SAN FRANCISCO, December 06, (THEWILL) –Â English Premier League champions Liverpool gave their fans a match to cherish as they welcomed them back to Anfield with a 4-0 victory over Wolves on Sunday.
Spurs defeat of the Gunners earlier on Sunday meant Liverpool were sitting points three points off the summit of the Premier League. The Reds responded by claiming a typically hard-earned victory over Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Liverpool started the brighter of both sides apparently fired up by their returning supporters, and went close when Sadio Mane headed over after a slick one-two with Andy Robertson.
Yet, Wolves were not contented with soaking up the pressure from the Reds as Daniel Podence made very obvious when he drew a fingertip save from goalie 6Caoimhin Kelleher with a wonderfully inventive chip.
As the match progressed, there was evidence of defensive balance on both sides and, as such, it was no surprise that, when the opening goal came, it was thanks to an error rather than a moment of invention.
Liverpool’s central midfielder Jordan Henderson’s ball over the top looked primed for a headed clearance but, when he tried to chest it down, centre back Conor Coady only set up Salah for a left-footed finish into the right-hand corner.
In an attempt at self-redemption, the visiting captain went to ground in the Liverpool box and was awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time. However, replays clearly showed Coady had in fact not been touched by Mane before going down. VAR overturned the penalty awarded.
Both sides continued to fashion out half chances in the second half despite Liverpool’s lead, and each side remained wary of committing too much to attack.
Wolves endured keeping the scores respectable until the hour mark. Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum took the responsibility to double his side’s lead when, using Coady as a shield, he curled a beauty into the Kop-end top corner.
Defender Joel Matip quickly followed that with a third when he headed in a delicious inswinging Salah cross from the right wing after finding himself at the top end of the pitch for a corner.
The memorable night for the 2,000 fans allowed into Anfield was capped with a fourth goal with a quarter of an hour still to go. Nelson Semedo, Wolves centre back, inadvertently put through his own net in attempting to block a Mane effort.
Liverpool’s next game is a Wednesday Champions League tie against Midtjylland while Wolves welcome Aston Villa to the Molineux on Saturday.
