Wolves 0 Liverpool 2 – Report and pictures

Mo Salah opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a smart finish but in an entertaining first half Wolves created a number of chances through Adama Traore, Jonny Castro Otto and Matt Doherty.

However the unbeaten Reds doubled their lead when Virgil van Dijk netted from close range in the second half. More chances went begging via Romain Saiss and Morgan Gibbs-White as Wolves couldn't find a way back into the game.

Analysis

There's a right way to lose and a wrong way to lose a football match. This was the right way.

Wolves gave everything against the Premier League leaders, who showed them a deep level of respect, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

Gone are the days when they big boys would rest a couple of star players when they came to Molineux, or took the home team lightly.

Liverpool went full strength and knew they'd be in for a hell of a contest. It certainly proved that way in the first half when Wolves were arguably the better side.

They certainly created more chances and were pegging the unbeaten – and uncomfortable – Reds back, mustering a succession of decent opportunities through their courageous attacking approach.

After Liverpool looked to kill the game at 2-0 Wolves still piled forward and should have scored twice, with Romain Saiss and Morgan Gibbs-White both spurning glorious chances.

In fact the greatest compliment you can pay Nuno's team is that the only glaring difference between these two sides was in the opposition box, where Liverpool paid for Wolves' minor lapses in concentration and not vice versa.

That's been a recurring theme for Wolves, despite their recent improvements in front of goal, and remains something they need to improve if they want to be a top half side or better.

There were plenty of positives – Adama Traore was more effective than in recent weeks, Jonny Castro Otto was a constant buzzing bundle of positivity and Conor Coady saved his side of a number of occasions against his beloved Reds.

And there is, of course, no shame is losing to a team of this calibre. Liverpool were the best side Wolves have faced so far – in Mo Salah they had a magician who danced by challenges at will and the only way Wolves would have got any change Wolves out of the imperious Virgil van Dijk was if he pulled a couple of 10p coins out his pocket.

As long as Wolves learn from it, they'll continue to evolve and improve.

If they approach their next fixture, away at lowly Fulham, with the same professionalism, fearlessness and daring, they'll soon be back on track.

Match report

As Nuno revealed on Thursday, Diogo Jota wasn't fit enough to play after suffering a hamstring injury.

Adama Traore got the nod to replace him, while Romain Saiss replaced Morgan Gibbs-White in a midfield that looked set up to try and frustrate the league leaders and exploit Traore's pace on the counter attack.

Liverpool brought in James Milner and Jordan Henderson as they looked to extend their lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.

Wolves had already earned a point against City, of course, and they began the night confident of a repeat.

After a breathtaking music and lights show before kick off (it felt more suited to Ibiza than Whitmore Reans but the crowd seemed to enjoy it), complete with enough fireworks to bring down the Houses of Parliament, the stage was set for the biggest occasion of Wolves' season so far – and an entertaining first half didn't disappoint.

Wolves had clearly done their homework and pressed Liverpool high early doors. It wasn't a tactic the Reds looked comfortable against.

That was typified when Joao Moutinho intercepted a slack pass and played to Traore, who lashed a shot wide.

Traore was the main outlet for Wolves in the first half, with Raul Jimenez the key to unlocking that door. The Mexican set the Spaniard flying towards the box after great hold-up play and this time Traore drilled across goal and wide.

Matt Doherty then played inside to a rampaging Saiss whose shot was saved by Alisson as Wolves looked to break the deadlock – but a team with as much quality and confidence as Liverpool was never going to stay mute forever and it would be Jurgen Klopp's side who opened the scoring.

A momentary lapse of concentration saw Fabinho get in behind Willy Boly and Ruben Neves – he got to the byline and picked out Mo Salah, who was half a yard ahead of Coady and produced a clinical low finish.

Wolves haven't reacted well to conceding goals of late and you feared for them, with Liverpool now in their stride.

Milner cut inside Moutinho and fired ominously from 20 yards, but Rui Patricio was behind it.

The Reds were passing the ball around with pace and precision, but apart from a couple of tight offside calls they weren't threatening to break through the Wolves back-line.

And after finding their feet again it was Wolves who ended the half the stronger side – and should have been level at the break.

First Traore played through Dejan Lovren's legs and found the busy and impressive Jonny Castro Otto, whose effort was saved by Alisson.

Then Doherty brilliantly barged inside, played a one-two with Moutinho and passed to Jimenez who was open, but he delayed his shot and is was blocked. There were loud shouts for a penalty with Doherty going down under Milner's challenge after releasing the pass, but referee Craig Pawson wasn't interested.

Wolves had struggled to maintain their attacks with only Jimenez and Traore forward, but now the wing-backs were getting involved to great effect. Doherty was picked out on the right and he fired one goalwards which Alisson pawed away at his near post.

It was a rousing end to the half from determined Wolves who were playing with heart, desire, courage and attacking intent. They were duly loudly applauded from the field at half time at a soaking wet Molineux. Indeed, the break came at a bad time for Nuno's team.

Liverpool stepped up their dominance at the start of the second period, buzzing around the Wolves third and creating chances for Salah and Naby Keita, who shortly went off injured to be replaced by Adam Lallana.

Aside from the odd burst from Traore, Wolves were flat and on the hour mark Nuno looked to change that, sending on Ivan Cavaleiro and Gibbs-White. Traore and Moutinho departed.

There was no lack of effort from Wolves but it was Liverpool pulling the strings and after substitute Adam Lallana's effort was crucially blocked by Coady, the Reds killed the game off with a second goal.

Salah chipped the ball into the box, Ryan Bennett couldn't get anything on it and defender Virgil van Dijk guided home from close range.

A defiant South Bank were still singing as they looked to rouse their team – and within two minutes Wolves should have pulled one back.

Doherty headed a cross back into a crowd of players, the ball dropped perfectly for Saiss but his snap-shot from only 12 yards was straight at Alisson.

Thereafter the game died a death, but in the closing minutes Wolves again should have reduced the deficit. A cross hit Andy Robertson's heel and Gibbs-White should have netted from six yards, but could only find the side netting.

It just wasn't Wolves' night.

Key moments

04 - Good, early opportunity for Wolves. Fabinho's casual pass is intercepted by Moutinho. He puts it through to Traore and, after taking a touch to set himself, he blazes wide of the near post from the edge of the box.

14 - Another decent opening for Nuno's side. Coady pings the ball to Doherty, who feeds it to Saiss. He hits it low with his left foot, but Alisson makes the block.

18 - Goal! Salah puts Liverpool ahead in clinical fashion. Fabinho plays a perfect one-two with Mane before drilling it across goal to Salah, who finishes with the outside of his foot. Got there just ahead of Coady.

68 - Goal! Liverpool double their advantage. Salah is involved again, this time the provider. He floats a cross beyond Wolves' backline, and Van Dijk swoops in, prodding past Patricio from close range.

72 - Saiss tries to get Wolves back into the game. The ball falls kindly to him near the penalty spot, but he can only guide it into the grateful hands of Alisson.

89 - Final chance for the hosts. Robertson gets his feet mixed up and that allows Gibbs-White to get a shot off from a few yards out. He hits the side netting though.

Teams

Wolves (3-4-1-2): Patricio; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Otto (Vinagre, 81); Moutinho (Gibbs-White, 63); Traore (Cavaleiro, 63), Jimenez

Subs not used: Ruddy (gk), Dendoncker, Costa, Bonatini

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Milner, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita (Lallana, 58), Henderson (c); Mane (Clyne, 87), Firmino (Wijnaldum, 76), Salah

Subs not used: Mignolet (gk), Shaqiri, Sturridge, Origi

Goals: Salah (18), Van Dijk (68)

Attendance: 31,358 (3,010 Liverpool fans)

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

League position

7th (25 points from 18 matches)

Next up

Wolves travel to London next Wednesday (Boxing Day) to face struggling Fulham at Craven Cottage, kick off 12.30pm.