LIVERPOOL’S IMPRESSIVE START under Arne Slot continued as they moved to the top of the Premier League after a 2-1 win at Wolves.
Life after Jurgen Klopp is not turning out to be too bad as Ibrahima Konate’s header and a Mohamed Salah penalty either side of Rayan Ait-Nouri’s equaliser made it five wins from six league games.
Defeat at home to Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago remains their only blip as they have also won in the Champions League and Carabao Cup in a promising beginning to Slot’s reign.
It is early days, but the evidence suggests they have the capacity to challenge for the title.
Wolves’ expectations are much lower as their wait for a first win of the season goes on. Circumstances and fixtures have not been kind in the opening six games, but boss Gary O’Neil knows wins will have to come soon.
Their performances have not been as bad as results have suggested and they again settled well, keeping Liverpool at arm’s length, even if they had to endure some nervy moments playing out from the back.
They enjoyed a good spell after 20 minutes when several balls went into the box before Matheus Cunha saw a curling effort plucked out of the air by Alisson Becker.
But it was the goalkeeper at the other end that was kept busier as Sam Johnstone produced two important saves.
The first was a routine stop to collect a low Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick, but the second could be a contender for save of the season.
Liverpool got in down the left in the 40th minute and Andrew Robertson put it on a plate for Dominik Szoboszlai, with an inviting cross that only needed tapping in from five yards out.
However, Johnstone flung himself across goal and somehow kept the ball out with his leg.
But the England international will be disappointed as he was beaten in first-half injury time.
Former Wolves forward Diogo Jota clipped in an inviting cross from the left and Konate rose highest to power a header past Johnstone, who got a good hand to it.
It was a killer time for Wolves to concede and they nearly handed their hosts a second in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Some more risky playing out from the back saw Mario Lemina pass straight to Salah but, with the goal unguarded, he fizzed an effort wide.
And it was some equally generous play from Liverpool’s defence at the other end which saw Wolves equalise in the 56th minute.
Konate thought he was shielding an overhit through ball for Alisson to collect, but the goalkeeper did not come for it, with Jorgen Strand Larsen nipping in, and after a scramble Ait-Nouri converted from close range.
It was just the tonic Wolves needed but they were level for less than five minutes.
Two-and-a-half minutes after the equaliser Nelson Semedo hauled down Jota in the penalty area and Salah converted from the spot.
Wolves showed plenty of heart and spirit but they could not forge a better chance to equalise than the one that saw Carlos Forbs’ shot brilliantly blocked by Konate as he atoned for his earlier error.
As a United fan, I have to give it to Liverpool. I don’t think any United player would get onto the Liverpool team. They are a proper team. Can I change allegiances? Serious question.
@Mick Joe: Haha no
@Mick Joe: fickle
@Mick Joe: yeah go for it. We don’t want you.
@Mick Joe: sooner you fek off the better
Great away win that- No easy games anymore.Top of the table!
Good away win and top of the league after 6 games is a great place to be. Worryingly though that was a sloppy performance for most of the game with poor passes and lack of urgency and intensity. Play like that against the better teams and Liverpool won’t be challenging for a league title. The fixture list so far has been kind to Liverpool not playing any of the top teams, only one of the current top 10 and we lost that game. Once again Gravenberch has excelled after a largely underwhelming first season. Would like to see Gakpo get more game time.
@Ger Power: When we the so called top teams we will be play better
@Shawn: play
@Shawn: maybe but why not play to your best every game, once sloppiness and complacency sets in it can be hard to stop. A run of poor games and then Liverpool are fighting for top 4 spot never mind the title. Play like that against Chelsea and Arsenal in October and there will be points dropped
@Ger Power: Top of the table enjoy it one game at a time
@Ger Power: I think he will. Diaz has great days, and not so great days.
Top of the league baby once again
@Shawn: sing it again was great craic seanie.
Lost at home to a team who will be fighting the drop toiled to a victory against another one today a decent team will take that Liverpool team to the cleaners.
@paulie: Desperate much ????? Same dribble from you again
@paulie: That the best you can do???
@paulie: didn’t take you long Paulie
@paulie: And yet they beat us 3-0 in Old Trafford.
@Mick Joe: absolutely wolves would beat them joey awful outfit.
@Mick Joe: He banging on about that match every post when we lost that game i said well done forest he is addicted to commenting on liverpool posts which he can but dont know why he hates liverpool
Wasn’t our best performance …… Pretty much a muck watch in fairness. Top of the table as we should be. We haven’t played a big club in the league yet.
@David Shepherd: but we are biggest club hard to play against us lol
@David Shepherd: city could be vulnerable this season. arsenal the jury is out still in my opinion..could Chelsea be the dark horse?
@Shawn: sing it seanie go on it was embarrassingly funny
@James Dowling: Chelsea definitely no push over. Think top 4 is City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The fixtures have not been kind to Wolves, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and city in the first 7 games. Need to get a win soon or confidence will be on the floor.
Never apologise for winning ugly
Jubbly.
Another quad season for the mighty pool
Liverpool will be up in the top few teams look at Arsenal and City loosing players no Rodri , Odegaurd it weakens both teams. How would Liverpool cope loosing a Salah or Virgil or even Jota. This year I think it’s going to be a open league. Pep will need to change his tactics a bit. With everything the head to heads with the teams at the top of the league will be interesting to see. Also with City and the ruling into the charges whatever the ruling is it could affect them this season with a negative outcome the players could switch off
Always happy with 3 points but that performance was dreadful. Not easy to be consistent this early under new management etc so games like this will happen, but that was well below the level of the team
Not a performance for archives but 3 points all the same, reading some of the comments,people need to remember he’s our new manager with big shoes to fill and only six games in and he’s won five of them and only two goals conceded,no we haven’t played a top side yet(sorry man utd fans)but with the wait till we do,then let’s just do that,we judge them when they play city or arsenal or Madrid in the cl,it’s slots biggest job to date,and I think personally he’s done well,personally I would like them to speed up there play a bit more,play with a little more urgency.