Liverpool managed to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 in the continued match of the English Premier League thanks to the help of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at Anfield Stadium on Monday (30/12).
Liverpool appear with the best strength in this match. Manager Jurgen Klopp is determined to pursue victory to keep his distance again with Leicester City who are second.
The Reds also played aggressively since the early minutes to realize these targets. One of the golden opportunities was created through the opportunity obtained by Mohamed Salah in the 21st minute.
Wrong volley after receiving a Sadio Mane header but the efforts of the Egyptian player can still be anticipated perfectly by Rui Patricio.
In the 30th minute it was Mane’s turn to put his name on the scoreboard. This time Mane’s shot from inside the penalty box was blocked by defender Wolverhampton and ended in a corner.
Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick goes right to Roberto Firmino but the Brazilian’s header is just thin on the left side of the visitors’ goal.
Liverpool only can break the deadlock through Mane cheat from close range in the 42nd minute. The goal was reaping debate because Adam Lallana was considered a hand ball when holding the ball using a chest that rolled towards Mane.
But referee Anthony Taylor endorsed the goal after seeing a replay of VAR.
Ahead of the first half was over, Wolverhampton could actually score the score 1-1. Pedro Neto broke into Alisson Becker’s goal with a hard shot from inside the penalty box.
However, the referee annulled the goal because there was a Wolverhampton player who was first in the off-side position before the goal was created.
The score also lasted 1-0 to Liverpool’s advantage until the first half ended.
In the second half, Wolverhampton was still able to provide commensurate resistance for Liverpool. That makes Mane et al not free to be able to create dangerous opportunities in the visitors’ penalty box.
New opportunities only obtained by Liverpool in the middle of the second half. Firmino had the opportunity to score after a neat partnership built by a Liverpool player.
It’s just Firmino kick from inside the penalty box is still above the crossbar in the 61st minute.
Seven minutes after the opportunity Liverpool goalkeeper even almost conceded. Virgil van Dijk made a mistake so that the ball he controlled could be won by Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese striker then dribbled into the penalty box and fired a hard shot which Alisson could still anticipate.
Ahead of the second half ended, Wolverhampton increasingly aggressively put pressure to score equalizing position. But none of the opportunities obtained by Raul Jimenez to Ruben Vinagre could bear a goal until the referee blew the whistle the signal the end of the second half.
