Liverpool vs Wolves LIVE: Result as Premier League leaders survive shaky second half to open gap
Liverpool 2-1 Wolves: Goals from Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz put the Reds in charge but Matheus Cunha gave the visitors hope
Liverpool survived a shaky second half against Wolves to return to winning ways in the Premier League and restore their seven-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a scrappy finish, before he was fouled in the box by goalkeeper Jose Sa to allow Mohamed Salah to double their lead from the penalty spot.
Arne Slot’s side - who conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday - were far from convincing and a stunning finish from the excellent Matheus Cunha gave the struggling visitors late hope at Anfield.
But Liverpool held on to seal a first victory in three games, following their FA Cup exit to Plymouth last weekend, and the Reds will have the chance to move 10 points clear when they visit Aston Villa in midweek.
Follow all the reaction from Anfield after Liverpool defeated Wolves 2-1 to continue their title charge
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool’s ‘big accomplishment’ in rearguard win over Wolves
For the second time in five days, Liverpool entered stoppage time below their best but 2-1 up. The finish was different this time, and not merely because rather than losing his temper, Arne Slot gained a seven-point lead at the Premier League summit. On paper, a home win against relegation-threatened Wolves could rank as one of the least impressive victories of their season. As Anfield was engulfed in anxiety, Slot felt it ranked among their most important.
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool’s ‘big accomplishment’ in rearguard win over Wolves
Slot on winning the Premier League
The Liverpool boss praised his team’s defence and says if they want to win things they need all aspects of their game to be firing.
Slot said: "If you want to achieve something it is not only about bringing the ball out from the back or Mo scoring goals, it is also about defending.
"If you look at the last few seasons it has mostly been a battle between two teams.
“As things stand now it mostly looks like between us and Arsenal. I believe they have a 15-point game unbeaten run and I think at the start of that we were seven points clear of them and we still are now.
“So it tells you how well they are doing but also how well we are doing."
Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to MOTD:
"It was mentally difficult the second half because we thought we scored the third, then thought we got a penalty, both situations were correctly handed by the referee.
"They got better and better, we got worse and worse. We had to show a different mentality which we did and got it over the line.
"In a season like this we have played so many great games, but in a season you want to win something you have to win the difficult ones as well when you are not playing your best. We were so close on Wednesday, this time we did survive.”
More from Pereira
Vitor Pereira was asked if he was frustrated due to the lack of a yellow card for Konate. He replied: "Yes of course. Second yellow card, red card, less one player, maybe it would be a different game. But I'm not a referee. I'm not there to decide. But in the end, I'm very happy and proud of my players in the second half.
"We cannot play again like we played in the first half. I don't care if it's against Liverpool or another team, it's about my team. I want to see the identity, personality, the courage to play in our way - not to come here and make it a party. Next time, we need to realise that we have quality and we believe in our quality.
"The second half was fantastic,what I remember from the second half is Liverpool had a lot of problems, a lot of difficulties to stop us. If we score the second goal, it was the fair result.
Pereira on if Konate should have been sent off
Pereira told MOTD: "I am not the referee but yes for me.
“What I say now will not change anything but in my opinion the second yellow card should be shown."
Vitor Pereira spoke to MOTD
The Wolves boss said: "We must play the first half as we played the second half, this is what I want to see in my team - the personality, courage and identity - all what I saw in the second half.
"Wolves woke up at half time and played a game not afraid, to play, press and create problems. Even the best players in the world, if you press them they make mistakes. This what we need to do in the future, not in one half but in two halves. Take the risks, play with courage and in our way to play and then I don't care about the result.
"I don't care about the team on the other side, if it is Liverpool or Chelsea, I don't care, I just focus on my team."
'It wasn't calm'
Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports: "It wasn't calm. I would put it down to the previous two results.
“The Everton goal where they scored late and the Plymouth result that knocked them off their rhythm.
"Even at 2-0. I felt it at half-time, it was still a tricky 45 minutes ahead. They managed to hold on.
"Liverpool just needed to get three points. It was a huge win for them, it keeps Arsenal at arm's reach. But there's a long, long way to go. Plenty of twists and turns to come."
A rare feat
Liverpool failed to have a shot in the second half against Wolves.
It was the first time that has happened since 2017.
'We'd love to dominate for 90 minutes' says Van Dijk
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk stopped by BBC MOTD and said: "We'd love to dominate for the full 90 minutes but it is the Premier League and Wolves can punish you and create dangerous moments against you. It says a lot we kept fighting and kept going and got the three points.
"Today showed at times that when we have the ball you can exploit it as well. Cunha was a danger man for them today we had to be aware of. Unfortunately he scored but we kept them to that.
"I definitely give them credit the way they went one v one most of the times and how they found the free man between the lines.
"At times we were sloppy as well and we couldn't keep the ball as well as we can at times."
Tottenham vs Man Utd
There’ll be more reaction to come from Anfield but we are also providing live updates from an intriguing clash in London between Tottenham and Manchester United.
Follow all the live updates right here:
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