Wolves 1-2 Liverpool: Reds return to top of Premier League thanks to goals from Ibrahima Konate and Mo Salah as Gary O’Neil’s strugglers stay bottom

From Ipswich to Manchester, Milan and now Wolverhampton, Arne Slot’s travel plans are in good order.

Smooth at times as you move forward. Almost always firm at the back. Here they needed both elements and a decision in their favor for Mo Salah’s converted penalty to settle the match.

Wolves flickered, threatened at times and fought their way back to level terms after falling behind to Ibrahima Konate’s header in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Ait-Nouri scored the equalizer when they took advantage of a rare Liverpool mistake at the back, a mix-up between Konate and Alisson. But Salah decided the match from the penalty spot after a foul on Diogo Jota.

It was enough to take Slot’s side back to the top of the Premier League and they travel to Crystal Palace after a visit from Bologna in the Champions League. Their only concern will be surrounding Andy Robertson, who limped towards the end after Carlos Forbs caught him on the heel.

Wolves remain bottom of the Premier League with just one point from a possible 18

Wolves remain bottom and winless, and their supporters left Molineux grumbling about referee Anthony Taylor, who was soon back in the groove and took just six minutes to hand out his first yellow card.

It went Trent Alexander-Arnold’s way as a Declan Rice-style punch cleared the ball after a foul. There were loud cheers of irony around Molineux.

It was Taylor’s first game back in the middle since his record 16 yellow cards during the Bournemouth-Chelsea match a fortnight ago, which sparked online abuse. There was a sheepish look as he reached into his pocket, as if sensing social media becoming smoother.

His second pocket dip caused further commotion and punished Andre, who won the ball with a slide tackle but drove his boot over the ball and caught Alexis Mac Allister who made the most of it.

Wolves fans made no secret of their displeasure and there was more fuel for the home crowd after Sam Johnstone saved Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick as Diogo Jota looked like he could get away with a nasty challenge, hitting Mario brought in. Lemina from behind.

Belatedly, Taylor flashed yellow at Jota and at a coach on each bench before the football broke out and Liverpool took control. The visitors had withstood the early pressure. Alisson, also back after a short absence, was freshly shaven and impressive and his centre-backs were strong.

Defender Ibrahima Konate scored Liverpool’s first goal before celebrating with a knee slip

Liverpool No. 5 Konate found the net just before half-time with a powerful header

Wolves made it 1-1 in the 56th minute when No. 3 Rayan Ait-Nouri scored

Ait-Nouri was congratulated by his teammates, but the Wolves celebration did not last long

Together they created a platform as Slot’s attackers grew into the match and began forcing Wolves into mistakes as their depleted back four played from deep. Liverpool almost took the lead after a smooth move down the left, when Robertson raced home from Virgil van Dijk to curl home a low cross.

Dominik Szoboszlai looked certain to score when he finished with a solid side-foot volley from close range, but goalkeeper Johnstone spread his frame and deserved his luck as the ball deflected wide of his left leg.

However, two minutes into first half stoppage time, Johnstone was beaten. Once again the cross came from the left. This time Jota with a fantastic throw, swiveling and dipping over Santiago Bueno to Konate, who towered over Toti to score for the second time in three games.

This was his first Premier League goal. I gave Slot’s side the control they wanted and they almost had a second early in the second half when Lemina cleared Johnstone’s careless pass across his own penalty area.

Salah struck, but his first-time finish flew wide, much to the shock of most at Molineux.

Wolves rallied again to level thanks to a quick breakthrough in the center of the pitch and a mistake from Konate who hesitated on the ball, waiting for Alisson who never strayed from his goal line.

Liverpool regained the lead just after the hour when Mo Salah converted a penalty

Salah has now scored five goals in his first eight Liverpool games in all competitions this season

Arne Slot has now recorded seven wins in his first eight games in charge of Liverpool

Jorgen Strand Larsen hooked Konate’s ball towards Carlos Forbs, whose miskick went straight across the goal to Ait-Nouri, who charged forward and found the net. It was a sloppy equalizer and followed by a long VAR check.

The festivities did not last. Less than a minute after confirming Wolves’ goal, referee Taylor awarded a penalty to Liverpool for a foul by Nelson Semedo on Jota as they jostled for a cross from the right.

The former Liverpool Wolves striker collapsed theatrically, but Semedo was the wrong team to defend and had to pay for his loss of concentration. Salah tapped in the penalty and the visitors held on for three points.