Mohamed Salah maintained his file of scoring no less than 20 a season yearly at Liverpool as his purpose helped safe a 2-0 win over Wolves which edged them nearer to the Premier League’s high 4.
The Egypt worldwide turned dwelling Kostas Tsimikas’s 77th-minute cross to double the lead given to them by Virgil van Dijk’s close-range header moments earlier for his 127th league purpose for the membership.
It put him one behind Robbie Fowler, who’s sixth on the Reds’ all-time league scorers checklist, and secured a hard-fought victory that took their tally to 10 factors from the final 12 and moved them inside two wins of fourth-placed Tottenham with a match in hand.
Goals from Liverpool’s two most skilled gamers on the pitch maintained their momentum which had been in peril of stalling after Saturday’s disappointing goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
Having fielded the membership’s oldest beginning XI (29 years 218 days) for practically 70 years at Selhurst Park on Saturday supervisor Jurgen Klopp freshened issues up with six modifications, together with his complete midfield the place he picked 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic and 19-year-old Harvey Elliott both facet of Fabinho.
The two youngsters plus Darwin Nunez caught the attention within the first half with Elliott squandering the most effective two possibilities, which didn’t materialise till 5 minutes earlier than the break.
Firstly he headed vast from a cross by Nunez, returning after a shoulder downside, when he ought to have scored after which mis-hit a volley into the turf when the Uruguay worldwide chested down Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross and the bounce gave Jose Sa simply sufficient time to react and switch the shot across the put up.
Wolves’ solely try got here after simply three minutes when Joao Moutinho, again within the facet as a result of harm to Matheus Cunha, compelled a save out of Alisson.
Ten minutes into the second half the Nunez-Elliott link-up got here to the fore once more when the ahead teed up his team-mate however his weak shot was comfortably claimed by Sa.
Nunez has endeared himself to Anfield as a lot for the unpredictability he brings because the purpose risk he poses and a blistering run down the left, skipping previous a few challenges, was spoiled by a cross too near Sa.
He thought he had damaged the impasse within the 66th minute when Diogo Jota’s drive from deep appeared to have run into bother within the penalty space just for the ball to drop to Nunez who shifted it on to his proper foot and lashed a shot previous Sa.
However, VAR suggested referee Paul Tierney to view the pitchside monitor and he dominated out the purpose for a foul on Max Kilman by Jota.
But the stress was constructing towards a comparatively toothless Wolves – who had overwhelmed their opponents 3-0 at Molineux earlier this month in arguably Liverpool’s worst show of the season, and it lastly informed.
Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick was headed goalwards by Van Dijk and Sa might solely parry to Jota, who returned the ball into the six-yard the place the Netherlands captain was there to nod in.
Six minutes later Salah made the sport secure when he turned dwelling Tsimikas’ cross after the left-back had charged down the flank.
In his programme notes Klopp had careworn he thought in latest weeks – the 5-2 Champions League mauling by Real Madrid aside – they’ve been on the right track and a fourth successive clear sheet for the primary time since April was one thing else to have a good time.