LIVERPOOL 2 VS. WOLVERHAMPTON 1
Liverpool – Gravenberch 41’, Wirtz 42’
Wolverhampton – Bueno 51’
Pre-Match
Liverpool host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield for the last game of 2025. After the craziness of last week’s game against Spurs, a solid, easy victory against bottom of the table Wolves would be welcome. But we know that things aren’t quite ending up how they’re supposed to this season, so we’ll see. Jeremie Frimpong and Federico Chiesa both in the starting XI.
First Half
The game starts as we all expected, with Liverpool maintaining
the bulk of the possession. The Reds, particularly Florian Wirtz on the wing, look alert and eager to get first blood in this game. In the early minutes, Wolves have attempted a few breaks, but so far have been easily disrupted by the Liverpool defense.
About 10 minutes in, Wirtz sends in a very good pass to Hugo Ekitike, who runs inside and tries a lovely, looping floater to the far post. Unfortunately, said post gets in the way, and the shot ricochets off harmlessly.
On the other end, Mané shows good strength, holding off several Liverpool players to get a shot off outside of the box. Alisson dives for the save, which is ultimately pretty simple.
There’s a lovely tribute to Diogo Jota around the whole stadium from both sets of mourning fans in the 20th minute.
In the 27th minute, off of a good spell of possession and attacking from the Reds, Ekitike gets a shot off that’s blocked. The rebound goes to Mac Allister, who absolutely slaps it towards the goal. Again, it’s that same damn post that keeps it out, after a touch from José Sá, the Wolves goalkeeper. In the aftermath, Chiesa is called offside for the move, but it’s still a nice run of play.
The game changes in 41st minute. Frimpong charges into the Wolves box, up to the byline, and then turns and cuts it back to the onrushing Ryan Gravenberch, who slots it home. The dust barely settles on this when the Reds get the ball back after the restart. Ekitike does great work to get free on the wing and sets it to Wirtz in the center of goal. Wirtz gets the team’s second and his first goal in a Liverpool shirt. And just like that, Liverpool are 2-0 before halftime.
Second Half
The second half commences with no changes for the Reds. Though they left the pitch with the momentum, it’s Wolves that come back with it. After earning a corner, Alisson blocks the first shot on goal, but the rebound is converted by Bueno to halve the Liverpool lead. No bueno from the Liverpool defense there.
It’s getting nervy out there for Liverpool in the second half. The old 2-0 demons rearing their ugly heads. Chiesa is subbed on the hour mark for Conor Bradley.
Curtis Jones is denied by the goalkeeper. Despite Wirtz trying to keep it alive, the opportunity is wasted in the end. Wirtz is having a really great game. He slaloms all the way through to the byline and sends a perfect ball back into the center of the box, similar to Ekitike’s assist for Wirtz’s early goal. This time, unfortunately, Gravenberch can’t get a good foot on it. His shot goes over the bar.
Mac Allister sends away a surprise shot from distance that goes just wide of the far goal post.
Alisson has to make a save to thankfully deny Wolves their equalizer when Mané gets a shot off.
Ekitike makes way for Cody Gakpo in the dying few minutes of this game.
In 89th minute, van Dijk and Alisson clear a dangerous corner that probably had some fans getting PTSD flashbacks. Jones earns a foul and that takes the pressure off.
The fantastic Wirtz gets a standing ovation as he gets taken off and Trey Nyoni takes his place.
Final Thoughts
Three points takes the Reds into fifth for the week, and maybe even fourth, depending on the result of Chelsea’s game against Aston Villa this evening. It’s a good way to end a tumultuous year. See you in 2026.
