Jota becomes the new Firmino
Diogo Jota is the new Roberto Firmino in at least one respect.
When the Liverpool forward latched on to Sadio Mane’s pass in the second minute of first-half additional time, his left-footed finish into the bottom corner wasn’t just the winning goal at his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It was also remarkably only the Reds’ second first-half goal in their last 14 league games.
The other had been netted by Firmino, also in stoppage time, in the win at Tottenham Hotspur in January.
Firmino was again absent here due to the knee problem that has kept him out of the last three games.
The ability of Jota, then, to hit the ground running for the second time in his Anfield career is, as Jurgen Klopp admitted later on, proving rather timely.
The Portuguese, employed as the central striker, had cut a largely isolated figure before his goal, given scant service from a misfiring midfield in which neither Thiago Alcantara nor Gini Wijnaldum did themselves justice.
After the break, though, Jota’s willingness to run at defenders and move the ball high up the field helped ease the pressure on the Liverpool defence and, in the closing quarter, threatened a second for the visitors.
If the Reds are to turn a tortuous campaign into a success over the closing two months, you suspect Jota will be a major influence.
Mane won’t go down
Clearly, honesty is not always the best policy.
Just ask Sadio Mane, whose ongoing choice not to hit the deck when caught inside the penalty area continues to reap few rewards.
The latest incident came during the first half here when, having been found by Gini Wijnaldum, Mane was faced with just Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio to beat.
Sure, the Liverpool winger should have scored regardless, his touch not the most convincing and pushing him too wide.
But there was similarly no doubt Mane’s foot was caught by the keeper as he chased the loose ball, causing him to momentarily stumble.
Had he gone down, it was a clear foul. Instead, he chose to stay on his feet and both the chance and, thanks to referee Craig Pawson and VAR Andrew Madley choosing not to take action, the penalty were lost.
The Senegalese was, as has often been the case this season, by no means on top form.
He still, though, carried menace going forward, wide with one first-half header and constantly nibbling at the Wolves back line.
Mane could at least take solace in his assist for Diogo Jota’s winner. However, the time may have come for him to make more of the indiscretions he is forcing from opponents.
Get all the latest Liverpool breaking news, team news, transfer rumours, injury updates plus analysis of what’s next for the Reds.
You’ll also get the latest transfer talk and analysis every day for FREE!
Phillips and Kabak keep it clean
They aren’t the pairing anyone could have foreseen just a few weeks ago. And they may well be a mere fleeing moment in Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield tenure.
But for the here and now, Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak are exactly what Liverpool need.
A third game as a starting partnership at centre-back, this was a third successive clean sheet.
Only the pairing of Joel Matip and Fabinho, with four, has kept more shutouts for the Reds at the heart of defence this season.
Yes, the start was unconvincing as Wolves made the most of a hesitant, sloppy opening from the visitors.
Phillips, though, was soon booming in trademark aerial challenges, while Kabak grew in confidence with one excellent tackle inside the area to dispossess the ever-dangerous Adama Traore.
It’s easy to forget that Kabak is both the most inexperienced – in terms of Liverpool minutes – and youngest player in the side at present. He continues to improve.
Credit, too, must go to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who after a woeful opening responded with an increasingly impressive defensive display, particularly during the second half when Wolves sought to take advantage at the far post.
And while their Anfield woes are well documented, this win means Liverpool have now lost only three of their last 19 games away from their home stadium. The trip to Arsenal in three weeks will be a real barometer of that form.
