After a turbulent encounter at Goodison Park, a sense of calm returned, with glimpses of optimism appearing as crocuses blossomed behind the Anfield Road stand. Liverpool reestablished their seven-point lead at the top of the league, bringing the finish line into clearer view. However, the opening match of a crucial ten-day stretch turned out to be more demanding than expected.
What initially seemed like a routine victory turned precarious in the second half, as Wolves stifled Liverpool’s midfield, scored, and nearly pulled off a shock result at Anfield. Similar to Everton the previous week, Wolves cut off Ryan Gravenberch’s passing lanes, leaving Liverpool struggling to impose themselves. For the first time since 2017, the Reds failed to register a single shot in the second half.
Wolves, however, impressed with their own quality. Matheus Cunha’s well-taken goal put Liverpool under pressure, and his standout performance is likely to draw interest from top clubs this summer, particularly given his £62.5 million release clause. Algerian full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri also made an impact, potentially emerging as a long-term successor to Andy Robertson should Liverpool explore that option.
Despite the scare, the most important takeaway for Liverpool was the result, which kept them on track for their title push, even if the effects of the Everton match may have lingered. With critical games against Aston Villa and Manchester City before a showdown with Newcastle, this period was crucial for Liverpool to strengthen their championship prospects.
Ahead of the match, manager Arne Slot carefully refrained from discussing the Everton game in his program notes. Instead, he emphasized the need to use any lingering disappointment as motivation. Liverpool needed to bounce back from what had been their poorest performance under his leadership, and for the first half, it appeared they had done just that.
