DIVOCK ORIGI’S LAST-GASP strike sent Liverpool top of the Premier League with a dramatic 1-0 win at Wolves.
The substitute fired in from close range in stoppage time just as it looked like the Reds would fail to score for the first time in eight months.
He spared Diogo Jota’s blushes after the forward hit Conor Coady on the line following Jose Sa’s second-half mistake.
Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat at West Ham gave the Reds a path to the summit and they went top thanks to Origi’s late show. Resilient Wolves were left with nothing despite another battling display and sit eighth.
Liverpool had blown away the majority of their rivals this season, having scored four in each of their last three Premier League games before arriving at Molineux.
They had, simply, been too good but found Wolves at their resolute best until the death.
Only Chelsea and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Bruno Lage’s side prior to the game and there was strong resistance to Liverpool’s threat.
The visitors failed to find any early rhythm, thanks largely to the hosts’ determination. Aside from Leander Dendoncker slicing a clearance from Jota’s header the Reds made few first-half inroads.
Three straight clean sheets had given Wolves’ defence renewed confidence and they continued to keep it tight as Liverpool slowly began to turn the screw.
Trent Alexander-Arnold volleyed over after 28 minutes and then turned provider for Jota, who headed his far post cross wide.
Liverpool had control but only managed to open their hosts up once and, even then, Romain Saiss’ presence ensured Mohamed Salah just failed to make contact with Andrew Robertson’s low centre.
As an attacking force Wolves were non-existent. Having scored just five league goals at Molineux that was no surprise but Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez and Hwang Hee-chan carried little threat.
Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk were on cruise control and apart from Rayan Ait-Nouri’s sharp run – before he wasted his cross – there was little for Liverpool to fear.
Yet, they were still searching for a goal. Having scored in every Premier League game since a 1-0 defeat to Fulham in March more was expected after the break.
Salah’s knockdown caused some penalty box pinball which saw Thiago Alcantara twice denied but Jurgen Klopp’s men lacked the fluidity and precision to break Wolves down.
They needed a mistake from Sa to create their best opening on the hour and even then Jota missed it.
The goalkeeper raced out to the left after Jordan Henderson’s searching pass for Jota but collided with Saiss to give the forward a clear run to goal.
He advanced but from just six yards belted the ball at the covering Coady on the line.
Alexander-Arnold drove over as Liverpool’s frustrations grew and Sa denied Sadio Mane late on.
But Origi had the final say deep into added time when he collected Salah’s pass, turned and fired in from four yards.
Yeah, cheers Tony. I’m sure the lads are delighted with your faith in them.
He’s right though, would we beat the All Blacks or South Africa now? Unlikely. England and Australia ahead of us as well and we caught Wales on a bad day.Also most think we will take Scotland handy enough, not so sure. All sounds negative i know, but its where we’re at right now.
That’s the spirit Tony !!!
Tony Ward is some waffler.
Grrat to have faith in the lads ,I DO!!!!!
It’s amazing how many ex players honestly don’t want Ireland to make a semi final. The begrudgery in this country is scary.
@Chris Mc: I don’t see where he said he didn’t want them to make the semi’s. Just that he didn’t believe they would. Surely nothing wrong with that??
@Chris Mc: Vert true Chris, Ward is right as often as he won with Ireland….
He’s right though. He’s allowed express an honest opinion.
@Bill Clay: right about what?, that Ireland will lose to NZ/SA at quarter final stage, yes he’s allowed to express an opinion, but that doesn’t mean he’s right or wrong seen as this game hasn’t even happened yet.
@DERRY1973: they will lose to sa.. I know the irfu fanboys won’t appreciate that
@Bill Clay: What!? call yourself a fan!?! Call yourself an Irishman?! Call yourself a bill!?…
@Bill Clay: Ward is rarely right. You must be new to the sport….example , here he is picking the 2011 Irish WC team…..https://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/tony-wards-30-man-ireland-squad-for-the-world-cup.22995/ If you read him often enough, you will see most lads on here the 42 are more informative.
Give the lads a chance!
You can’t slate the guy for being honest. And as much as want Ireland to go on to the semi final and further, if im honest, I don’t think they will.
@gillespieonthew: I honestly didn’t think we would beat NZ twice in 3 years.
Christ, that’s the spirt Ward. Can just imagine , you and Neil Francis , hanging around with each other, talking absolute b*******
It might suit us to be underdogs in qf, Last 2 world cups we had so-called favourable draws against Wales and Argentina and were well-beaten in both. South Africa being talked up an awful lot but if we play well we have every chance against them. I would be less hopeful against NZ but even that is not impossible. Let’s not write
ourselves off too soon
I have to say, it’s really frustrating to see commentators write off Scotland. Glasgow regularly put Irish clubs to the sword and we rarely have a walkover with scotland. Their back three have plenty speed and could skin us.
@B Collins: They could but they wont
@B Collins: Scotland have beaten us once in the last 7 games we’ve played against them. A game where they played well, we played badly, which was played in Murrayfield and it was still a 1 score game. Their record against tier 1 countries outside Murrayfield is incredibly poor. They could beat us, but it would be unlikely and would be counter to almost everything we’ve seen on the recent past.
@b collins: not regularly Irish clubs beat them when it counts
@B Collins: Good point, i said it earlier, everyone thinks we’ll take the Scots easy enough, not so sure…. although we will prob get to quarter final, but thats as far as we go i reckon. This is based on current form.
When is the last time we lost to either of those teams? 2 years ago?? After we beat SA to a series at home and beat NZ in Chicago? My memory is not what it used to be but the $h1t€ coming out of these pundits leaves me steaming hastag awkwardfacts
An Ireland vs England final would be my dream scenario too!!!! Fingers crossed!! Éire abú!!!!!!!!
Putting the moan already typical in English football but not expected here lets get behind the team go on Ireland