Liverpool 2-1 Wolves - Reds extend Premier League lead to seven points despite nervy second half

Liverpool moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a nervy 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield.

Arne Slot's side successfully bounced back from the disappointment of their cheap FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle and subsequent Premier League draw against Merseyside rivals Everton, though did so in unconvincing fashion as they had to stave off a spirited second-half surge by Wolves.

It was a comfortable first half for the leaders, as Luis Diaz unconventionally opened the scoring, knocking into the net with his torso to notch his first goal since the turn of the year.

And Diaz was central in earning his side's second goal of the afternoon eight minutes before the interval. He gave Emmanuel Agbadou a nudge, forcing the Wolves defender to mis-kick a long ball forward, before Jose Sa cleaned out the Liverpool winger in the box for a penalty.

Mohamed Salah duly converted for his 23rd Premier League goal of the season, as Liverpool looked to be cruising to yet another three points.

But Wolves came out fighting after the break, and Matheus Cunha forced a nervy finish when he sunk a sublime left-footed strike from outside the area to pull the visitors back into contention.

There was a heavy air of nervousness around Anfield, understandable after conceding a last-gasp equaliser against Everton on Wednesday, but Slot's side survived this time – registering a vital three points.

Marshall Munetsi made his Premier League debut for Wolves in the second half at Anfield, and he felt the second-half performance showed what Wolves are all about under Pereira.

"We tried our best," he told Sky Sports. "The coach made some changes to put them under pressure, we created a lot of chances and made them uncomfortable.

"In the first half we didn't really cause them a lot of problems but the second half was the identity of the team, this is what the coach wants. This is something we have to keep doing."

Liverpool's next Premier League task comes against Aston Villa on Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

It is set to be an intriguing encounter, as new Villa recruits Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio take on the league leaders.

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Andy Robertson spoke about the shared nerves between the Liverpool players and squad after Matheus Cunha cut their deficit in the second half.

"We just managed to dig deep," the left-back told Sky Sports. "2-0 at half-time, that can be one of the most dangerous results in football. We had to come out and start well and didn't quite do that. 

"When they scored, everyone gets nervous, the crowd gets nervous - but it's a massive win for us.

"I thought Wolves were excellent second half. They made a couple of changes at half-time at 2-0 down and went a little more attacking with more forward players up in key areas. That made it more difficult. 

"But we have to be better on the ball. We know that. The result is big, after Wednesday and the defeat in the FA Cup, it's important to get back to a winning streak. Hopefully this can be the start of one."

A seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League suggests a level of comfort that Liverpool fans likely won't be feeling right now, as signs that they may falter under certain pressures have come to the fore.

The last-gasp equaliser suffered against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday clearly seemed to rattle Arne Slot's side, who could barely get a foothold in the second half against Wolves, and were put firmly on the back foot after Matheus Cunha's emphatic equaliser.

The leaders are still clear favourites to hold aloft the Premier League trophy come the end of the season, but the side we saw previously dispatching all who set foot before them with ease, now looks to be making slightly tougher work of their title pursuit.

Next up for Liverpool is a tough-looking trip to Aston Villa, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

That is (just about) that for Liverpool. They will want to be far more convincing than that. But the three points is the most important thing today.

Doyle and Ait-Nouri are standing over it. Literally inches outside the box.

But it hits the wall, and Liverpool survive.

There's an understanable nervousness given what happened against Everton just days ago.

And Wolves are going to bring Pedro Lima into the fold.

Wolves are trying to fashion something out here, but their progress has been halted somewhat in the last 10 minutes - the introduction of Endo has certainly made the hosts more compact.

But hang on, we could be on here....

Doyle is found in heaps of space in the box, and he lays in a lovely ball for Munetsi from yards out.

But he just cannot turn it into the net, it's a great block by Quansah, and it's thumped away. Liverpool can breathe... for now.

Tommy Doyle enters for Gomes, as Pereira gives another roll of the dice in hunt for an equaliser.

And Cunha find Toti, but the defender takes a tumble as he tries to send a cross in, and Liverpool and regroup after that one.

Wolves have the Premier League leaders rattled right now. They can't string together anything meaningful, and when the visitors come forward, the Liverpool faithful fall into a nervous silence.

The hosts are just about doing enough to thwart the forays of Pereira's side so far. But as Cunha showed moments ago, a moment of quality can come from nothing.

A mistimed challenge on the halfway line and the Liverpool captain gets a booking for his troubles.

Wolves load the box but cannot work an effort on goal.

He clearly sees him team on the back foot right now. Holding midfielder Endo replaces Diaz.

Ait-Nouri whips in a decent enough corner, but Gomes can only head over.

Good impetus from the rejuvenated visitors though. Who look to go forward again but Cunha is wrestled away from a long ball into the box.

That's unbelievable from the Wolves forward. Game on!

Anfield groans in frustration as Liverpool just cannot get the ball out of their third, and when it falls to Cunha, the Brazilian produces a lovely piece of skill to shift onto his left foot, before curling an inch-perfect strike into Alisson's far corner.

A lovely, lovely goal. Could we see any twists in the final quarter here at Anfield?

Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley enter the fray. Jota and Alexander-Arnold make way.

A really slack Alexander-Arnold pass out of defence is latched onto by Cunha, and he has a great opportunity to slip in the overlapping Ait-Nouri.

But instead, the forward runs into a congested section of the box, before eventually laying off to Gomes, who can only spurn over after having to open up some space for a strike.

Interesting turn of events. Wolves want Jota booked for simulation.

Jota is played through, Agbadou goes to ground and looks to have made contact with the forward. That will see Hooper blow his whistle.

It's subject to a VAR check, I think they're questioning how much contact was actually made. It initially looked a stonewaller, but replays favour the Wolves defender somewhat.

In fact, the replays actually show there was no contact at all. Fair play, VAR coming through in these type of situations.