Alisson Becker and Thiago Alcantara stood out, while Mohamed Salah delivered the goods as Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Wolves 3-1 on Sunday.
Liverpool started the game in the worst way possible, as Pedro Neto sent Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead in the third minute. Jose Sa’s goal-kick caught Ibrahima Konate unaware and released Raul Jimenez, who squared the ball for Pedro Neto to score from point-blank range.
Neto had Liverpool on the ropes in the game’s opening quarter, and he should have doubled his and Wolves’ tally midway through the first half. But Liverpool got back on level terms in the 24th minute as Sadio Mane scored from close range after Thiago Alcantara released him with a clever flick.
Liverpool dominated the proceedings for much of the remainder of the game, but Wolves tested the hosts on the break, with Hwang hee-Chan forcing a crucial save out of Alisson Becker. Meanwhile, Sadio Mane thought he had put Liverpool ahead early in the second half, only for him to have strayed offside.
The Reds struggled to break the opposition down after that, with the visitors defending in numbers. But Wolves’ resilience ended in the 84th minute, with Mohamed Salah giving Liverpool the lead before Andrew Robertson sealed all three points with an 89th-minute goal. Unfortunately for Liverpool, Manchester City clinched a come-from-behind 3-2 win to win the Premier League title. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Alisson Becker: 8/10
With 20 @PremierLeague clean sheets, @AlissonBecker collects the Golden Glove award ? pic.twitter.com/kcu1HKHX5k
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 22, 2022
Alisson could not have done anything to keep out Pedro Neto’s goal after the Liverpool defenders sold him short. But the Brazilian goalkeeper was at hand to make a big save to deny Hwang hee-Chan and keep the scores level in the first half. A few more stops after the interval kept Liverpool in the game before Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson sealed the points.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6/10
Alexander-Arnold struggled against the tricky Pedro Neto and failed to mark the Portuguese winger in the build-up to the opener. But Wolves barely troubled him after Neto’s substitution, giving him the chance to concentrate on creating the openings in the final third. And while the Englishman played a game-high six key passes, his teammates did not convert his deliveries.
Joel Matip: 7/10
Matip had some struggles against Wolves’ attackers, to begin with, and he left Hwang unmarked before Alisson saved his blushes. But the veteran defender was solid for the most part otherwise, negating Raul Jimenez completely in the air. He also stepped up late by assisting Salah for Liverpool’s second.
Ibrahima Konate: 5/10
Konate was switched off when Wolves went ahead, as Jimenez drifted off him before setting up Neto for the opener. But Konate settled down after that and started the move that led to Sadio Mane netting the equaliser in the 24th minute. He will need to do better if he starts ahead of Matip in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend.
Andrew Robertson: 7/10
Robertson barely had anything to worry about in the defensive phases, with Pedro Neto carrying a greater threat on the opposite flank. The Scot took this as an opportunity to link up with the attackers. He also came close to scoring in the second half before scoring the final goal that rounded off the win.
??????? Andrew Robertson completed more passes (82/87) and completed more attacking third passes (31/35) than any other Liverpool player against Wolves.
?. #LFC #LIVWOL #LiverpoolFC pic.twitter.com/VI6RX70ebR
— Mozo Football (@MozoFootball) May 22, 2022
Naby Keita: 6/10
Keita blew hot and cold in the game, as he did not cover Alexander-Arnold in the defensive phases when Neto was running rampant. But the Guinean midfielder looked to push Liverpool forward with intent and sliced open Wolves’ defence when Mane scored the goal that was ruled out for offside.
Jordan Henderson: 7/10
Henderson was a solid customer in the middle of the park, as he enabled Liverpool to control the proceedings by barely misplacing a pass. The Liverpool captain also stood firm whenever Wolves threatened to trouble the Reds on the break. He will need to produce a similar showing against Real Madrid.
Thiago Alcantara: 8/10
Thiago will be devastated to have picked up the injury that threatens to keep him out of next week’s Champions League final. The Spanish international helped Liverpool dominate the game after Wolves’ early goal and set Mane up with a brilliant flick. But his game ended at half-time as he sustained a knock.
Diogo Jota: 6/10
Jota started on the right flank instead of spearheading the Liverpool attack against Wolves, and the change of position robbed him of his effectiveness. The Portuguese international was sloppy with the ball at his feet and completed only 71 per cent of his attempted passes. He never came closer to scoring either, and taking him off for Salah was the correct decision.
Sadio Mane: 7/10
Sadio Mane has been directly involved in 20 goals in all competitions since the start of 2022:
⚽️ 17 goals scored
?️ 3 assistsLiverpool go level! ?? pic.twitter.com/r7k5Ihqgr6
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 22, 2022
Mane initiated Liverpool’s comeback, with the Senegalese international making no error in beating Jose Sa from close range. Mane thought he had handed Liverpool the lead early in the second half, but he had strayed narrowly offside. He circulated possession well and completed four key passes. But goalscoring opportunities came few and far between.
Luis Diaz: 6/10
Diaz endured a difficult evening against Wolves on Sunday. While he carried a threat with his directness and came close to scoring once, Wolves’ dogged defending often left the Colombian international frustrated. But he tried to slice open the opposition defence with clever passing and played three key passes.
SUBSTITUTES
James Milner: 7/10
Milner replaced Thiago at half-time and produced a professional performance in the second half. The veteran midfielder barely misplaced a pass, helping Liverpool remain on top of Wolves before they finally broke the shackles.
Mohamed Salah: 7/10
A season to remember for Salah ⚽ ? pic.twitter.com/jLPjzm5bcA
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 22, 2022
Salah looked determined to score a goal as soon as he replaced Jota, and he mustered a staggering eight shots during his thirty-minute stay on the pitch. The Egyptian forward’s endeavour paid off as he scored the goal that won the game for Liverpool and earned him the Golden Boot.
Roberto Firmino: 6/10
Klopp assigned Firmino a free role after he replaced Keita, and the Brazilian went about his job well. And the forward found Andrew Robertson for Liverpool’s third, ending the Premier League campaign strongly.
