In a season where precious little can be taken for granted at Liverpool, this was at least a welcome slice of the routine at Anfield.
Victory at home against a relegation-threatened team has not always been a given for Jurgen Klopp this term but this 2-0 win over Wolves had something of a mundane, ordinary quality that will have delighted the Reds boss no end.
The smile on his face as he made a beeline for all of his players at full-time revealed as much. As did the kiss he blew to the Kop, in fact. That was about as celebratory and demonstrative as Klopp got before he quietly disappeared down the tunnel. He knows the famous fist-bumping routine can be saved for more glamorous, high-profile achievements. Slowly but surely, this is a team finding its feet and emerging from the doldrums.
AS IT HAPPENED: Liverpool vs Wolves final score, goals and highlights
RATINGS: Liverpool player ratings as Virgil van Dijk and midfielder outstanding vs Wolves
Having moved from eighth to seventh to sixth in the last few days, Liverpool's progress has been incremental in recent weeks and having now collected 10 points from the last 12 on offer after that horrendous afternoon at Molineux last month, the Reds are starting to look upwards with some real purpose and intent. Four consecutive clean sheets also hints at a side who have regained their spine, perhaps at the most opportune of periods.
With another game-in-hand to be played at Chelsea on April 4 and fourth-place Tottenham still to come at Anfield later that month, the Reds remain firmly in the hunt. For a team that has taken 57 points from the last 72 on offer between the months of March and May in 2021 and 2022, the omens and form guides are positive ones, if nothing else. A similar return will be needed to secure Champions League football for next season.
Klopp made as many as six changes in total as a brand new midfield stepped out in the form of Stefan Bajcetic, Fabinho and Harvey Elliott. It was the first time that particular trio had started a game together, which provided further evidence, if it was needed, to where the manager feels the bulk of his issues have stemmed from this term.
It was a disjointed first-half performance as a result, despite none of the trio turning in a particularly poor display. Fabinho was the pick of the bunch as his slow upturn in form continued and the new-look trident grew into the game as it wore on.
The fact that struggling Wolves were able to name a midfield containing Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Reds target Matheus Nunes laid bare the problem Klopp has where his own engine room is concerned.
On the one hand, the strength of Wolves' selection highlighted how Liverpool have allowed their own to drift way off course, but it also proved how tough it is to get that particular area of the pitch purring given the Midlanders have still struggled this season despite such quality options. It's a difficult balancing act that Klopp must get right this summer.
The excellent Darwin Nunez returned to the team after his recent shoulder issue as Ibrahima Konate provided the defence with a timely boost ahead of Manchester United on Sunday. The France international was rock solid alongside the superb Virgil van Dijk, whose own return to the line-up has been a stark reminder of just how good he actually is.
The two best chances for the Reds in the first half fell to Elliott. First, he should have scored when his close-range header was glanced wide before he was denied by an excellent Jose Sa stop after he struck Nunez's smart chest down on the edge of the box.
Nunez thought he'd registered his 13th goal of the campaign with a little under 25 minutes to go, but after making the most of some confusion at the back, his goal was chalked off as Diogo Jota was ruled to have fouled Nelson Semedo in the build-up. It was a controversial call from referee Paul Tierney who was forced to consult his monitor before ruling it out.
Liverpool were not to be denied though. Van Dijk nodded in the crucial opener following great work from Jota to keep the ball alive after Sa had saved the Dutch defender's initial effort. Jota's reaction was telling as he immediately turned to the Kop with a huge, almost euphoric shake of the fist, no doubt feeling justice had been done for the earlier decision.
The No.20 departed moments later to a standing ovation having run himself into the ground on his first Anfield start four over four-and-a-half months. He's going to be vital between now and the end of May.
Mohamed Salah grabbed his 20th for a six successive season when he nudged home Kostas Tsimikas' cross after a neat interchange featuring Jota's replacement, Cody Gakpo. The Egypt star is now one away from equalling Robbie Fowler's record tally in the Premier League era of 182. You suspect Salah knows full well how perfect it would be to go level this weekend against United.
All eyes now turn to that fixture - the biggest, most-watched in world football - and we're about to find out just how far this Liverpool team really have come in recent weeks.
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