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Commentary
Minute
Description
90' +2
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 WOLVES.
90'
The fourth official indicates two minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
88'
A. Oxlade-Chamberlain enters the game and replaces G. Wijnaldum.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is Klopp’s final substitute, as Wijnaldum is recalled.
84'
M. Gibbs-White enters the game and replaces João Moutinho.
Rúben Vinagre enters the game and replaces Jonny.
J. Gomez enters the game and replaces A. Robertson.
Gibbs-White will be given a six-minute cameo as he replaces Moutinho.
Klopp also takes this time to make a substitution – recalling Robertson and sending Gomez onto the pitch.
Jonny’s day is done as well, with Ruben Vinagre called from the bench to replace him.
81'
S. Mané has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by T. Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold has been instrumental in both goals today, with his accurate cross the assist for Mane’s second.
MANE DOUBLES LIVERPOOL’S ADVANTAGE AND PUTS HIM LEVEL WITH SALAH FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT! 2-0! Van Dijk steps up on the halfway line and wins possession, pushing it immediately to Alexander-Arnold, whose cross deep from midfield finds the head of a diving Mane! It’s his 22nd league goal of the campaign!
80'
Adama Traoré enters the game and replaces M. Doherty.
Nuno withdraws Doherty in favour of Traore with 10 minutes left.
78'
Alexander-Arnold looks to flick the ball into the penalty area for the waiting Salah, but Boly’s prowess in the air forces the ball out of the box and back to the full-back to try again.
76'
Liverpool are retaining possession in midfield as they look relatively unmotivated to press forward in search of a second goal. Should the result stay this way, both the Golden Boot (Salah) and Golden Glove (Alisson) will be awarded to Liverpool players – even if they don’t get their hands on the league trophy.
72'
UPDATE: GUNDOGAN MAKES IT 4-1 MANCHESTER CITY! A wonderful free-kick goal virtually seals Manchester City as Premier League winners. If Liverpool have any hope at all, it’s in the knowledge that – as we saw in the week with Liverpool and Tottenham – three-goal leads are never a certainty.
70'
The Anfield crowd has quietened considerably since hearing of Manchester City’s third goal, but Liverpool have done everything in their power today to force City to perform in order to retain the Premier League trophy. It has been an exceptional title race with two sides of the highest quality, but it looks as though the title will be kept in Manchester, unless Brighton can somehow do the Reds a favour and gift Klopp a second miraculous result in five days.
Minute
Description
68'
The substitution for Liverpool has seemingly sparked a change in formation as Milner slots into the left side of midfield, pushing Salah and Mane up front on their own in what looks to be a traditional 4-4-2.
66'
UPDATE: BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION 1-3 MANCHESTER CITY! Mahrez’s strike on 64 minutes, assisted by David Silva, has given Guardiola’s side a two-goal cushion!
64'
J. Milner enters the game and replaces D. Origi.
The first substitution of the match sees Origi depart in favour of Milner.
62'
UPDATE: With an hour gone in both matches, the advantage is Manchester City’s as they continue to lead Brighton 2-1. It was a wild first half, but it seems to have given way to a slightly more tame second.
58'
Robertson gets free on the flank but his low cross is not of the standard required as the defence boots it away at the first time of asking before Jimenez wins a free-kick inside the centre circle thanks to a foul from Fabinho.
56'
An unintentional touch from the referee halts Wolves’ attack and allows Salah to burst forward on a counter, though the thrust is stopped by some physical defending from Boly.
54'
Jota is down holding his face after a clash with Matip in which it appears the shoulder of the Liverpool defender did catch the forward in the face, albeit unintentionally. Wolves are given possession of the ball, but via a throw-in and not a free-kick.
52'
Doherty gets possession of the ball and sprints towards the byline before putting a low cross into the penalty area for Moutinho. The Liverpool midfield is alive to the danger though, and they hook it clear before a shot can be taken.
50'
Diogo Jota gets yellow.
It’s taken 49 minutes to get the match’s first yellow card, and now Wolves have seen two in two minutes as Jota’s foul on Fabinho is also worthy of a booking.
49'
R. Bennett gets yellow.
Mane’s sprint towards the Wolves penalty area is halted in illegal fashion according to referee Martin Atkinson, who shows Bennett the first yellow card of the match.
48'
Alexander-Arnold goes for goal himself and misses wide, catching the side netting, which allows Patricio to collect for a goal-kick.
47'
Salah is brought down by Boly just outside the right corner of the penalty area, and the referee immediately signals for a free-kick.
46'
Wolves get the match underway from the kick-off!
45' +1
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 WOLVES.
45'
The fourth official has indicated one additional minute at the end of the first half for stoppages.
40'
Liverpool have barely put a foot wrong in this match, but find themselves behind in the table by a single point. The news from Brighton hasn’t dampened the mood around Anfield however, as the Reds supporters are buoying their side with cheers and encouraging applause during every attack.
38'
UPDATE: MANCHESTER CITY HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD! Laporte’s goal from a Mahrez assist gives Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-1 lead in their match against Brighton, and the lead in the title race once again!
37'
A ball is floated over the top of Matip for Jimenez who races into the penalty area but opts to cut it back centrally for a team-mate, none of whom were in the vicinity. The sloppiness allows Liverpool to win back the ball near their own goal.
36'
Bennett launches a long throw-in towards the penalty area, where Boly flicks it backwards to Jimenez, who can only manage to poke the ball unconvincingly towards Alisson who safely grabs possession.
34'
Alexander-Arnold takes an inswinging corner towards the near post where it’s met by the head of Ruben Neves. The clearance doesn’t go too far though as Salah waits on the edge of the area for the ball to drop. As it does, the forward fashions a difficult volley towards goal, which flies high over Patricio’s crossbar.
32'
Wolves win possession around their own penalty area but the Liverpool press is successful in first pinning the visiting defence back in front of their goalkeeper, before a rushed clearance gifts the ball back to Robertson.
30'
30 minutes into the match at Anfield, and Liverpool still hold the upper hand in both their match against Wolves, and in the title race. The emotion of the home support is palpable, as each update from Brighton brings with it overwhelming noise. While updates can certainly help the players on the pitch, it’s going to be quite difficult to tune out the noise and focus on the task at hand.
28'
UPDATE: Incredible scenes as just a minute after Brighton had given Liverpool fans the news they needed, Manchester City come back and immediately equalise through Sergio Aguero. It’s all square at 1-1 in that match, which still keeps Liverpool top.
26'
UPDATE: Brighton have taken the lead against Manchester City from a corner-kick taken to the near post, where Glenn Murray flicked it past Ederson. Manchester City need two goals now, while at Anfield – the crowd erupts into singing and applauding!
23'
Liverpool look thoroughly confident in their lead, switching play from right to left with a booming switch from Alexander-Arnold whose invention and precision led to the opening goal of the match. With the lead, pressure now shifts to Manchester City, who remain deadlocked with Brighton at 0-0.
21'
Jota storms forward, looking to answer back immediately, but his run is curtailed as four Liverpool defenders come across to pin the forward by the corner flag. A lack of team-mates forces Jota to check backwards, but in doing so he keeps the attack alive.
17'
S. Mané has scored a goal for Liverpool!
LIVERPOOL TAKE THE LEAD AND MOVE TOP OF THE TABLE AS THINGS STAND! 1-0 thanks to some fantastic work on the right wing! Alexander-Arnold plays a lovely one-two with Henderson, freeing the full-back on the wing. His low, driven cross takes a slight deflection off Boly before meeting the cushioned foot of Mane who tucks it away neatly!
15'
The first real attack for Wolves comes down the left via Jonny, but his weak pass inwards for Jimenez is met by Matip who ends the visiting attack just as quickly as it began. Despite the pressure resting firmly on the shoulders of the hosts, they don’t seem too bothered by the occasion – at least at the outset.
13'
Another Henderson pass ends a Liverpool attack as Coady intercepts the ball intended for Salah. He may not be connecting on his deliveries, but it isn’t for a lack of trying, as the captain is constantly looking for defence-splitting passes which will send the forwards through on goal.
11'
A Liverpool free-kick from halfway inside Wolves’ half ends in disappointment as Boly gets a clearing header onto the ball before Jimenez is fouled outside his penalty area in an attempt to break on the counter.
9'
The opening passages of play have been all Liverpool, as the hosts are content to control the pace of play before turning up the intensity down the flanks through Salah and Mane. While Wolves have defended dutifully, they haven’t been able to cause the Reds any danger whatsoever as they remain pinned back.
7'
Salah gets into the penalty area but Boly is perfectly placed in between the striker and Patricio’s goal, forcing the Egypt international to flick a backheel towards Henderson. The captain gets onto the ball and hits a hopeful cross to the far post, but Bennett is there to run it down and gain possession.
5'
Matip plays a high, hanging ball into Origi who lets it run into the penalty area under his watch. As Coady comes across to narrow the angle, the Liverpool striker hits a half-volley towards Patricio, who gathers well at his near post.
3'
Wolves win back possession in their half after a sloppy Henderson pass, but the visitors are unable to get into Liverpool’s end as Van Dijk and Matip converge to win back possession near the centre circle.
1'
Liverpool get the match underway from the kick-off, with a wonderful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone booming around Anfield. With 90 minutes left in the Premier League season, only a win will suffice for the Reds!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Wolves.
While the conclusion of the Premier League title race takes precedence today, Manchester City and Liverpool players will also be simultaneously vying for another prize – top scorer. Mohamed Salah leads the pack with 22 goals in his search for a second consecutive Golden Boot, followed closely behind by team-mate Sadio Mane, Arsenal’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero – all on 20.
The Reds may not hold their destiny in their own hands, but they know for sure they must beat a tricky Wolves side who have performed exceptionally well against top-six sides (16 points in 11 matches). Guaranteed a 7th place finish, Nuno Espirito Santo has done tremendously well in his side’s first season in the Premier League for six years.
Holders of the stingiest defence below the top six, their three centre-back formation has caused opposition strikers reason for much concern. The experienced and tested defensive line of Willy Boly, Ryan Bennett and Conor Coady have already seen the Liverpool attack twice this year: losing 2-0 at Molineux in the league before a 2-1 victory 17 days later in the FA Cup kept Wolves’ trophy hopes alive, until a 3-2 defeat to Watford in the semi-finals ended the dream.
WOLVES SUBS: Adama Traore, Ruben Vinagre, John Ruddy, Ivan Cavaleiro, Max Kilman, Helder Costa, Morgan Gibbs-White.
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Xherdan Shaqiri, Dejan Lovren, James Milner, Daniel Sturridge, Simon Mignolet, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
LIVERPOOL XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Andrew Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson; Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Mohamed Salah.
With 15 minutes to go until kick-off, let's have a look at how the two sides will line up today, starting with the hosts!
WOLVES XI (3-5-2): Rui Patricio; Ryan Bennett, Conor Coady, Willy Boly; Matt Doherty, Leander Dendoncker, Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Jonny Castro Otto; Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota.
A tally of 94 points from 37 matches has not been enough to secure Liverpool a first league title since 1989/90 – but it has kept them in the race until the end. A mere five days after their heroics in overturning a three-goal deficit in the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona, Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for another unanticipated twist. A Manchester City loss or draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, coupled with a victory for the Reds today, would see the Merseyside club finish the season top. City are in the box seat, but could there be a dramatic change on the final day?
It’s been a convincing first half from Liverpool who lead Wolves at the interval by a score of 1-0. It’s been 45 minutes dominated by Klopp’s XI, who have seen more than 60% possession and four more shots than their opponents. Mane’s goal after 17 minutes after brilliant play from Alexander-Arnold served to calm down the nerves of the Anfield crowd, but the title has been taken out of their hands as Manchester City has overcome a 1-0 deficit to lead 2-1. Regardless, Liverpool look poised to win and reach 97 points, as Nuno’s side have barely threatened Alisson’s goal – save for a Doherty screamer three minutes before the half.
Going forward, maintaining a level head will be Liverpool’s most important task as they’ve been convincingly the better side after 45 minutes. While Matip has, on occasion, looked a bit lost – Liverpool as a whole have defended very well in their own half, while their insatiable press has stifled Wolves’ ability to build from the back. Nuno’s side have found joy when attacking through Jonny down the left, but perhaps more attacking support in the form of Traore or Cavaleiro could turn the tides in favour of the visitors.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Wolves, as well as all of our live commentaries for the 2018/19 season. It’s been a pleasure, we’ll see you next time!
Liverpool are in action again on Saturday June 1, when they face Tottenham in the Champions League final. As for Wolves, their 2018/19 campaign is over, and they can look forward to their upcoming holidays.
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