LIVERPOOL: Liverpool moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as Luis Diaz ended his goal drought to spark a tense 2-1 win against struggling Wolves on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s side got back on track after an unexpectedly poor week thanks to Diaz’s first goal in 2025 and yet another Mohamed Salah strike.
Diaz opened the scoring early in the first half at Anfield as the Colombian forward finally scored for the 13th time this term after 10 games without a goal.
While Diaz has struggled to find the net, Salah is in red-hot form and his penalty before the interval took the Egypt star to 28 goals in all competitions this season.
Matheus Cunha netted in the second half for fourth-bottom Wolves, but although Liverpool looked tired in a disjointed, nervous, climax, they held on for a valuable victory.
Liverpool had gone two games without a win: an embarrassing FA Cup fourth round loss at second tier Plymouth last weekend and the stormy 2-2 draw at Everton on Wednesday.
Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Leicester on Saturday had applied a little more pressure on Liverpool.
The Reds responded to Arsenal’s challenge as they moved a step closer to a record-equalling 20th English title.
Liverpool, who last won the Premier League in 2020, will be within touching distance of the crown if they take maximum points from trips to Aston Villa and Manchester City before hosting Newcastle over the course of the next 10 days.
Liverpool boss Slot was in the dug-out despite being charged with abusive behavior after angrily approaching referee Michael Oliver on the pitch following the Merseyside derby.
Slot was furious that James Tarkowski’s stoppage-time equalizer was not disallowed because of a possible push by Toffees striker Beto on Reds defender Ibrahima Konate.
Slot had urged Liverpool to use their “anger” from the painful end to the Everton game as fuel to get back on track against Wolves.
They didn’t have to wait long to light the fuse as Diaz bagged his first league goal at Anfield since September.
In the 15th minute, Diaz picked out Salah and his return pass took a wicked deflection off Toti Gomes.
Diaz stumbled forward to chest the ball past Wolves keeper Jose Sa as it barely trickled over the line.
It was hardly a work of art but Diaz wasn’t complaining about the scruffy nature of the strike.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai nearly netted with a more eye-catching effort, striding forward with purpose before drilling a low shot just wide.
The Reds were rampant and Sa repelled Jota’s drive at the near post after Robertson’s cross caused panic in the Wolves defense.
Wolves couldn’t stem the tide as Liverpool went further ahead in the 37th minute.
Wolves claimed Emmanuel Agbadou was pushed by Diaz before he raced into the area and was tripped by Sa.
But VAR ignored their protests and Salah flicked the penalty down the middle with a flamboyant flourish.
Salah has seven goals in his last six games, underlining his immense value to Liverpool as his contract winds toward its conclusion at the end of the season.
Wolves debutant Marshall Munetsi wasted a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit early in the second half.
Munetsi was sent clean through by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, but Alisson Becker raced off his line to make a fine save.
Jota appeared to have won a penalty when Agbadou’s challenge sent him sprawling, but VAR overturned the decision as replays showed he had dived.
Liverpool had lost their momentum and Cunha took advantage, evading Ryan Gravenberch and curling a superb finish into the far corner in the 67th minute.
That set up a fraught finale for Liverpool, who had to dig deep to secure a fourth win in their last five league games.
Salah scores, Diaz ends goal drought as Liverpool move seven points clear
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Salah scores, Diaz ends goal drought as Liverpool move seven points clear
- While Diaz has struggled to find the net, Salah is in red-hot form
Stars ready to shine at Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship
- Past winner Dylan Frittelli returns as stellar field descends on Royal Golf Club for third edition of tournament
BAHRAIN: The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship welcomes a stellar field to Royal Golf Club this week as the third edition of the tournament tees off from Thursday, Jan. 29 to Sunday, Feb. 1.
Held under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the $2.75 million DP World Tour event features defending champion Laurie Canter, past winner Dylan Frittelli and major champions Padraig Harrington, Patrick Reed — fresh from his victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic — and Sergio Garcia in a field packed with international talent.
South African Frittelli, who claimed victory when the tournament returned to the DP World Tour in 2024, is relishing the prospect of returning to a venue that holds fond memories.
“I love it,” Frittelli said. “Obviously, I won the tournament two years ago. I’ve got fond memories of the golf course, but I really do enjoy the country as well. I stayed in the city the first year, and then last year I managed to stay on the Arabian Gulf — beautiful ocean, beautiful beach, and wonderful resort.
“I also love the cool aircraft flying over — some military helicopters — I’m an aviation guy, so on the golf course I’m often just staring up at those. It’s a wonderful place and I can’t wait to go back there.”
Jayden Schaper arrives in the Kingdom as the current leader in the Race to Dubai rankings. The 24-year-old South African has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026 season and is eager to continue his momentum on a course he knows well.
“I’ve played there the last two years and it’s a really cool place to be,” Schaper said. “The golf course is just pretty cool. It’s got a lot of character, and the weather conditions are always tougher when you get out there. There’s a lot more slope than what we’re used to, but it’s a good track. The tournament is part of a big few weeks of golf across the Middle East and I’m looking forward to getting back there — Bahrain is definitely a place I’d like to get out and see a bit more of.”
Germany’s Marcel Siem, a six-time DP World Tour winner, is also looking forward to the return to Bahrain — the third of four events in the Middle East as part of the tour’s international swing.
“It’s always a fantastic stretch — the Middle East stretch, Siem said. “It’s easy travelling and having Bahrain the third one in a row, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great golf course. It’s most of the time quite windy there as well, a bit windier than in Dubai.
“The players’ lounge is great, the facilities are great, the golf course itself is really fun to play. It’s a risk and reward golf course, a little bit, which suits me. Really looking forward to it.”
The field includes Spain’s Nacho Elvira, who won the Dubai Invitational two weeks ago, France’s Julien Guerrier, and rising stars such as 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Martin Couvra and Spain’s Angel Hidalgo. Three Bahraini golfers — Ahmed Al-Zayed, Khalifa Al-Maraisi and Ali Al-Kowari — will also compete after earning their places through the national qualifying pathway, showing the growth of the game in the kingdom.
