The 42nd-minute strike from Sadio Mane ensured the 13 points lead for Liverpool with a match in hand as Reds enter the new year and new decade with hopes of winning the Premier League for the first time in 28 years.
Starting the game with an intent to win, Liverpool were very close to score a goal in the first 4 minutes. Following a sort of tiki-taka, Trent Alexander Arnold swung in a sensational cross into the box to find Mohammed Salah firing it just over the bar.
In the 21st minute, the Egyptian international went close to score an opening goal. However, the player was denied by a sensational save from Rui Patricio. However, the efforts from Liverpool yield the results in the 42nd minute by a volley struck from Sadio Mane. Even though the goal was disallowed by Anthony Taylor initially, the VAR overturned the decision. This infuriated the Wolves players.
Deep into the injury time of the first half, Pedro Neto thought that he had equalised for Wolverhampton Wanderers but the goal was disallowed by VAR.
In the comparatively quiet second half compared to the action-packed first half, Wolves almost scored in the 68th minute. Once in a rare mistake from Virgil Van Dijk allowed Diogo Jota to take the ball inside the box. However, the strong hands from Alisson saved the day and points for Klopp’s men.
In a match, marred by VAR controversies, Wolves were gruntled and gutted by the loss. After the match the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Esperito Nuno Santo, angered by the controversial decisions of VAR, opined;
“What we don’t want is to come to Anfield, Liverpool, a fantastic team, fantastic fans, a fantastic stadium and we are left celebrating a non-goal.
“We had to manage our players. We played 45 hours ago, the way the players coped, a lot of them played 90 minutes in both, it’s amazing and it tells you a lot about their character.
Liverpool sits on top of the table much as like that of the previous year but this year, they have a cushion of five more points as compared to that of 2018-19. Will Liverpool finally lift the Premier League title under Jurgen Klopp.
Scoreline: Liverpool 1- Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Goalscorers: Sadio Mane(42′)
