Liverpool were not made to pay for a lackadaisical second half as they re-established a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a nervy 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Initially showing no signs of flailing after Arsenal closed the gap on Saturday, Arne Slot's men made light work of the first half and went into the break two goals to the good thanks to an unorthodox Luis Diaz finish and a Mohamed Salah penalty.
However, the league leaders were guilty of lapse after lapse in the second half, where a fine Matheus Cunha finish restored hope for the visitors, who had earlier seen a second Salah goal ruled out for offside and a penalty for a foul on Diogo Jota overturned.
Vitor Pereira's side continued to look the likelier to score again as the clock wound down, but Slot's men survived one of their most nail-biting halves of the season to send their spirited visitors back to the West Midlands empty-handed.
While Liverpool have now opened up another seven-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal, Wolves remain deep danger in 17th place, only two points above the drop zone.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Having only had a matter of days to recover from a manic Merseyside derby with Everton, which no doubt had its toll psychologically as well as physically, Liverpool not being at their best was perhaps to be expected.
However, teams with title aspirations simply need to find a way to prevail when the going gets tough, and Slot's men undoubtedly did that, thanks in no small part to another heroic Alisson Becker intervention.
A critical point in the game saw the Brazilian thwart Wolves' Marshall Munetsi one on one, and even though he was beaten by a Cunha cracker later in the second half, one wonders what sort of impact Munetsi's strike going in would have had on the hosts.
The Reds almost did the perfect self-sabotage job, though, repeatedly gifting Wolves back possession in the second half, and they were eventually indebted to their visitors' lack of cutting edge besides Cunha's terrific strike.
With games against Aston Villa and Manchester City to come, though, this performance should not inspire a world of confidence from the Anfield faithful, while Pereira's men can take plenty of positives even if they did not take home any points.
LIVERPOOL VS. WOLVES HIGHLIGHTS
Luis Diaz goal vs. Wolves (15th min, Liverpool 1-0 Wolves)
Luis Díaz scores his first goal of 2025 for Liverpool! ⚡️🔴 pic.twitter.com/ybeNNYjP01
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 16, 2025
It does not matter how they go in, just that they go in! Jota produces a slick turn and feeds Diaz on the left before the Colombian switches the play out to Salah on the opposite side.
The Egyptian's first touch is poor, but Toti Gomes inadvertently deflects the pass into the path of Diaz, who gets there just ahead of Jose Sa and deflects the ball into the exposed goal via his midriff.
Mohamed Salah goal vs. Wolves (37th min, Liverpool 2-0 Wolves)
Mo Salah converts from the spot to double the Liverpool lead! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/OsP18APCTZ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 16, 2025
Premier League goal number 101 for the scintillating Salah at Anfield! Much like the first, this one also comes about thanks to Diaz nicking in ahead of Sa, who brings the South American down inside the box.
The contact is minimal, but Simon Hooper immediately points to the spot, and Salah coolly strokes the ball down the middle as Sa dives to his left.
Matheus Cunha goal vs. Liverpool (67th min, Liverpool 2-1 Wolves)
What a finish from Matheus Cunha! 🤩🟠 pic.twitter.com/bigtattFgw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 16, 2025
Wolves have let themselves down with substandard finishing all afternoon, but there is nothing substandard about this magnificent effort from Cunha!
Substitute Jean-Ricner Bellegarde sets up the Brazilian with a cheeky backheel, and Cunha firstly fakes to shoot on his right - taking Ryan Gravenberch out of the game in the process - before bending a brilliant 20-yard strike into the bottom corner.
Game on!
MAN OF THE MATCH - MATHEUS CUNHA
© Imago
Earlier in the week, Liverpool boss Slot expressed his belief that Cunha could play for one of England's top teams in the near future, and the Dutchman was certainly proven right today, even if he did not want to be.
Very few players have made Gravenberch look a fool this term, but Cunha did exactly that before firing in a wonderful goal from the edge of the box - one of six shots he had on a day where he also completed three dribbles and won eight of his 11 ground duels.
LIVERPOOL VS. WOLVES MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 50%-50% Wolves
Shots: Liverpool 10-16 Wolves
Shots on target: Liverpool 3-4 Wolves
Corners: Liverpool 4-3 Wolves
Fouls: Liverpool 15-13 Wolves
BEST STATS
101 - Mo Salah now has 101 goals in the Premier League at Anfield (level with Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford) - only Thierry Henry (114 at Highbury) and Sergio Agüero (106 at the Etihad Stadium) have more goals at a single venue in the competition's history. Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/rd2Vq2sPKH
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 16, 2025
60 - Liverpool have won 60 points in 25 Premier League matches under Arne Slot (W18 D6 L1). The only manager in the competition's history to win more points through his first 25 matches is José Mourinho (64). Machine. pic.twitter.com/LWgEvNUMox
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 16, 2025
0 - Liverpool didn't attempt a single shot in the second half against Wolves - the first time on record (from 2003-04) that the Reds failed to register a shot in a single half of Premier League football at Anfield. Laboured. pic.twitter.com/E0LutSlT2s
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 16, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Recovery time is limited for Liverpool, who only have two days to recuperate before a challenging trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, four days before a crunch clash with Manchester City at the Etihad.
As for Wolves, Pereira's men can enjoy a full week on the training pitches before they pit their wits against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium next Saturday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
