Mohamed Salah’s penalty propelled Liverpool to a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, moving them to the top of the Premier League. Salah’s decisive strike came after Rayan Ait-Nouri equalized following Ibrahima Konate’s first-half goal.
The win, Liverpool’s fifth from six league matches this season, pushed them one point ahead of Manchester City, who had drawn 1-1 with Newcastle earlier in the day. Manager Arne Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp, remains cautious about Liverpool’s title chances despite their strong start under his leadership.
Liverpool’s recent form has been impressive, with four consecutive wins across all competitions since a home defeat by Nottingham Forest. The supporters at Molineux showed their approval by chanting Slot’s name as the final minutes ticked down.
Slot acknowledged the tough start against Wolves, saying, “The first 20 minutes weren’t great. It was a real tough start for us but eventually we took control of the game and scored the first goal.” He also praised Wolves’ tactical approach, stating, “Wolves have a really good game plan for every opponent and it was the same for us.”
Liverpool’s only concern was the late injury to Andrew Robertson, who limped off before the final whistle.
The Reds, last crowned champions in 2020, now prepare for a Champions League match against Bologna on Wednesday before heading to face Crystal Palace in their next Premier League fixture.
Wolves, still without a win and at the bottom of the table, struggled with a virus that affected several players. Despite the setback, Gary O’Neil’s side put up a strong fight in the first half. Matheus Cunha’s curling shot was well-saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who returned from injury for this match. At the other end, Wolves’ keeper Sam Johnstone made a crucial save to deny Dominik Szoboszlai from close range after a cross from Robertson.
Konate opened the scoring for Liverpool in first-half stoppage time, heading in from Diogo Jota’s precise cross. It was the French defender’s first Premier League goal since joining Liverpool three years ago. Salah had a chance to extend Liverpool’s lead early in the second half, but his shot went wide after Mario Lemina lost possession in a dangerous area.
Wolves took advantage of the miss, equalizing in the 56th minute after confusion in Liverpool’s defense. Konate attempted to let the ball go out for a goal kick, but Jorgen Strand Larsen intervened and found Carlos Forbs. While Forbs missed his chance, Ait-Nouri was able to finish the move and score from close range.
Despite this, Liverpool’s strong record when leading at half-time – 141 unbeaten Premier League matches since 2016 – held firm. Just five minutes after Wolves’ equalizer, Jota was fouled in the box by Nelson Semedo, leading to Salah’s winning penalty. It marked the Egyptian’s fifth goal of the season.
Konate redeemed himself for his earlier mistake with a crucial block to prevent Forbs from scoring late in the game.
Liverpool will look to extend their winning streak as they focus on both domestic and European competitions in the coming week.
