A subdued performance by Liverpool, which resulted in both three points and Arne Slot’s men leading the Premier League table. Goals from Ibou Konate, and a penalty from Mo Salah securing a 2-1 away victory.
Lacking purpose and intensity in the opening half hour, Liverpool were hunted down in packs by Wolves and the home side were undoubtedly the better side. However, for all their endeavour, they failed to significantly trouble Liverpool’s defence. Even with Trent Alexander-Arnold being on an early yellow card for needlessly kicking the ball away, the home side seemed reluctant to put the right-back under pressure by getting the ball wide and taking him on. Perhaps their poor start to the season has sapped their confidence, but Liverpool looked shaky at times and Wolves really should have put them under more pressure.
That failure to capitalise cost them dearly as the second-half entered injury time with a fantastic cross by Diogo Jota, headed home by Konate. It was his first goal in the Premier League and was no doubt something of a relief to Liverpool, who just minutes earlier witnessed a glaring miss from Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool seemed certain to up the tempo in the second half, but their lethargy continued and it allowed Wolves back into the game. Konate and Alisson making an utter mess of dealing with a ball close to the by-line, with Ait-Nouri profiting from a total breakdown in communication. Parity though lasted barely five minutes, with Salah’s penalty restoring the lead with a third of the game remaining.
The home crowd surely expected Wolves to bite back, but in truth they offered very little and Liverpool never had to get out of third gear to secure the points. The three points not only see them top the league table, but means that Liverpool have won their opening three league away games for just the third time in the Premier League. It may be early on in the season, and of course we shouldn’t forget the abject performance at Anfield just two weeks ago, but there’s never a bad time to be looking down from the summit of the league table.
