Liverpool's treatment of Adama Traore prompts Wolves to call for rule change

Wolves boss Bruno Lage has called for automatic bookings for tactical fouls after Adama Traore was repeatedly targeted by Liverpool.

Wolves are licking their wounds after a 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool following Divock Origi's last-gasp winner.

The hosts soaked up a lot of pressure and tried to hit Jurgen Klopp's side on the break using Traore's blistering pace.

But the flyer was fouled four times with Andy Robertson and Fabinho both booked for scything Traore down on solo runs.

Yet other players, including Thiago, got away without punishment for similar crude challenges.

And although Lage was not directly critical of referee Chris Kavanagh, he insists all cynical fouls to deliberately stop players should warrant a yellow card.

"I don't believe in tactical fouls," said Wanderers' Portuguese coach, who used to boss Benfica from 2019-2020.

"For me, to break transitions a tactical foul is every time a yellow card.

"Sometimes if the player pushes another, it's a yellow card. Sometimes the player kicks the other one, it's nothing and it's a tactical foul. I don't believe in that.

"Every time, for me, the fouls in that moment is a yellow card because it breaks the transition.

"If you look at the game, what do you want? We want goals, we want chances, we want people in the stadium.

"I've been saying it since I was at Benfica. Every time a player does that I think they should get a yellow card."

Traore has started the last two fixtures and been a big threat for Wolves, who visit leaders Manchester City on Saturday

The Spain international hit the bar against Burnley last week after a brilliant run and is working hard to get his first goal or assist this season.

Lage, whose side are eighth, added: "It is very hard to do what he did, go past three or four guys and put the ball against the bar.

"He's been unlucky in those situations.

"You can imagine if Adama scored five or six goals from the situations then we have more points and he is doing something fantastic."

Traore is yet to sign a new contract and will have just a year left on his deal next summer.

It has sparked speculation Wolves could decide to cash in on the ace, signed from Middlesbrough in August 2018 for £18m, next month if they get a decent offer.