Anfield witnessed a blend of poignant remembrance and palpable relief as Liverpool secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Florian Wirtz finally breaking his scoring duck for the Reds.
A Moving Tribute Overshadows the Action
The most powerful moment of the afternoon came before a ball was kicked. In a deeply emotional tribute to Diogo Jota, the striker who tragically died in July after playing for both clubs, his two young sons, Dinis and Duarte, acted as mascots. Wearing their father's retired number 20, they walked out alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, with their mother, Rute Cardoso, watching from the sidelines.
The heartfelt gestures continued during the match. Wolves supporters sang their song for Jota in the 18th minute, swiftly followed by Liverpool fans' customary tribute in the 20th, uniting the stadium in memory of the popular forward.
Wirtz Breakthrough in Swift First-Half Double
On the pitch, the game failed to match the pre-match emotion for long periods. Despite dominating possession, Liverpool struggled to break down a resilient Wolves side that played with more adventure than many visitors to Anfield. The 18-year-old Mateus Mané was a particular threat on his first start for Wolves, forcing Alisson into an early save.
The deadlock was broken in a swift two-minute spell just before half-time. In the 41st minute, Jeremie Frimpong burst into the area and cut back for Ryan Gravenberch, who guided a calm finish into the bottom corner. Before Wolves could regroup, Florian Wirtz seized on a Milos Kerkez pass, raced through a gap in the defence, and poked the ball past José Sá to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in his 23rd appearance.
The £116m signing from Bayer Leverkusen was mobbed by his teammates in a clear show of relief at ending his long wait for a goal.
Wolves Fightback Tests Nervy Reds
Instead of cruising to victory, Liverpool were forced to endure a tense second half. Wolves halved the deficit early after the restart when Santiago Bueno tapped in from close range after Alisson saved Tolu Arokodare's header from an André corner.
Arne Slot's side looked vulnerable as Wolves pressed for an equaliser. Arokodare missed a free header and volleyed another chance over, prompting Ibrahima Konaté to gesture to the Anfield crowd for more vocal support. The visitors' pressure intensified with the introductions of Jørgen Strand Larsen and Jhon Arias, and only a last-ditch block from substitute Conor Bradley in the 86th minute prevented a certain goal.
In the end, Liverpool held on for a victory that brought more relief than celebration, moving them forward in the league while leaving questions about their consistency. For Wolves, despite another defeat, there were significant positives in a performance full of endeavour that pushed a top side to the limit.
