How the national media reacted to Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League
It wasn’t pretty but job done. Liverpool moved to the top of the early Premier League table with a hard-earned 2-1 triumph away to Wolves on Saturday evening.
Ibrahima Konate headed in his first Premier League goal just before half-time, but the Reds needed a penalty from Mohamed Salah to move a point clear at the summit after a defensive mix-up allowed Rayan Ait-Nouri to net an equaliser for the home team.
It made for an testing occasion at Molineux. And here’s how the national media viewed a solid result for Arne Slot’s side.
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Alyson Rudd of The Times believes the game highlighted the difference between Slot’s approach and that of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
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“Wolves could tell that Slot’s team were a coiled spring, patiently waiting for the moments when they could be more penetrative,” she pens.
“A free-kick used by Salah to tee up Trent Alexander-Arnold was crisp but not sufficiently biting to beat Sam Johnstone in the Wolves goal. Dominik Szoboszlai looked certain to open the scoring when he connected at close range from an Andy Robertson cross but Johnstone blocked with his legs.
“Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool were an almost manic type of menace. Under Slot they are more like contract killers; patient and unrelenting, confident in their ability to unpick any opposition.”
Will Unwin of The Guardian pointed to a trait that should serve Liverpool well if they are to continue challenging at the top of the table.
“It did not feel like bottom versus top as Wolves succumbed to Liverpool,” he writes. “There was not a stark difference between the teams but, unsurprisingly, those now sitting at the summit possessed the greater quality in the critical moments as Liverpool showed they could win without playing well, a trait any team challenging for the title require.
“Liverpool have five wins from six league matches, still learning their lessons from the solitary defeat by Nottingham Forest. Slot’s side were sluggish in the opening stages, hindered by Wolves’ gameplan, leaving them unable to find anything akin to rhythm but started to become threatening as the half-time break beckoned.
“Wolves were keeping the visitors quiet, putting in an industrious performance but rarely threatening Alisson, returning from a hamstring injury.
“Despite the best efforts of Mario Lemina, Joao Gomes and Andre, Ryan Gravenberch was able to take control of the match in the middle and increase the tempo when it was required to push Liverpool forward on a difficult evening. The Dutchman’s move to a No 6 role under Slot has been defining in this early push to the top. Gravenberch is a calming influence, happy to take possession in all situations.”
Writing in The Telegraph, Mike McGrath is convinced Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals should be concerned.
“Arne Slot has plenty of experience of being at the summit from winning the Dutch title with Feyenoord but this is new territory as Liverpool manager: top of the Premier League table looking down on the rest,” he says.
“His team took advantage of Manchester City’s slip earlier in the day and recorded a win that was not exactly straightforward.
“Perhaps that is the concern for the chasing pack. It is early days for Slot and this team but they have seven wins from eight games this season with potential to get better. They are the stingiest team in the league this season, with Rayan Ait-Nouri’s leveller just the second goal conceded after a rare mistake.
“On this evidence, Slot’s team will be happy to soak up pressure at times and allow their opponents to have the ball, before striking with efficiency when they move forward. It might not be dominant football but it is ruthless.”
Finally, Paul Gorst of the ECHO couldn’t help but notice what didn’t happen in the away end after the final whistle.
“While the back pages of Saturday’s papers screeched of a ‘war’ that is now apparently brewing between Manchester City and Arsenal, Liverpool simply got on with the business of going top of the Premier League,” he scribes.
“The ascent to the summit of the English game in recent years has been typically met with a hearty rendition of ‘Liverpool, Liverpool top of the league’ by Reds supporters, but the fact that no such terrace anthem was belted out here at Wolves, not in any great volume at least, was symbolic of a team who are instead content to stay away from the spotlight and the headlines just now. As much as it’s possible to at Anfield, that is.”
