Liverpool score two late goals to beat Wolves

7 months ago 89
Cody Gakpo equalising for LiverpoolCody Gakpo has scored in three successive matches after netting twice for the Netherlands on international duty

Liverpool scored two late goals to earn a come-from-behind victory against a battling Wolves side at Molineux and go top of the Premier League.

Andy Robertson marked his 200th Premier League appearance by putting the Reds ahead for the first time on 85 minutes, before substitute Harvey Elliott's shot deflected off Hugo Bueno for an own goal to seal the victory in stoppage time.

Cody Gakpo brought Liverpool level at the start of the second half when he converted Mohamed Salah's fizzing cross-shot.

The home side dominated the first half and deservedly opened the scoring when Hwang Hee-Chan fired home at the far post after some excellent wing play by Pedro Neto.

The win moves Jurgen Klopp's side one point clear at the top of the table before Saturday's 3pm kick-offs.

Resilient Reds bounce back again

Liverpool again demonstrated their resilience as they recovered from a sluggish first half to win after conceding the first goal for the third time in five Premier League matches this season.

They offered little as an attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes as their midfield got consistently overrun, going into the break behind.

Klopp brought on Luis Diaz for the subdued Alexis Mac Allister at half time, before bringing on Elliott and Darwin Nunez 11 minutes after the restart.

The substitutes made an impact as Liverpool transformed, with Diaz heading just wide from Robertson's volleyed cross a mere 90 seconds after coming on.

The Colombian was then involved in the equaliser as some neat interplay on the edge of the box saw the ball eventually reach Salah, whose drilled cross-shot was tapped home by Gakpo.

Nunez then came close to putting Liverpool ahead but his shot was well blocked by a combination of goalkeeper Jose Sa and defender Max Kilman.

Wolves were looking increasingly out on their feet and it was the visitors who looked the most likely to score.

They duly did with five minutes left when Robertson, captain in the absence of the suspended Virgil van Dijk, ran on to Salah's searching pass and side-footed home from six yards.

Elliott wrapped up the win late on but was denied the goal when it was adjudged his shot took enough of a deflection off Bueno to go down as an own goal by the Wolves defender.

Neto stars but Wolves run out of gas

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil will have reasons to be optimistic despite a fourth defeat from five games this season, leaving the Black Country side near the foot of the Premier League

The home side were excellent in the first half, with midfielders Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina snapping at the heels of the Liverpool players and feeding debutant Jeanricner Bellegarde and Neto to launch rapid counter-attacks.

Neto in particular was excellent and set up the opener when he weaved past three Liverpool players and surged into the area, before crossing low for goalscorer Hwang.

Another piece of dazzling wing play saw him nutmeg Joe Gomez and chip in an inviting cross for Matheus Cunha, who mistimed his jump with the goal at his mercy.

Cunha was made to regret that miss as Wolves faded badly in the second half in the face of a resurgent Liverpool, failing to have a shot on target.

Next weekend's trip to fellow early strugglers Luton already looks like a pivotal encounter.

Reaction to Wolves v Liverpool and the rest of Saturday's Premier League actionWhat did you make of Wolves' display? Send us your views hereHow did you rate Liverpool's performance? Have your say here

Player of the match

RobertsonAndy Robertson

with an average of 8.15

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Squad number7Player namePedro Neto

Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-chan

Squad number27Player nameBellegarde

Squad number15Player nameDawson

Squad number8Player nameJoão Gomes

Squad number5Player nameLemina

Squad number23Player nameKilman

Squad number3Player nameAït-Nouri

Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo

Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá

Squad number12Player nameMatheus Cunha

Squad number2Player nameDoherty

Squad number6Player nameTraoré

Squad number20Player nameDoyle

Squad number17Player nameBueno

Squad number9Player nameFábio Silva

Liverpool

Squad number26Player nameRobertson

Squad number8Player nameSzoboszlai

Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah

Squad number7Player nameDíaz

Squad number9Player nameNúñez

Squad number19Player nameElliott

Squad number78Player nameQuansah

Squad number1Player nameAlisson

Squad number18Player nameGakpo

Squad number5Player nameKonaté

Squad number32Player nameMatip

Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota

Squad number2Player nameGomez

Squad number38Player nameGravenberch

Squad number17Player nameJones

Squad number10Player nameMac Allister

Line-ups

Wolves

Formation 4-2-3-1

122Nélson SemedoBooked at 71mins15Dawson23Kilman3Aït-NouriSubstituted forBuenoat 65'minutes8João Gomes5LeminaSubstituted forTraoréat 78'minutes11Hwang Hee-chanSubstituted forDohertyat 60'minutes27BellegardeSubstituted forDoyleat 77'minutes7Neto12Matheus CunhaSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 61'minutes

Substitutes

2Doherty6Traoré9Fábio Silva17Bueno18Kalajdzic20Doyle21Sarabia24Gomes25Bentley

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson2Gomez32Matip78QuansahSubstituted forKonatéat 83'minutes26Robertson8Szoboszlai10Mac AllisterBooked at 4minsSubstituted forDíazat 45'minutes17JonesBooked at 90mins11SalahSubstituted forGravenberchat 90+3'minutes18GakpoSubstituted forNúñezat 56'minutes20JotaSubstituted forElliottat 56'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

3Endo5Konaté7Díaz9Núñez19Elliott21Tsimikas38Gravenberch43Bajcetic62Kelleher

Live Text

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Liverpool 3.

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Liverpool 3.

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nélson Semedo tries a through ball, but Fábio Silva is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ibrahima Konaté.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution, Liverpool. Ryan Gravenberch replaces Mohamed Salah.

Delay in match because of an injury Craig Dawson (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Curtis Jones (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

Own Goal by Hugo Bueno, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Liverpool 3.

Attempt missed. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.

Attempt missed. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Maximilian Kilman.

Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Liverpool 2. Andy Robertson (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Craig Dawson.

Attempt blocked. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harvey Elliott.

Attempt blocked. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luis Díaz.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution, Liverpool. Ibrahima Konaté replaces Jarell Quansah because of an injury.

Delay in match because of an injury Jarell Quansah (Liverpool).

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