Liverpool roll on.
A performance at struggling Wolves that started slowly, sparked into life, veered off course and then refound its rhythm left Arne Slot’s back at the top of the Premier League.
We analyse the major talking points.
Why an ugly win is significant
It wasn’t a show of force that took Liverpool to the Premier League summit.
Slot’s side started sloppily and for most of the first half the performance was horribly disjointed. They struggled to build any momentum and only really came to life just before the break.
Then they gift-wrapped the hosts an equaliser with some shoddy defending in the second half and endured some nervy moments after Salah had restored their lead.
On a day when fluency and control were in short supply, Liverpool had to dug deep to get the job done at Molineux.
This was a first for Slot’s tenure as he watched his team win ugly. The Dutchman’s body language on the touchline laid bare that he wasn’t overly satisfied by the performance that was delivered.
But he will have admired the work ethic and character shown to grind out the three points. If Liverpool are going to launch a title challenge they will need to win on days when they are far from their best. And this wasn’t one of them.
There’s much to improve but what a platform they have to make their required tweaks: five wins out of six in the top flight and seven wins out of eight in all competitions.
The good and bad of Konate
Ibrahima Konate was stuck in a rut.
An alarming slump in form saw him lose his place to Jarell Quansah towards the end of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign. Then the centre-back found himself out of favour for France at the Euros.
However, a new era at Anfield triggered a change in his fortunes. Since Konate replaced Quansah at half-time against Ipswich Town on the opening weekend of the season he’s been ever present in the Premier League but this contest showed why he can be both impressive and infuriating.
Having gone over two years without a goal for Liverpool, he has now netted twice in 11 days.
Konate followed up his header in the Champions League victory over AC Milan in San Siro by opening the scoring at Molinuex. There was only going to be one winner when he attacked Diogo Jota’s cross just before the break and nodded past Sam Johnstone from six yards out.
Considering his aerial threat, it’s crazy that he had to wait until his 57th top flight game for Liverpool to register his first Premier League goal. Throw into the mix his assist for Luis Diaz against Bournemouth last weekend and Konate has played an important role at both ends of the field.
However, he was also guilty of offering Wolves a way back into the game in the second half. Rather than deal with a simple situation, he tried to shepherd the ball back to Alisson and his hesitancy allowed Jurgen Strand Larsen to steal in and set up Air-Nouri.
It was Konate rather than Alisson at fault, and the pair spent the next few seconds deep in discussion. To compound matters, the defender was then booked for a rash challenge on Matheus Cunha.
But Konate regained his composure to make a crucial covering block to deny Carlos Forbs after Salah had restored Liverpool’s lead.
A day to remember, and forget.
Question three?
For someone of Salah’s calibre it was a shocking miss.
When Liverpool’s high press resulted in a wayward pass from Mario Lemina, the Egyptian looked destined to score and make it 2-0 early in the second half.
However, with the net gaping, Salah inexplicably stuck the ball wide. When Air-Nouri then equalised soon after, there was a danger that wasted opportunity would prove costly.
But Nelson Semedo’s senseless decision to haul down Diogo Jota in the box ensured that Salah was handed the chance to quickly make amends from the penalty spot. He dispatched the spot-kick with ease.
It was his third successful Premier League penalty in a row since he missed against Newcastle United on New Year’s Day and he has now scored in three successive Premier League away games for the first time since October 2021.
He wasn’t at his devastating best against Wolves but once again he made the decisive contribution.
What next for Liverpool?
Wednesday, October 2: Bologna (H), Champions League, 8pm BST, 3pm ET
Recommended reading
- Liverpool’s pinball wizards: the move that makes the most of Mohamed Salah
- How Liverpool rebooted Luis Diaz with Slot sessions, tactical tweaks – and a song
- Liverpool’s six forwards are flexing their muscles – Arne Slot is spoilt for choice
- Alexander-Arnold would not be blamed for leaving Liverpool – but he may regret it
(Top photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
