Liverpool moved seven factors clear on the high of the Premier League as Luis Diaz ended his objective drought to spark a tense 2-1 win in opposition to struggling Wolves on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s aspect obtained again on monitor after an unexpectedly poor week because of Diaz’s first objective in 2025 and one more Mohamed Salah strike.
Diaz opened the scoring early within the first half at Anfield because the Colombian ahead lastly scored for the thirteenth time this time period after 10 video games with no objective.
Whereas Diaz has struggled to seek out the online, Salah is in red-hot type and his penalty earlier than the interval took the Egypt star to twenty-eight objectives in all competitions this season.
Matheus Cunha netted within the second half for fourth-bottom Wolves, however though Liverpool regarded drained in a disjointed, nervous, climax, they held on for a useful victory.
Liverpool had gone two video games with no win: an embarrassing FA Cup fourth spherical loss at second tier Plymouth final weekend and the stormy 2-2 draw at Everton on Wednesday.
Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Leicester on Saturday had utilized slightly extra strain on Liverpool.
The Reds responded to Arsenal’s problem as they moved a step nearer to a record-equalling twentieth English title.
Liverpool, who final received the Premier League in 2020, can be inside touching distance of the crown in the event that they take most factors from journeys to Aston Villa and Manchester Metropolis earlier than internet hosting Newcastle over the course of the following 10 days.
Liverpool boss Slot was within the dug-out regardless of being charged with abusive behaviour after angrily approaching referee Michael Oliver on the pitch following the Merseyside derby.
Slot was livid that James Tarkowski’s stoppage-time equaliser was not disallowed due to a potential push by Toffees striker Beto on Reds defender Ibrahima Konate.
Slot had urged Liverpool to make use of their “anger” from the painful finish to the Everton recreation as gas to get again on monitor in opposition to Wolves.
They did not have to attend lengthy to mild the fuse as Diaz bagged his first league objective at Anfield since September.
– Liverpool dig deep –
Within the fifteenth minute, Diaz picked out Salah and his return go took a depraved deflection off Toti Gomes.
Diaz stumbled ahead to chest the ball previous Wolves keeper Jose Sa because it barely trickled over the road.
It was hardly a murals however Diaz wasn’t complaining concerning the scruffy nature of the strike.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai practically netted with a extra eye-catching effort, striding ahead with objective earlier than drilling a low shot simply large.
The Reds have been rampant and Sa repelled Jota’s drive on the close to publish after Robertson’s cross brought about panic within the Wolves defence.
Wolves could not stem the tide as Liverpool went additional forward within the thirty seventh minute.
Wolves claimed Emmanuel Agbadou was pushed by Diaz earlier than he raced into the world and was tripped by Sa.
However VAR ignored their protests and Salah flicked the penalty down the center with a flamboyant flourish.
Salah has seven objectives in his final six video games, underlining his immense worth to Liverpool as his contract winds in the direction of its conclusion on the finish of the season.
Wolves debutant Marshall Munetsi wasted a golden alternative to cut back the deficit early within the second half.
Munetsi was despatched clear by means of by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, however Alisson Becker raced off his line to make a nice save.
Jota appeared to have received a penalty when Agbadou’s problem despatched him sprawling, however VAR overturned the choice as replays confirmed he had dived.
Liverpool had misplaced their momentum and Cunha took benefit, evading Ryan Gravenberch and curling an excellent end into the far nook within the 67th minute.
That arrange a fraught finale for Liverpool, who needed to dig deep to safe a fourth win of their final 5 league video games.
smg/pb
Printed – February 17, 2025 12:57 am IST
