A rare troubled week for Arne Slot ended in the relief of victory as Liverpool restored their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League, but concern remains. Wolves, battling relegation, gave Liverpool a serious fright at Anfield, where nerves gripped the stadium for the first time this season. The result was a crucial win, but the performance left much to be desired, with a defining period ahead.
Liverpool looked comfortable in the first half, thanks to goals from Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah, the latter netting his 28th goal of the season. Their early dominance seemed to suggest a routine victory, but Wolves fought back strongly after the break. A brilliant strike from Matheus Cunha brought Wolves to within one goal, and Liverpool’s defense started to show cracks. The second half saw Liverpool fail to register a single shot on goal, marking the first time in recorded Premier League history that the team had failed to test the goalkeeper in a half at Anfield.
Slot took action at the break, making changes to the lineup, including replacing Ibrahima Konaté to avoid a potential red card. Despite the drop in form, Slot praised the mentality of his players, noting that they held on in stoppage time without succumbing to pressure. But with tough fixtures against Aston Villa and Manchester City looming, Slot knows his side must improve.
In the first half, Liverpool were erratic in possession but capitalized when Wolves’ five-man defense was caught out of position. A rapid counterattack saw Diogo Jota turn André and Matt Doherty to release Díaz on the left. The Colombian crossed to Salah, whose first-time shot was blocked by Toti and rebounded into the six-yard box. Díaz, following up his run, got to the ball before goalkeeper José Sá, nudging it over the line with his chest.
Almost immediately, Jota had another opportunity to score after being set up by a well-executed move from Dominik Szoboszlai, Díaz, and Andy Robertson. However, a series of crucial blocks from Wolves’ defense denied him. The breakthrough came when Díaz earned a penalty after being fouled by Sá, who overcommitted despite Díaz’s touch taking the ball out of play. Salah calmly converted the penalty for his 50th goal from the spot, extending Liverpool’s lead.
Wolves were not without their moments, with Cunha and Pablo Sarabia driving forward. However, their attacks lacked the final product, particularly in the Liverpool penalty area. After a half-time change, which saw Marshall Munetsi and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde introduced, Wolves became more dangerous. Munetsi nearly scored on his Premier League debut but was denied by a brave save from Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson, who blocked the shot with his face.
Liverpool’s defense looked vulnerable in the second half, and Salah had a goal disallowed for offside. In a controversial moment, Liverpool were awarded a second penalty when Jota was fouled by Agbadou, but VAR overturned the decision after reviewing the footage. The controversy didn’t stop there, as Jota, who had initially been awarded the penalty, was not booked for what appeared to be a dive.
Wolves’ comeback gathered pace when Cunha scored a stunning goal from 22 yards, curling a perfect shot into the top corner of Alisson’s net. With the score at 2-1, Anfield was tense, and Wolves pressed for an equalizer. Substitute Tommy Doyle’s low cross found Munetsi, but Jarell Quansah made a vital intervention, clearing the danger just in time.
Slot expressed relief after the match, acknowledging the narrow escape. Despite the win, Liverpool’s performance was far from convincing. As the title race intensifies, Slot and his players will need to address their form in the coming weeks.
