Mohamed Salah’s penalty secured Liverpool’s return to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over winless Wolves.
Salah’s second-half penalty quickly restored Liverpool’s lead after Rayan Ait-Nouri had equalized, canceling out Ibrahima Konate’s first Premier League goal, which had put the visitors ahead at Molineux.
Arne Slot’s team took advantage of Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle to reclaim the top spot, overtaking Arsenal. Meanwhile, Wolves remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
Despite an enthusiastic start from Wolves, their defensive frailties were evident, though they managed to trouble Liverpool early on, with Alisson making a save from Matheus Cunha’s attempt.
Wolves’ problem this season has been their inability to turn good performances into wins. As the match progressed, Liverpool started to take control and should have gone ahead five minutes before halftime.
Virgil van Dijk played a pass to Diogo Jota on the right, whose low cross found Dominik Szoboszlai, but Sam Johnstone’s excellent save denied the visitors a goal.
However, Liverpool broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Jota easily bypassed Jorgen Strand Larsen and crossed for Konate, who powered a header past Toti Gomes, though Johnstone might have done better.
Salah had a chance to double Liverpool’s lead shortly after the break, but his shot from Mario Lemina’s poor pass went wide of an open net. Wolves then leveled the match in the 56th minute.
Ait-Nouri scored from close range following Carlos Forbs’ mishit shot after Larsen had dispossessed a sluggish Konate.
Wolves’ equalizer was short-lived, as Nelson Semedo fouled Jota in the box five minutes later, allowing Salah to convert the penalty and secure the win for Liverpool.
Slot Strikes the Right Chord for Liverpool
Liverpool may not have been at their dominant best, but they look formidable at the top of the table.
With five wins from six matches, their only blemish being a surprise 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Slot’s team sits above Manchester City and Arsenal. It’s been nearly a perfect start for the new manager.
At Molineux, Liverpool weathered an early storm from Wolves, though Alisson was not seriously tested, and gradually gained control.
When Wolves equalized, Liverpool responded quickly, with Salah’s penalty restoring their lead within minutes. While the penalty was somewhat fortuitous, the victory took them back to the top.
Slot’s style may not be as intense as Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal” football, but his cool demeanor on the touchline reflects a manager who knows how to get results.
There were some lapses, notably Konate’s error that led to Wolves’ equalizer, but Liverpool’s ability to bounce back both during games and after setbacks is evident. Their upcoming clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium next month is already shaping up to be a crucial fixture.
Wolves’ Struggles Continue in Search of a Win
Wolves find themselves in a familiar situation—good moments on the pitch but no points to show for it.
It’s been a similar story in matches against Newcastle, Chelsea, and their 3-1 loss to Aston Villa last week. Gary O’Neil’s side can trouble teams but are lacking the final touch.
After a promising opening 20 minutes, Wolves faded as Liverpool took control. Even Ait-Nouri’s equalizer failed to spark a comeback, with Semedo’s foul on Jota gifting Salah the penalty that sealed Liverpool’s victory.
Wolves now face Brentford and Manchester City, either side of the international break, and could find themselves winless by November unless they can secure a victory at Brighton at the end of October.
O’Neil’s frustration was clear, as he had emphasized the need to turn positive performances into goals and results. Wolves fans may already be looking ahead to early November, where home games against Southampton and Crystal Palace could be crucial for their hopes of getting out of the relegation zone.
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