Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 40 matches as they earned a hard-fought 2-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Thursday evening.
Heading into the game, the Reds always knew it was going to be a tough affair but they enjoyed a perfect start as captain Jordan Henderson opened the scoring in just the eighth minute as he headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s wicker corner. It looked as though their excellent winning run was under threat as a brilliant team move allowed Raul Jimenez to equalise in the second-half.
There were opportunities for both sides to win the match but Liverpool edged back ahead late on as the inspired Henderson set up Roberto Firmino for a powerful finish with just six minutes of normal time remaining.
Perfect start for the Reds
Despite Wolves’ causing their visitors some problems in the early stages, Jurgen Klopp’s troops got off to a lightning start. Ghosting in at the front post, Henderson did not get the connection he required as the ball flew off his shoulder but it mattered not as it nestled into the net.
The hosts though troubled from their own set-piece and defender Matt Doherty should have done a lot better with a free header, only to plant it wide of the Liverpool goal.
Injuries worries for Liverpool
Having claimed the lead, the visitors then had some bad news as forward Sadio Mane went down with an injury just after the half-hour mark and had to be replaced by recent signing Takumi Minamino.
The former Red Bull Salzburg man could have doubled the lead with his first Reds’ goal but Mo Salah instead elected to shoot instead of pass the ball to his teammate, who was in acres of space.
Traore in the thick of the action
Blessed with plenty of attacking talent, the last thing that Wolves needed to be doing was gifting opportunities to their table-topping visitors. That was almost exactly what Adama Traore did though as he had the ball robbed by Salah, only for Rui Patricio to bail out his teammate with a solid stop.
The winger was then involved once again in another chance but this time it was in the correct direction as Wolves equalised. Exchanging passes with Jimenez, the winger then played an inch-perfect cross which the Mexican dispatched powerfully into the far corner with a great header.
Traore continued to prove troublesome as he forced a stop out of Alisson, before playing a wonderful reverse-pass to Jimenez. The Mexican ran through clear on goal but could not beat the Liverpool stopper from a tight angle.
Late chances but Liverpool succeed again
There were late opportunities for either side and Firmino thought he had spurned a late chance for a winner as Patricio produced another great stop. The Brazilian was not to be denied however as great play from Salah and Henderson saw the midfielder played the ball through. Firmino then showed razor sharp instincts to thunder the ball into the back of the net.
With Liverpool on course for their 14th consecutive Premier League win, there was a final chance for Wolves to snatch a point but Diogo Jota blazed Traore’s shot high over the bar, allowing the Reds to celebrate another victory.
Final Thoughts
This match was probably one of the toughest that Liverpool have had so far this season. The Reds weren’t quite at their best but once again they found a way to win the match. Wolves certainly deserved credit for how they approached the game but nobody looks capable of halting the relentless Reds at this point in time.
Match Report
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio (7); Saiss (6), Coady (6), Dendoncker (5); Jonny (6), Moutinho (7) (Gibbs-White (N/A), 87′), Neves (6), Doherty (6); Neto (6) (Jota (N/A), 77′), Traore (7), Jimenez (7).
Liverpool: Alisson (7); Robertson (5), van Dijk (7), Gomez (6), Alexander-Arnold (7); Oxlade-Chamberlain (6) (Fabinho (6), 70′), Henderson (8), Wijnaldum (6); Salah (7) (Origi (N/A), 85′), Firmino (7), Mane (6) (Minamino (6), 33′)
Goals: Henderson (8′), Jimenez (51′), Firmino (84′)
Referee: Michael Oliver
Yellow Cards: Robertson (55′)
Red Cards: N/A
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