Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Liverpool
Diogo Jota’s return to the Molineux went according to plan as he haunted his old team during Liverpool’s latest victory here in the Premier League.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward scored the only goal of the match towards the end of the first half, and that was enough for the struggling Reds to keep their Premier League 2021 odds of finishing in the top four alive.
Liverpool are now only two points adrift the fifth-seeded West Ham United while they are only trailing by five points against the fourth-seeded Chelsea.
This match only featured few clear-cut chances as neither team really got it going on the attack. In fact, Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp described the game as a defencive slugfest, but they were more than happy to bring home the “three dirty points”.
Unfortunately for the Wolves, not only did they drop their second game in their last three, but they also lost their top goalkeeper in Rui Patricio to injury.
The veteran shot-stopper was stretchered off after the unfortunate incident, but Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo indicated that he will be fine.
Without further ado, SBOTOP takes a look at last night’s set of Premier League 2021 highlights.
Highlights of the game
The Reds were coming into this game confident because of the recent developments that have unfolded.
Liverpool were fresh from eliminating RB Leipzig in their Champions League Round of 16 tie, and they’re finally getting some of their key players back.
Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, and Trent Alexander-Arnold were back at full strength, and all of them were heavily featured in this match.
But despite this, it was the Wolves who took control early in the game.
Liverpool’s backline had a nervous moment in the second minute when Alisson fumbled an Adama Traore cross before bumping into Nelson Semedo inside the penalty box. The hosts were pleading for a penalty but the referees were unmoved.
Nelson Semedo outran everybody and he would test Alisson with a low strike during the fifth minute, but the Brazilian goalkeeper was quick enough for a routine save.
After a shaky start, the Reds eventually settled down on the ball and the chances followed.
Thiago Alcantara and Georginio Wijnaldum conspired with Sadio Mane for a viable chance in the 13th minute. However, Sadio Mane was forced wide by Rui Patricio and the Wolves’ backline recovered just in time to thwart the attack.
In the 38th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a lovely cross towards the box but Sadio Mane’s header drifted wide to the right side.
The Wolves tried to claw back with a chance of their own and Ruben Neves almost scored on a free-kick followed by a foul on Thiago Alcantara.
Liverpool’s breakthrough came during stoppage time when Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah teed up Diogo Jota, and the Portuguese squeezed a shot past Rui Patricio at the near post.
Conor Coady and Mohamed Salah exchanged efforts after the halftime break. And then the Wolves were denied another penalty when the referees didn’t budge on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shove on Joao Moutinho in the box.
Salah almost doubled the lead for the visitors when he found the back of the net late but it was ruled offside by the VAR.
Key statistics
The Wolves’ drought against the Reds are in full effect as they’ve now lost all of their last nine Premier League matches against them.
Diogo Jota became the second player to score both for and against the Wolves in the Premier League since Stephen Hunt. Only Raul Jimenez (18) has scored more league goals than Diogo Jota (11) at the Molineux.
The Reds’ superb form on the road continues as they’ve now won four of their past five away Premier League games.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men need to do much better on the defensive end since they are the second-worst team in conceding the first goal (19).
James Milner also made history last night as he made his 158th appearance for Liverpool as a substitute – matching Peter Crouch for the most in franchise history.
What’s next?
Liverpool are hopeful that they can build more momentum as they gear up towards a run at the top four in the English top-flight.
The Reds will fly over to the Emirates on April 4 to face the Gunners, and then they will lock horns with Aston Villa six days later.
Meanwhile, the Wolves have West Ham United, Fulham, and Sheffield United on the menu for their next three league fixtures.
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