FIRMINO NICKS IT FOR NEVER-SAY-DIE REDS
FOR a long time, this looked like Wolves’ game to win. Having drawn level through a superb Raul Jimenez goal early in the second half, Wolves had their foot on the throat of the Premier League leaders.
Or so it seemed. Twice in the period that followed Jimenez’s equaliser, Nuno Espirito Santo’s excellent team threatened to break through again. Both times Wolves seemed to be on the cusp of ending Liverpool’s 40-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. They would have deserved it for their spirt and ambition.
But both times Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson denied them, diving to his right to save from
Adama Traore and then at his near post to frustrate Jimenez. Both were great saves and they gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a platform not just to draw but to go on and win the game.
This is one of the things that makes Liverpool so impressive, so great. No matter how a game goes — and this one did not go their way for long periods — they never think they will do anything other than prevail. As a sporting mindset, it would be worth something if it came in a bottle. So that is what happened here. Liverpool won. Again. For the 22nd time in the league this season and for the 14th time on the spin in this competition. The new Invincibles? It’s a lazy description but they are starting to look very much like it.
With onlyl sixi minutes it left, Liverpool won a throw-in down the right and at the time it felt like respite. The flow of the game had been towards their own goal for too long and at that stage a draw was beginning to look like a good result.
Having lost Sadio Mane to a hamstring injury in the first half and with Mo Salah having one of those nights when he seemed to think he was the only player in red worthy of having the ball, Liverpool had appeared a little mute.
But when Salah received possession with his back to goal on the edge of the 18-yard box, he sensed opportunity. Backing into his man and drawing other Wolves players towards him, Salah allowed Jordan Henderson to take over and slide the ball through to Roberto Firmino.
Earlier, Henderson and Salah had exchanged words over the Egyptian’s perceived selfishness but here they were brothers in arms as soon as Firmino had shifted the ball to his left foot and buried it high above Rui Patricio.
It was a lovely goal, one born of patience and belief and a deep well of talent. And though it was hard on Wolves who had been quite brilliant in the second half, it said everything about Liverpool’s will.
Klopp’s team had started the game well and were ahead in the eighth minute when Henderson rose to head Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner into the net.
But Liverpool could not retain their grip on the game. The loss of Mane was damaging, particularly as his replacement Takumi Minamino found it impossible to tune into Salah’s wavelength.
Wolves, meanwhile, sensed blood. The fifth-best side in the Premier League have been hampered by a small squad and the demands of the Europa League, but on their day they can present formidable attacking problems and so it was here with Traore terrorising Liverpool left back Andrew Robertson.
Right wing-back Matt Doherty should have equalised in the first half, heading wide when unmarked, and when Wolves increased their levels after the interval they arrived back in the game with conviction.
It was from a clever Rui Patricio throw in the 51st minute that Wolves created the move that brought them level. They built quickly and simply through midfield and when Jimenez found space to run at the Liverpool back four they were in trouble.
His slipped ball to the right was perfectly weighted for Traore to run on to and the first-time cross found Jimenez arriving between defenders to power a header
across Alisson and into the corner.
it was a goal that lit up molineux and at times thereafter Liverpool didn’t always cope. Their offside trap was not functioning and the threat carried by Wolves when they lost narrowly and unjustly at Anfield at Christmas was evident here in magnified form.
it was a fantastic game for the final half an hour and Wolves could argue they shaded it. Nuno’s team are one of the must- sees of the modern Premier League and could have equalised at the death when Diogo Jota scooped over.
But despite all this, Wolves still lost. There are others who know how that feels. WOLVES (3-4-3): Rui Patricio 7; Dendoncker 6.5, Coady 6, Saiss 6.5; Doherty 6, Neves 7, Moutinho 7, Jonny 6.5;
TRAORE 8, Jimenez 7.5, Neto 7 (Jota 76min 6). Subs not used: Ruddy, Boly, Gibbs-White, Giles, Kilman, Ashley-Seal. Scorers: Jimenez 51. Booked: Nameinher.
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 7.5. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 7; AlexanderArnold 6, Gomez 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 5.5; Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Fabinho 69 6), Wijnaldum 6.5, Henderson 7; Salah 6, Firmino 6, Mane 6 (Minamino 32 6).
Subs not used: Adrian, Origi, Matip, Jones, Williams. Scorers: Henderson 8, Firmino 84. Booked: Robertson.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp 6.5. Referee: Michael Oliver 6.5.
Attendance: 31,746.