Liverpool coach Arne Slot has showered encomiums on the team for fighting hard to earn a 2-1 win over Wolves in a Premier League encounter at Anfield......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
The table-toppers needed a win to respond to Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday which saw their lead reduced to four points, but they survived a late scare to grab the maximum points, and to restore their seven points lead.
Luis Diaz gave the hosts an early lead in the 15th minute to end his 10-match drought in style.
Mohammed Salah continued his impressive scoring form with the second goal from the spot just before halftime after Diaz was fouled in the box by Jose Sa.
Matheus Cunha reduced the deficit for Wolves with a well drilled effort from outside the box to make it 2-1.
Alisson produced a series of impressive saves in the closing moments of the game to seal the win for Liverpool.
Slot described the victory as a huge one to their title dreams with 13 matches to go, while praising Alisson for his quality saves.
He said: “This one is big. We needed to fight and we needed Alisson.
“Wolves took a lot of risks. In a season where you want to achieve something, you need to have wins like this as well.
“It’s never the game-plan never to create anything at all. They got better and better, we got worse and worse.
“We had to show a different mentality and get it over the line. If this is what it takes to win a game then I’m happy the players could do that again.”
Slot admitted the players were mentally tired following exhaustion from the dramatic 2-2 draw against Everton on Wednesday.
He said: “Fatigue comes from running a lot and a bit of mental fatigue a lot. We were mentally tested today. We thought we’d scored a third and then a penalty for the third but both were correct from the referee.
“Maybe it did lead to us being a bit tired. I did see for the first time this season that players were more tired than they have been.
“If you want to achieve something it is not only about bringing the ball out from the back or Mo scoring goals, it is also about defending.”
The Dutch manager also urged his players not to be complacent because Arsenal are breathing down their neck.
Slot said: “If you look at the last few seasons it has mostly been a battle between two teams. As things stand now it mostly looks like between us and Arsenal.
“You can never breathe in this competition. I saw Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten run and the gap has always been the same so that shows that we do.
“If you want to compete for something special then you have to win a lot of games in this league.”
Slot’s side set a new record at Anfield making it 17 home matches in a row in all competitions that they have scored twice or more in.
This run started in September and has seen them maintain it across league, Champions League, Emirates FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures.
The current streak has now surpassed the previous best in their history, which was recorded during the 1893-94 campaign.
The Reds are now unbeaten in their last 21 matches in the Premier League as they close in on their 20th Premier League title.
Salah has now been directly involved in 37 goals in 25 league games for Liverpool this season, with a total of 23 goals and 14 assists.
The only other season in which he was involved in, and scored more Premier League goals was his first season with Liverpool in 2017-18, when he was involved in 42 goals, scoring 32 and providing 10 assists.
Liverpool will be back in action in the Premier League against Aston Villa on Wednesday at Villa Park.