Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Liverpool: 5 talking points as the Reds get back to winning ways

Liverpool defeated Wolves in the Premier League
Liverpool defeated Wolves in the Premier League

A goal on the stroke of half-time by Diogo Jota helped Liverpool pick up a narrow 1-0 victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Jurgen Klopp made five changes to the heavily-rotated side that lost to Fulham last weekend. Trent-Alexander Arnold, Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara were all among those who returned to the starting lineup at the Molinuex.

A bright start to the game saw Wolves fashion the first chance but Alisson dived low to his left to keep out a shot by Nelson Semedo.

This prompted Liverpool into action and they slowly seized the initiative. But a profligate Mane fluffed his lines when he had just Rui Patricio to beat.

The Reds continued to force the narrative and had another chance when Alexander-Arnold's cross found Mane unmarked in the area but the Senegal international glanced his header wide when he should have done better.

Just when it seemed like the sides would go into the break all square, Liverpool's front three showed great combination to break the deadlock, with Diogo Jota scoring against his former side.

Incredibly, this was the visitors' first goal in the first half of a Premier League game since their 3-1 victory over Tottenham at the end of January, nine matches ago.

The second half wasn't a high-tempo affair as both sides traded tackles without really seizing the initiative. The hosts, however, fashioned their best chances in the second half, with Jota's goal the sole shot on target Liverpool managed until the 80th minute.

Jota departed the field to be replaced by the returning Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain in the 82nd minute but there was a serious injury scare soon after.

Mohamed Salah was played through on goal but the combination of Conor Coady and Rui Patricio ensured that the Liverpool forward did not find the back of the net.

A seemingly innocuous clash between the teammates soon turned serious, as cameras panned in on Rui Patricio lying motionless on the field.

Medical attendants promptly attended to him, with oxygen administered to the Wolves goalkeeper on the field before he was taken off. Backup goalkeeper John Ruddy took his place in goal as a concussion substitute.

This saw the game stretch beyond the 100-minute mark and a late surge saw Wolves fashion several notable chances in the dying stages of the game but Liverpool held on for victory.

The win moves the Reds up to 6th on the table, while Wolves remain in 13th spot. Here are five talking points from the fixture.


#5 Is there still hope for a top-four finish for Liverpool?

Liverpool have been in poor form of late
Liverpool have been in poor form of late

Liverpool's drop-off in form since the turn of the year has been almost unprecedented and this has seen the defending champions go from favorites to retain their title to outsiders for a top-four finish.

With Manchester City having all but sealed their spot as champions, an intense battle is on for the remaining three UEFA Champions League spots.

The riches that come with Europe's premier competition make it imperative for top sides to qualify, with almost disastrous financial implications if qualification is not achieved.

At the moment, six clubs are still in with a shot at securing a top-four finish with varying degrees of probability.

Liverpool's win over Wolves took them to within five points of the top four and if they can embark on a good run, they might yet end the campaign on a high by securing Champions League qualification.


#4 Wolves' poor home run against Liverpool goes on

Wolves have not registered a home victory over Liverpool in the Premier League
Wolves have not registered a home victory over Liverpool in the Premier League

Wolves came into this fixture having lost each of their last four Premier League games against Liverpool, with their last meeting in December ending in a 4-0 drubbling.

Diogo Jota's strike made it five defeats in a row against the Reds and also prolonged Wolves' wait for a home win over Liverpool in the Premier League.

Since their return to the top flight in 2004, the West Midlands outfit have hosted the Merseyside giants on seven occasions in the Premier League without a victory.

Their record now reads two draws and five defeats in that time, although a home victory was recorded in the FA Cup in January 2019.

#3 Mo Salah's Premier League goal drought continues

Mo Salah has gone five league games without a goal for Liverpool
Mo Salah has gone five league games without a goal for Liverpool

Mo Salah has been phenomenal since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017. His performances have seen him become one of the world's best players.

The Egypt international started the season well enough as he set the early pace in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot.

Although Salah is still the favorite to claim a third Golden Boot, his performances in recent weeks have mirrored that of Liverpool.

His blank against Wolves means that the 28-year-old has not found the back of the net since opening the scoring in the 3-1 defeat to Leicester City on 13 February.

It is a run of five Premier League games without a goal and it is the second longest league drought of Salah's Liverpool career since he went six without scoring between February and April 2019.


#2 Wolves suffer another concussion issue

Rui Patricio suffered a horrific head injury
Rui Patricio suffered a horrific head injury

Raul Jimenez' horrific injury after clashing heads with David Luiz last year saw the Mexico international suffer a concussion and this played a major role in the provision for two concussion substitutes.

History was made when West Ham became the first side to make use of the concussion substitute in the FA Cup clash with Manchester United after defender Issa Diop clashed heads with Anthony Martial.

The issue of head injuries is one that has been around for many years, with health experts accusing football authorities of not taking it seriously enough.

Having cost several players their career - the most recent of which was Ryan Mason in 2018 - the football authorities have taken a huge step in trying to stop concussions on the field.

When Conor Coady and Rui Patricio came together to stop Mo Salah from scoring for Liverpool, it seemed a fairly innocuous challenge but the severity of the injury was soon made clear.

There were visible signs of distress on both sets of players, especially the hosts, who had to relive the same horror of seeing another teammate down with a concussion less than five months after the first.

The severity of Patricio's injury is not yet known, although Nuno Espirito Santo has given a positive update. Fans all over the world will be hoping it is not too serious and wishing him good luck in his recovery.


#1 Impressive Diogo Jota bails out Liverpool

Diogo Jota scored the match-winner for Liverpool
Diogo Jota scored the match-winner for Liverpool

Diogo Jota had an impressive start to his Liverpool career, with nine goals and one assist provided from his first 18 games in all competitions for the Reds.

However, a serious knee injury ruled him out for over three months and hampered his progress.

Having returned to full fitness at the start of March, the Portugal international has slowly been eased back into top-flight football and was handed his first league start in three months against Fulham.

He failed to offer too much in the game but that could be excused, considering his lengthy absence. Another start was handed to him against his former side and Jota proved to be the match-winner with a goal right before the break.

It was far from his best finish and Rui Patricio should arguably have done better but Jota would not care too much, considering that it was his first goal since November.

With the out-of-sorts Roberto Firmino currently injured, Jota's return to fitness comes in handy and Liverpool fans will be keen to see him rediscover his best form to help the club end the season on a high.

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