Cruising to a comfortable victory at half-time, Liverpool somehow took all three points against Wolves after a truly dreadful second half display. It was, as Andy Robertson conceded, a ‘slog’, with Wolves hungry for the ball, better with and without, and a superb goal by Cunha was the very least the Wanderers deserved.
Back at full strength, with the exception of Cody Gakpo’s absence due to injury, Liverpool went in front early, courtesy of Luis Diaz. It was a goal he sorely needed after some poor recent performances, and he’ll care not one jot that the ball crossed the line after bouncing off his chest. It was two=nil after the half hour, Mo Salah, who else, doubling Liverpool’s lead. Diaz was involved again, brought down by the on rushing goal-keeper before Salah calmly despatched the spot kick in front of the Kop.
Wolves came out for the second half with a more positive and aggressive mind set. Having been on the wrong side of some contentious first-half decisions, they took the game to a nervous and edgy Liverpool. The midfield of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, who’d so dominated the opening 45 minutes, were suddenly unable to keep the ball, let alone string any passes together.
Meanwhile Trent, who’d been a little sloppy in the first half, was clearly rusty and was soon replaced by Conor Bradley. Jarell Quansah replaced Ibrahima Konate, who was perhaps fortunate not to have been red-carded before half-time, and Robertson’s poor form continuing, a clearly hesitant defence gave Wolves clear cause for optimism.
Just after the hour, Wolves got the goal they so clearly merited. Cunha, who’d shown his obvious class throughout the game, finding the corner of the net from the edge of the box. An exquisite left-foot finish beyond the grasping Alisson, who’d early produced his customary skill when one on one with an advancing attacker, to keep his side two up. He could however, do nothing to keep out Cunha’s superb finish, and the nervousness amongst players and the Anfield crowd was palpable.
Arne Slot, having already made changes, brought on both Darwin Nunez and Wataru Endo. Diogo Jota, who’d earlier thought he’d won Liverpool their second penalty of the game, made way. Having appeared to have been brought down, VAR correctly came to the rescue of Wolves, and it was almost from that moment that the game changed. Despite Slot’s changes, Liverpool went backwards, no more so than when a late second-half free-kick eventually ended up back the feet of Alisson when it should surely have gone into the Wolves penalty box.
Yet Liverpool hung on, with Wolves continuing to push, as six minutes of injury time were announced. A late free-kick gave the visitors an opportunity to take a share of the points, that their second half display warranted. Liverpool’s wall though, did its job, and the referees whistle for full-time, was greeted with huge relief by an anxious Anfield crowd.
