Liverpool moved up to sixth and six points off the Premier League top four courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Wolves on Wednesday night.
Meeting the West Midlands outfit for the fourth time in eight weeks, the Reds’ ensured there was no repeat of their 3-0 humbling the last time the two sides met at Molineux as second half goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah clinched a valuable three points.
With the game not televised in the UK, there was plenty going on at Anfield that might have gone under the radar as Liverpool extended their Premier League unbeaten run to four matches. Here are the moments you might have missed…
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Salah shoves Moutinho
As Liverpool warmed up ahead of their meeting with Wolves on Wednesday night, their Under-19s were in action themselves as they hosted Porto in the UEFA Youth League. Booking their place in the quarter-finals courtesy of a penalty shootout win, there were ugly scenes after the final whistle at the AXA Training Centre as a mass brawl broke out between both sides.
Fortunately, there was none of that at Anfield! But there was one shoving match before half-time which earned an unlikely man a telling off - Mohamed Salah.
Standing in front of Jose Sa prior to a Liverpool corner, the Egyptian took issue with Joao Moutinho pushing him in the back. So he shoved the Portuguese back, with the midfielder taking out his own goalkeeper in the process as both ended up on the floor in the goalmouth.
Both Salah and Moutinho were called over by referee Paul Tierney for a scolding, with the Egyptian laughing in bemusement as a result. He would have the last laugh, at least, by scoring the Reds’ second goal to wrap up all three points.
“S**t Andy Carroll!”
Darwin Nunez was a welcome returnee to Liverpool’s starting XI against Wolves, after missing the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace with a shoulder injury, and put in another impressive display out on the left-wing.
Only a controversial VAR decision denied the Uruguayan his 13th goal of the season as he continues to cement his place as firm fan-favourite, with Jurgen Klopp insisting the best is still to come from the striker after the final whistle.
Yet his lively showing didn’t stop the Wolves fans from taunting Nunez at every turn with repeated renditions of ‘You’re just a s**t Andy Carroll!’ The most puzzling came when they used a break in play as Mario Lemina received treatment to taunt the Uruguayan.
Anfield responded by chanting the striker’s name at every turn as they appreciated his efforts both offensively and defensively. Meanwhile, he was given a standing ovation when substituted in the dying embers of the game.
Opposing fans can continue to taunt Nunez all they want, it has next to no impact on the striker and at least those of a Liverpool persuasion know the truth of the forward’s talents.
Alisson kicks off
While Nunez’s disallowed goal might have meant he didn’t get the last laugh against the travelling Wolves support, it was a different story for goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Having gifted Goncalo Guedes a cheap opener with a poor kick when the two sides locked horns at Anfield in the FA Cup in January, before being at fault for Vinicius Jr’s second goal against Liverpool for Real Madrid last week with a poor clearance, the travelling support regularly looked to mock the Brazilian when the ball was at his feet.
Jeers and whistles rained down as Wolves hoped for another mistake from the Liverpool goalkeeper, though mercifully we were spared renditions of 'You're s**t, ahhhhhh!', which many Football League alumni enjoy to partake in, whenever the ball was at his feet.
Alas, they were to be left disappointed. Alisson would leave Raul Jimenez looking silly with one smart turn in his own area as the Mexican closed him down, but the best was still to come.
It was a stunning diagonal pass from the 30-year-old that picked out Kostas Tsimikas on the left to start the move that led to the Reds’ second goal. And while later kicks aimed towards Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, encouraged by the Anfield crowd as part of attempted counter-attacks, came to nothing, the goalkeeper had made his point.
Keeping his fourth Premier League clean sheet in a row, Alisson now boasts nine for the season with only David de Gea, Aaron Ramsdale, and Nick Pope registering more. Considering Liverpool’s defensive struggles this year, it would be most surreal if the Brazilian still ends up in Golden Glove contention.
Tsimikas pays tribute
Kostas Tsimikas made his first Premier League start since being substituted at half-time Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford in January against Wolves. Fortunately on this occasion, it was a much more impressive performance for the Greek with the left-back grabbing a stunning assist to set up Mohamed Salah for the Reds’ second goal.
The 26-year-old wore a black armband against Wolves as he paid tribute to the people caught up in the Greek rail disaster. His homeland declared three days of national mourning after 43 people were killed when a passenger service crashed head on into a freight train.
Speaking to LFC TV after the final whistle, Tsimikas paid tribute to those that lost their lives as he dedicated the victory to his compatriots.
“I want to say, I give this win to my people back in Greece,” he said. “We had an accident yesterday, a train crash. May God give power to their families and may they rest in peace.
“It was very, very difficult for my people. Most of them were students who went back to see their families.
“I always look forward to seeing my family again because I also live far away. That is the most important thing in life. To be healthy, and do what you really love.”
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