Jota returns to haunt Wolves with winner for Liverpool
Liverpool breathed new lease of life into their likelihood of a top-four finish in the Premier League while Diogo Jota returned to haunt Wolves with the only goal in a 1-0 win in Molineux on Monday.
A disappointing nights for the hosts ended with a larger concern than just the effect just as goalkeeper Rui Patricio had to be stretchered off after a quarter-hour of treatment for a brain injury after he collided along with his own person Connor Coady in the closing levels.
Wolves have been completely badly affected by a significant head injury this year. Their top scorer for days gone by two periods, Raul Jimenez, features been out since fracturing his skull against Arsenal in November.
The lack of Jimenez means Nuno Espirito Santo's men have overlooked Jota a lot more since he joined the English champions for an initial £41 million ($57 million) in September.
Jota has also been missed by Liverpool for a lot of the past 90 days because of a knee personal injury that halted his flying learn to life at Anfield.
His first objective since returning secured a much-needed three points to go Jurgen Klopp's men up to sixth and within five points of fourth-placed Chelsea.
Liverpool's wretched run of six successive residence league defeats is certainly what has still left the Reds with a great uphill task to qualify for the Champions League following season.
But they have finally won six of their last seven games away from Anfield.
Klopp named the same side that bounced back again to form with a good 2-0 win over RB Leipzig last midweek to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions Group.
However, the visitors must have been punished for a slower start as goalkeeper Alisson Becker somehow escaped without conceding a penalty when he crashed into Nelson Semedo soon after just two minutes.
Semedo then fired also near to the Brazilian with a very clear sight of target on a nights when Wolves again payed for their absence of a goal threat.
Liverpool also have struggled for goals in recent months having didn't score found in eight of their previous 13 league games.
Sadio Mane's lack of form before goal features played a significant part for the reason that record and the Senegalese's insufficient confidence showed while he overran the ball with simply Patricio to defeat before seeing his shot eventually blocked.
Mane, though, did possess a component to play found in the only objective of the overall game in first-50 % stoppage time as he exchanged passes with Mohamed Salah before teeing up Jota for a low shot that should have been kept out by Patricio low to his best suited.
Liverpool's insufficient fluency compared to the side that romped to the title last season was a lot more clear following the break as the visitors were pleased to sit on their lead and could have been punished by a far more clinical opponent.
Coady headed wide a great likelihood to score against his ex - golf club, while Adama Traore stung the palms of Alisson and Fabio Silva's poor header floated in to the gateful Liverpool 'keeper's arms.
But with Jimenez watching over from the stands, even Liverpool's makeshift central defensive pairing of Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak weren't asked serious questions.
Salah had another goal for Liverpool eliminated for offside 5 minutes from period. During his try to stop the Egyptian, Coady inadvertently trapped his goalkeeper.
An extended stoppage ensued before the game restarted in the 100th minute and Wolves used a concussion alternative as John Ruddy replaced Patricio.
Despite a nervy finale, Liverpool held out to take advantage of a weekend in which a sponsor of the other contenders for the very best four all faltered.
