2 weeks ago
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Liverpool and Wolves united in a moving tribute to Diogo Jota while Florian Wirtz grabbed the first goal of his Anfield career after a potential £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen. The lasting impression was the relief inside Anfield, however, from Liverpool players and fans alike, as Arne Slot’s team held off the Premier League’s basement club on a tense afternoon.
Rob Edwards’ visitors finished the stronger side yet were beaten again thanks to a swift first-half double from Ryan Gravenberch and Wirtz. That brief flurry aside, Liverpool were subdued and unconvincing as Wolves performed with more adventure and endeavour than many visitors to Anfield.
Jota’s two sons, Dinis and Duarte, and other young family members were mascots for the first meeting between the late striker’s two English clubs since his tragic death in July. It was a lovely touch by Liverpool to involve the family so closely in proceedings though heartbreaking to see the children walk out alongside Virgil van Dijk with their mum, Jota’s widow Rute Cardoso, watching on from the sidelines and their dad’s retired number 20 on their backs. The Liverpool captain looked after the youngsters brilliantly throughout the warm-up. Wolves supporters sang their Jota song in the 18th minute and Liverpool fans followed suit with their customary tribute in the 20th.
Liverpool controlled the contest, as was to be expected at home to the league’s bottom club, but Wolves acquitted themselves well and troubled the hosts at both ends of the pitch. The 18-year-old forward Mateus Mané was prominent on his first Wolves start, forcing Alisson into a good save early on and firing over after a surging run beyond Ibrahima Konaté.
Wirtz was the most creative talent on display, however, and crafted the first opening when piercing the visiting defence with a delightful ball through to Hugo Ekitiké. Wolves’ defenders closed down the in-form striker but he managed to clip a shot around them and against the far post.
For 41 minutes José Sá was relatively untroubled in the Wolves goal. Sá did make a superb stop to turn an Alexis Mac Allister half-volley against a post but Federico Chiesa, deputising for the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai, was offside in front of him. Anfield was getting restless, Wolves seemingly comfortable, when Liverpool carved open their opponents twice in two minutes.
Jeremie Frimpong created the breakthrough when collecting Chiesa’s layoff and accelerating away from João Gomes and Hugo Bueno into the Wolves’ area. From the byline he pulled back a perfect assist for Gravenberch to stroke a measured finish inside Sá’s bottom left-hand corner.
Liverpool doubled their advantage while Wolves were still clearing their heads. Milos Kerkez regained possession and Ekitiké, having spun away from his marker, released Wirtz through a gaping hole in Wolves’ central defence. The Germany international was just able to beat the advancing Sá to the ball and poked home his first Liverpool goal in his 23rd appearance for the club. Every outfield Liverpool player made a point of swamping Wirtz as he celebrated finally breaking his duck.
That should have been the cue for Slot’s side to coast to victory. But Wolves refused to be overawed or resign themselves to yet another defeat and played their way back into the game. Santiago Bueno reduced the deficit early in the second half after Tolu Arokodare met André’s corner with a towering header and Alisson blocked on his goalline. The Wolves defender made no mistake with the rebound from close range. Another set-piece malfunction from Liverpool.
The home side were also vulnerable against Wolves’ positive, purposeful passing game. One flowing move resulted in a free header for Arokodare but the unmarked forward steered his attempt over Alisson’s crossbar. He also volleyed over from a Ladislav Krejci cross as Anfield grew increasingly nervous, to the extent that Konaté gestured to the crowd for more support.
Edwards’ introduction of Jørgen Strand Larsen and Jhon Arias improved Wolves’ attacking impetus and the two substitutes almost combined for an equaliser in the 86th minute. Stand Larsen’s low centre was destined for Arias until the Liverpool substitute Conor Bradley launched himself into a vital challenge.
