Salah shines as Liverpool edge past Wolves to extend Premier League lead
Mohamed Salah extended his impressive scoring form as Liverpool overcame a spirited Wolves side to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Egyptian forward confidently converted a penalty, marking his fifth goal in four league matches, with manager Arne Slot observing from the sidelines.
Slot, who received a red card following Liverpool’s Merseyside derby draw with Everton, has until Wednesday to respond to an FA charge.
Liverpool bounced back from Everton’s dramatic midweek equalizer, starting strongly at Anfield.
Luis Díaz broke his 10-game goal drought in the 15th minute, bundling the ball over the line after Salah’s deflected pass caused confusion in the Wolves defense.
Referee Simon Hooper awarded Liverpool a penalty 22 minutes later when Díaz was brought down in the box by Wolves goalkeeper José Sá. Salah stepped up to calmly score his 23rd league goal of the season.
Although Liverpool appeared to be cruising, Wolves struck back in the second half.
Matheus Cunha produced a stunning curling effort in the 67th minute to narrow the deficit, leaving Liverpool still searching for their first home clean sheet since December 1.
Liverpool had another penalty overturned after a VAR review, which ruled no contact between Emmanuel Agbadou and Diogo Jota.
Wolves then created significant chances, with debutant Marshall Munetsi forcing a fine save from Alisson and João Gomes narrowly missing the target.
Despite late pressure from Wolves, Liverpool held firm to secure a vital victory and maintain their commanding lead at the top of the table.
Crucial Victory to Begin a Challenging Week
After the drama of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby, where Everton’s 98th-minute equalizer raised questions about Liverpool’s resilience in their title pursuit, the Reds showed no signs of wavering.
They came out determined, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes through Luis Díaz’s persistence. By halftime, Mohamed Salah’s penalty had doubled the advantage, allowing Liverpool to focus on the demanding week ahead.
Despite a spirited second-half performance from Wolves, Liverpool managed to secure the win. At this stage of the season, Slot’s men will prioritize points over perfection.
The Reds face a Premier League clash at Villa Park on Wednesday, a fixture moved up due to their Carabao Cup final qualification. Just four days later, they head to the Etihad to face Manchester City, a team capable of delivering top performances despite inconsistent form this season.
If Liverpool emerges from these fixtures with maximum points, it would significantly bolster their title ambitions.
Encouraging Signs for Wolves
Wolves may have left Anfield empty-handed, but manager Vitor Pereira can draw plenty of positives from his team’s performance.
They were unfortunate to concede the opener after a deflection set up Díaz, who later won the penalty converted by Salah. However, Wolves fought back in the second half, dominating large stretches of play.
Matheus Cunha, fresh from signing a new contract, showcased his quality with a sublime curling effort that beat Alisson and stunned the Anfield crowd. Debutant Marshall Munetsi forced a fantastic save from Alisson, while João Gomes narrowly missed the target after creating space for himself.
While Wolves might regret not snatching a point, their display against the league leaders was one of grit and quality. Despite sitting just two points above the relegation zone, their fighting spirit will be a valuable asset as they prepare for their next league outing against Bournemouth.