Andrew Robertson scored late at Molineux to give Liverpool all three points to temporarily take Liverpool to the top of the table.
Much to the distaste of manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool had been handed the 12.30pm Saturday kick-off slot after the international break as they played Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The Reds have had a decent start to the season, winning three out of four matches in the Premier League and a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A win against Wolves would take Liverpool to the top of the league.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold (injured), Ibrahima Konate (not fit enough for 90 minutes) and Virgil van Dijk (suspended) all out of contention — Jurgen Klopp turned to 20-year-old Jarell Quansah, who was given his first ever Liverpool start, partnering Joel Matip.
A lax start to proceedings enabled Wolves’ forward line to exploit Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses. As Pedro Neto eased past makeshift right-back Joe Gomez to tee up Hwang Hee-chan to give the hosts the advantage. Liverpool’s defensive struggles during the first half can be partly blamed on the personnel and the inconsistency due to the lack of gametime together.
The half-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for Klopp’s team as he made an attack-minded substitution, bringing Luis Diaz on for Alexis Mac Allister. There was an immediate change of tempo as Liverpool looked the more threatening side in the second 45.
Mohamed Salah put it on a plate for Cody Gakpo who made no mistake tapping in at the back post to bring the Reds level at Molineux. It was his first goal of the 23/24 campaign.
It would be the same man again to provide another assist as Salah set up captain-for-the-day Andrew Robertson, who netted a rare goal late on to nick the three points.
Ryan Gravenberch made a late debut as he was brought off the bench for Salah in the 90+3rd minute.
The win was confirmed when Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike hit the post on the way into the back of the net — sealing a vital victory in the West Midlands. The Reds were temporarily top of the Premier League table before Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur’s victories later that afternoon pushed them down to third.
The next challenge for Liverpool comes in the form of the UEFA Europa League. The Reds haven’t played in this competition since Jurgen Klopp’s inaugural season of 2015/16 (and with good reason).
It’s a visit to Austria to play LASK, who finished third in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, behind Sturm Graz and champions Red Bull Salzburg. Liverpool are the firm favourite to win the competition this season, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayer Leverkusen.
Wolverhampton Wanderers team: Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri (Bueno 66), Gomes, Lemina (Traore 78), Hee-chan (Doherty 60), Bellegarde (Doyle 77), Neto, Cunha (Silva 61).
Liverpool team: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Quansah (Konate 83), Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Diaz 46), Jones, Salah (Gravenberch 90+3), Gakpo (Nunez 56), Jota (Elliott 56).
Read More Liverpool Coverage:
- Report: Liverpool Reject Al Ittihad’s Verbal Offer Exceeding £100M for Mohamed Salah’s Signature
- Liverpool Agree £34m Deal With Bayern Munich To Sign Ryan Gravenberch
- Thiago Alcantara Suffers Liverpool Injury Setback
- Europa League Draw: Liverpool Drawn With LASK, Union SG And Toulouse
- Jurgen Klopp Delighted with Liverpool’s Summer Transfer Window Activity
- Liverpool Defender Nat Phillips Joins Celtic On Loan
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