EPL: Salah fires Liverpool to top spot with 2-1 win over Wolves

Mohamed Salah’s decisive penalty propelled Liverpool to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 28, 2024.

The victory came after Rayan Ait Nouri had canceled out Ibrahima Konate’s opener for the Reds, with Salah stepping up in the second half to seal the win.

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have now won five of their six league matches this season, sitting one point ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who drew 1-1 at Newcastle earlier in the day.

Despite Slot’s insistence that Liverpool still need to prove their title credentials, his impressive start at Anfield has sparked optimism among fans. Since their surprise defeat to Nottingham Forest, Liverpool have bounced back with four consecutive victories across all competitions.

The final moments saw Liverpool fans at Molineux chanting Slot’s name in celebration of what has been one of the most successful managerial starts in the club’s history.

However, a late injury to left-back Andrew Robertson, who was forced to limp off, remains a concern for the manager.

“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,” Slot said.

“Wolves have a really good game plan for every opponent and it was the same for us. It’s always nice to win, especially away.”

Liverpool, who last won the title in 2020, host Bologna in their second Champions League fixture on Wednesday before travelling to Crystal Palace in next weekend.

Winless and bottom of the table, Wolves were weakened even further by a virus which had ripped through their squad this week.

Given their dire circumstances, Gary O’Neil’s team competed gamely in the first half.

Matheus Cunha’s curler tested Alisson Becker on the Liverpool keeper’s return from injury.

But Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone had to make a superb save when he spread himself to block Dominik Szoboszlai’s close-range effort from Robertson’s cross.

– Salah strikes –

Without a clean-sheet in their previous 17 league games, Wolves couldn’t hold out forever and Konate broke the deadlock in first half stoppage-time.

Jota did well to whip over a pin-point cross from the left and Konate timed his run perfectly to power his header past Johnstone’s weak attempted save from six yards.

It was the French centre-back’s first goal in the Premier League after three years with Liverpool.

Salah wasted a golden opportunity to double Liverpool’s advantage early in the second half.

Mario Lemina took a pass from Johnstone on the edge of his own area and carelessly conceded possession to Salah, who shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Wolves capitalised on that escape to equalise thanks to shambolic Liverpool defending in the 56th minute.

Konate tried to let the ball run for a goal-kick after a miscommunication with Alisson, but Jorgen Strand Larsen nudged him out of the way and picked out Carlos Forbs.

Liverpool again failed to deal with the danger after Forbs couldn’t convert and Ait-Nouri finally stabbed home from close-range.

But Liverpool were unbeaten in their last 141 Premier League matches when leading at half-time dating back to 2016 against Bournemouth.

Slot’s team hit back emphatically in the 61st minute as Jota was pushed over in the area by Nelson Semedo as the pair challenged for Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

Salah stepped up to smash the penalty past Johnstone for his fifth goal this season.

Konate redeemed himself for his earlier mistake with a last-ditch tackle to deflect Forbs’ shot over after the forward surged through on goal.