palace that there seemed to be a feeling that it was almost like a defeat. I do not mind this because it shows the standards that we are held to and this is a challenge that we always have to be prepared to meet. But at the same time it is not an attitude that I can buy into.

“People do not always believe managers when we say that every game we play in the Premier League is difficult, but it is true. Our record against Palace is really, really good, but if the only thing you take notice of is the results you have no chance of recognising or understanding the struggle it took to get them.

“I did not want to draw this game and as always a victory would have made us feel much better. But I knew this would be a game that we would have to suffer in and there are positives that we were able to do this and also create some very good chances that, on another day, might have allowed us to take all three points.

“Were there things that we needed to improve on? Absolutely. But there were also parts of our performance that really pleased me, so now we have to use the knowledge that we have gained from both situations and put it to our advantage against another opponent that we know from experience will give us a proper test.

• Get your copy of the matchday programme at Anfield tonight or order online here

“A lot was said about our levels after Wolves beat us at Molineux last month and rightly so because we fell a long way short of what we expect from ourselves, but I also recognised how well Wolves had played. On that day, both of these elements came together and produced a resounding result. I don’t think it would be wise to expect that Wolves will be any less effective tonight so it would make sense if we could give them what I would call a proper Liverpool game.

“If we do this, then we give ourselves a chance of getting another positive result and putting another building block in place as we look to finish the season as strongly as we possibly can. The good news is in recent weeks we have shown signs of heading in the direction that we would like to go in.

“It has not been perfect, we know this. In each of our fixtures, whether it was winning against Newcastle and Everton, drawing at Palace or losing to Real Madrid, there have been elements of our game that have been in a good way and others that we know need work.

“This is football. This is how it is when the results don’t flow as easily as they have before and all the different things have still to come together on a consistent basis.

“That is for us to deal with, though. We have done it before and no doubt we will have to do it again. But the one thing that should give us strength, more than anything else, is that we get to do it together whether we are coaches, players, staff or supporters. And we get to do it in the knowledge of what is possible when it comes together once more.

“The first thing we have to do is give our all in this game and also to enjoy it. If we can do this, hopefully we can take another step forward.”