After their struggles earlier this campaign, Liverpool looked to have turned a corner and came into today’s game following back-to-back PL wins for the first time since September.
Before kick-off, there was an emotional moment of applause all around Anfield as the children of Diogo Jota, a former player of both clubs, walked out onto the pitch alongside Virgil van Dijk, with his wife watching on from the sideline.
Following the poignant start to the afternoon, Liverpool started off in control of proceedings and were denied the opener inside 11 minutes when Florian Wirtz played in Hugo Ekitike with a brilliant through ball, but the in-form Frenchman saw his effort cannon off the post.
Wolves had their first real opportunity just past the quarter-hour mark when Mateus Mané – making his first-ever PL start – did well to hold off Curtis Jones on the edge of the box before shooting, yet Alisson denied the 18-year-old.
Liverpool ramped up their attack before HT as Alexis Mac Allister was denied by the woodwork, but the pressure told on 41 mins when Jeremy Frimpong’s cutback was hammered home by Ryan Gravenberch.
One quickly became two a minute later when Ekitike slipped Wirtz in, and the German did well to poke home for his first PL goal.
Wolves were down but not out, pulling a goal back six minutes into the second half after Santiago Bueno fired in from a rebound following Tolu Arokodare’s saved header from a corner kick.
Arne Slot’s men went in search of the third goal to restore their two-goal advantage, with Wirtz sending an effort sailing narrowly wide before Jones had a long-range strike saved.
In the end, Liverpool managed to protect their lead and fought off a collapse, claiming an 18th win from their last 21 top-flight matches between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, Wolves are now winless in their last 22 PL games (D3, L19), as a disastrous second half of 2025 continues, with one more match to go against Manchester United in three days.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
