VAR FROM PERFECT
Klopp’s men hang on for controversial 18th league win as unlucky Wolves are denied
LIVERPOOL missed out on the Premier League title by inches when they last played Wolves at Anfield. Seven months on and they are on course to win it by miles. Liverpool end their remarkable 2019 with a commanding 13point lead – and they have a game in hand. This 18th league win was overshadowed by yet more VAR controversy as Sadio Mane’s winner was allowed to stand after being initially ruled out for hand-ball and a Wolves equaliser was chalked off for a marginal offside call.
Both VAR decisions were right, but that did nothing to quell Wolves’ anger and boss Nuno Espirito Santo was booked for protesting.
The West Midlands club were right to feel aggrieved at losing because they created enough chances in the second half to grab a point.
But their finishing let them down as Liverpool were left hanging on at the final whistle.
The huge roar from the home fans and celebrations by the Liverpool players spoke volumes for how big a win this was for them.
Jurgen Klopp and his European and world champions could not have imagined they would be in such a strong position at the halfway point of the campaign as they said goodbye to their great 2019.
They have finished the calendar year with 98 points from 37 games, the second best pointsp-er-game tally ever in a 12month period. Of course, the title race is not over yet, as Klopp (left) was again at pains to stress, but it is hard to see how they are going to drop the huge number of points needed to give the chasing pack any hope.
Nuno gave them a helping hand with his team selection as he left out his goalscoring heroes – Matt Doherty, Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore – from Friday’s sensational comeback win over Manchester City.
With fewer than 45 hours to recover and with Watford next up on New Year’s Day, Nuno felt
they needed a breather and he wanted fresh players to deploy a high press on Liverpool.
Liverpool had chances, but Wolves’ goal remained intact as Mo Salah and Georginio Wijnaldum shot over and Roberto Firmino headed wide.
Liverpool changed their approach to beat the press and Virgil van Dijk hit a superb long pass to Mane, who knocked it down for Salah to connect with a cushioned volley, which Rui Patricio saved.
Then came the game’s first big controversial moment when
Adam Lallana controlled another Van Dijk long pass on his right shoulder for Mane to finish past Patricio (above).
Referee Anthony Taylor disallowed it for hand-ball, only for VAR to overturn the decision after a delay of nearly two minutes. Liverpool were delighted, Wolves furious.
The Midlanders felt justice was done in the third minute of first-half stoppage when Pedro Neto fired home, only for VAR to rule that Jonny’s toenail had been playing him offside in the buildup. The controversial end to the first half fired up Wolves and disrupted Liverpool’s rhythm.
The Reds, so impressive in the 4-0 win at Leicester on Boxing Day, became laboured and Wolves threatened an equaliser when Diogo Jota picked Van Dijk’s pocket to win possession, only for Alisson to save his drive at his near post..
Liverpool became increasingly nervy and Wolves finished the stronger as Jimenez and Traore had shots deflected high and wide before Joao Moutinho, Romain Saiss and Ruben Vinagre missed good chances.