Van Dijk and Salah provide lift for Liverpool to clinch win over Wolves

A little push was what Jürgen Klopp ordered, and a little push is what Liverpool gave their season. Wolves were a test of Anfield’s patience yet again but late goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah eventually ended their resistance to take Klopp’s team to within six points of fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand.

With Manchester United due on Sunday, and Wolves embolded by their 3-0 win over Liverpool at Molineux only last month, Klopp viewed this as a critical week for any hope of securing Champions League qualification with a late flourish to the season. In that sense the first step was accomplished with something to spare. Liverpool were far from dominant but, after Darwin Núñez had a goal disallowed courtesy of VAR, a strong finish saw them eclipse Wolves and claim three deserving points.

Ibrahima Konaté was one of six changes Klopp made from Saturday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, the France international coming straight into the starting lineup after a month out with a hamstring injury. The central defender’s availability was timely given the recent trials of Joe Gomez and Joël Matip in the heart of a Liverpool defence that came under early pressure in the fourth meeting between the teams in 2023.

Wolves were quickly into their stride and created the first opening when Raúl Jiménez escaped down the right and centred for João Moutinho. The midfielder exchanged passes with Pablo Sarabia on the edge of the area before forcing Alisson to save at full stretch. Sarabia just failed to connect with a free header at the back post from the resulting corner. Moutinho was presented with another sight of Alisson’s goal after Konaté misplaced a pass to Rúben Neves. The alert Van Dijk spared his defensive