Explore the intense match where Salah equaled Gerrard’s penalty record in a hard-fought 2-1 win. Delve into the highlights and pivotal moments of the game
Introduction:
Liverpool responded to their midweek draw against Everton by winning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, re-establishing their seven-point advantage at the top of the Premier League table. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scored the goals that won the match, but Wolves made it tough, equalizing through a breathtaking Matheus Cunha strike.
Early Dominance and a Controversial Penalty
Looking to leave their disappointing 2-2 draw in the Merseyside derby behind them, Liverpool began the game with purpose. The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Toti Gomes’s defensive error presented Diaz with the opportunity to bundle the ball past Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
Liverpool continued to push forward, with Diogo Jota having two reasonable chances go astray before the home side was given a debatable penalty in the 37th minute. Diaz was pulled back by Sa after he managed to get past the Wolves’ defense, and the referee went to the spot. Salah converted and doubled the Reds’ lead in calm fashion, slotting the ball into the middle of the goal.
Despite trailing, Wolves remained a threat on the counter-attack, with Marshall Munetsi forcing Alisson into a crucial one-on-one save early in the second half. Liverpool thought they had another penalty just before the hour mark when Jota went down under a challenge from Emmanuel Agbadou, but VAR overturned the decision due to minimal contact. See also: Liverpool Storm Into Carabao Cup 2025 Final
Wolves finally broke through in the 67th minute. Cunha, who was a standout figure, beat Ryan Gravenberch before lifting a wonderful shot past Alisson from range. The strike staged a tense last 20 minutes, but Liverpool managed to cling on, courtesy of a dramatic late block by substitute Jarell Quansah to snuff out Munetsi on the stroke of full time.
Salah’s Historic Night
Salah’s first-half penalty was the key and added another milestone to his incredible Liverpool career. His successful penalty was his 32nd for Liverpool in the Premier League, tying Steven Gerrard’s club record for most Premier League penalties scored by a player.
It was also Salah’s 101st goal at Anfield, making him joint-third for most goals at one stadium in Premier League history. He now only lags behind Sergio Aguero (106 goals at the Etihad Stadium) and Thierry Henry (116 goals at Highbury). Further, Salah’s total of 260 Premier League goal contributions (178 goals, 82 assists) has taken him past Harry Kane, ranking him third on the all-time list behind Wayne Rooney (276) and Ryan Giggs (271).
As Salah keeps on breaking records, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will be hoping for a more dominating team performance when they take on Aston Villa in midweek as they seek to move their advantage at the top to 10 points.
Wolves’ Resurgence Halted
Wolves were enjoying a renaissance under Vitor Pereira, recovering from a difficult start to 2025 with victories over Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup. A new Cunha deal had only fueled the optimism around the club.
Ahead of this match, Liverpool boss Slot acknowledged Cunha’s quality, stating that the Brazilian forward was talented enough to play for one of the Premier League’s elite clubs. The 24-year-old certainly lived up to that praise, scoring his fifth goal from outside the box this season – more than any other player in the league. With 12 goals for the campaign, he continues to be Wolves’ standout performer.
Defensive Mistakes Prove Expensive for Wolves
Nevertheless, defensive errors were expensive for Wolves. Prior to Sunday, Pereira’s team had not conceded a goal when Toti Gomes was on the field, but his clearance cost them Diaz’s first goal. Pablo Sarabia had just moments before cheaply lost possession, which prompted the attack that ended in the goal.
Agbadou was also wronged in the penalty incident, feeling he was pushed by Diaz before the Colombian was brought down by Sa. Wolves might grumble about that call, but their defensive shortcomings ultimately denied them the opportunity to take anything out of the match.
What’s Next?
Liverpool’s victory tightens their hold at the top, with title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City in pursuit. The Reds will now shift their focus to their visit to Aston Villa, where a win could see them establish a decisive lead in the title race.
For Wolves, the attention is on the upcoming winnable games. Despite losing, they have demonstrated the resilience and attacking qualities, and with the schedule getting softer, they will look to move even further away from the drop zone.