Liverpool 2-1 Wolves: Reds survive late scare to say seven-point lead over Arsenal on the high… with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah netting in nervy win at Anfield

After the Goodison storm, the trace of a blue sky overhead, the crocuses in bloom behind the Anfield Road stand and, with Liverpool’s lead at the top back at seven points last night, the prospect of the finishing line beginning to materialise.

But the story of the leaders’ first game in ten critical days was not as elementary as it seems. A victory which seemed to be arriving a breeze fell into grave jeopardy during a second half in which Wolves strangled the midfield, scored, and might have taken something away from this place. 

They, like Everton last week, crowded out Ryan Gravenberch’s supply and reduced the leaders to a shadow of their best. For the first time since 2017 Liverpool failed to register a shot in a second half.

Wolves reminded a few people that they are a team of talents, too. Matheus Cunha, who unfurled the goal that brought jeopardy for Liverpool, will be a target for bigger clubs this summer, with a £62.5million release clause. 

It’s surprising that the Algerian full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri has been the subject of more acclaim. If Liverpool are looking for a successor for Andy Robertson, then the 23-year-old did his chances no harm.

Of course, the result is the only significant part for a Liverpool side who perhaps were still feeling the consequence of Everton and who – with games at Aston Villa and Manchester City before Newcastle arrived here next Wednesday – know that this period could see them take huge strides to that title.

Liverpool survived a second-half scare from Wolves to regain their seven-point lead at the top

Luis Diaz improvised and forced the ball over the line with his midriff after 15 minutes

The Colombian was then brought down by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa inside the box

A Goodison hangover this might have been, but before the game Liverpool were refusing to contemplate what happened across Stanley Park last week. Arne Slot assiduously avoided mentioning that opposition in his programme notes. 

He cautioned in them of a need to ‘channel this disappointment in the right way.’ An improved performance on what had been Liverpool’s worst under Slot was needed – ‘and nothing else’, he said. For 45 minutes, that was not an empty threat.

There were immediate traces of invention from Wolves, a side with distinctly more hope of survival under Vitor Pereira than his predecessor Gary O’Neil. 

But when Liverpool executed a beautiful set piece from a corner in the game’s first moment – Andy Robertson sliding a 20-yard pass across the grass to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who sliced his half-volley wide – it seemed a return to their top class was imminent.

Alexis Mac Allister was conductor and architect, Luis Diaz the Exocet down Liverpool’s inside left channel. And then there was Mo Salah, of course, a treacherous presence, whose intensity strikes you so much in these days of uncertainty about how long his contribution will last. 

On the edge of the line nearest the Kop as the teams line up, he gazed up into the Kop before embarking on usual prayer. His every stance in front of that stand is loaded with meaning.

Wolves contributed with some assistance of their own. It was relegation defending from them at times. Toti sliced a ball Salah had failed to control into the path of the advancing Diaz anyway, allowing him to breast Liverpool’s opener into the net. 

Emmanuel Agbadou flapped at – and completely missed – a through ball for Diaz through, upended by Jose Sa for the penalty Salah converted for the second.

Salah fired home his 41st successful spot-kick in 50 attempts for Liverpool 

Cunha curled home from 25 yards to reward Wolves’ dominance in the second-half 

Liverpool also had their moments were defending was concerned. Alexander-Arnold’s poor back pass to Alisson under pressure early on as part of a mixed performance from him – high on supply as always but with some missed chances, too. Not convincing.

Ibrahima Konate was extremely lucky to remain on the field after barging Matheus Cunha on 38 minutes barely five minutes after receiving a yellow for timewasting and an infringement. Referee Simon Hooper elected to book Matt Doherty for dissent instead.

There were moments when an emphatic and game-ending Liverpool third before half time looked on. Sa palmed Robertson’s cross along the ground to Jota, who seized the ball and forced the goalkeeper to save with feet. Alexander-Arnold fired over from the corner. Jota simply wasn’t expected the ball Salah sent to him, from his right outstep, into the six-yard box.

Konata wasn’t risked for a second half in which Liverpool invited on pressure, struggled to string three passes together and sorely needed Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch to bring some order and calmness to the midfield. 

They seemed nervous and – in MacAllister’s case- leggy. Unwilling to risk a pass between Wolves’ defensive lines and hardly looking like a league-leading side up against a club fighting relegation.

Wolves found all the rhythm and poise, instead. They should have gone ahead when one substitute Jean-Ricner Bellegarde navigated a ball with right outstep which sent another, Marshall Munetsim, running through on Allison. The goalkeeper saved sharply.

Like Everton, Wolves crowded out Ryan Gravenberch’s supply and reduced the leaders to a shadow of their best

When Bellegarde rolled the ball under his studs to Cunha not long beyond the hour mark, Gravenberch dived in early, allowing Cunha to curl his shot for 2-1. As a third of Wolves’ subs, Tommy Doyle, rolled a ball in the six-yard box, Anfield sensed real jeopardy. There was another collective exhale when Doyle sent a free kick over, late on.

The relief when Liverpool held out for the win was as palpable in the stands as out on the pitch, where Wolves players were lying on their backs, knowing how closed they’d come. 

‘The second half was a slog,’ said Robertson in the aftermath. ‘Maybe playing Wednesday took it out of a few of the lads or whatever.’ Spring may be in the air and that finishing line 13 games away, but those next three opponents will take some encouragement from this.