THEY always, always, find a way.
Even when they had been battered by a vibrant Wolves side in the freezing fog of a bleak Black Country night.
Roberto Firmino scored a winner against Wolves to send Liverpool 16 points clear at the top of the tableCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Even when they had been made to look not merely human, but tired, ragged and vulnerable to defeat, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool always, always, win.
We knew they would be champions well before this, of course, but Roberto Firmino’s 84th-minute winner was an absolute hallmark of the breed.
The late winner to salvage a below-par display, it’s what champions have always done.
It is not just about supreme belief and uncommon spirit – with this lot, winning is simply an unbreakable habit.
They’ve been called the Invincibles, and they’ve taken to calling themselves the Unbearables.
But Klopp’s men are more like the Inevitables. Whatever the evidence before your eyes, you know they will always win it.
The Brazilian struck six minutes from time to hand Liverpool another winCredit: PA:Press Association
A 14th straight Premier League win leaves the Reds 16 points clear of Manchester City, with a game in hand that seems like the definition of decadence.
But after a brilliant Raul Jimenez equaliser and an irresistible display from Adama Traore, Klopp knew his side were lucky to escape Molineux with their unbeaten record intact.
Most of Liverpool’s opponents seem to face them hampered by a crushing inferiority complex.
Yet Wolves were a rare exception, having done the double over champions City and suffered only a VAR-infested 1-0 defeat at Anfield last month.
With Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal all continuing to struggle, Nuno’s boys also have a genuine chance of Champions League football next season.
Even against the most dominant force the English top flight has ever seen, Wolves went in with their chests out, fancying their chances.
Jordan Henderson put Liverpool ahead at MolineuxCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Reds, though, had been touching perfection – not conceding a Premier League goal in more than 11 hours of football, since December 4.
Molineux did its best to intimidate them – pre-match pyrotechnics, glowing wolf eyes on the ad hoardings, a throaty roar of ‘hi, ho Wolverhampton’.
Yet it took just seven minutes for Klopp’s men to open the scoring.
Mo Salah was body-checked by Conor Coady on the edge of the box but after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick deflected behind, the England full-back put his next dead-ball effort to better use.
His corner to the near-post was met by Henderson, who snuck in behind Coady and scored off his shoulder for only his second goal of the season.
Raul Jimenezs equaliser looked to have secured a point for WolvesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The hosts should have been level almost immediately when a corner was taken short to Ruben Neves, who picked out Matt Doherty in a postcode of his own, only for the defender to head wide across goal.
Wolves were certainly making a game of it. Traore – one of those rare non-Liverpool players who might make the Premier League’s team of the season – was threatening mayhem with his express pace and Michelin man physique.
Yet each time an attack looked promising, it ran into the impenetrable force-field that is Virgil Van Dijk.
Sadio Mane was forced to limp off – though not until he’d enraged Molineux by getting to his feet just as Wolves had sportingly halted an attack to allow him medical attention.
Sadio Mane was forced off injured in the first halfCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Takumi Minamino replaced the Senegalese but it made no immediate difference to the fluidity of Liverpool’s attacks, Salah apparently slipping through door frames before he was halted by a last-ditch Doherty block.
Straight after the break, Traore botched a self-indulgent party trick on the edge of the area, allowing Salah a strike at goal which Rui Patricio stretched to turn wide.
But the equaliser arrived on 51 minutes and it had Jimenez’s name written all over it.
First the Mexican chested down Patricio’s goal-kick, took a return pass, strode purposely forward and picked out Traore on the right.
The winger centred with forensic accuracy for Jimenez to steer his header past Allison.
The night belonged to Firmino as Liverpool left with all three pointsCredit: Getty Images
It ended Liverpool’s run of seven straight clean sheets and suddenly the belief came surging back around Molineux.
The volume was cranked up and Traore’s nuisance value increased further still as he outpaced Andy Robertson, who clipped his heels on the edge of the box to earn a booking.
Traore, full of it now, cut inside and drilled one towards the far post – denied by the strong arm of Allison.
Then Traore’s peachy reverse pass sent Jimenez bearing down on goal, only for Allison to save with his body.
It was perhaps the first time in this entire league campaign that Liverpool had looked truly vulnerable – on the back foot and rocking.
Yet Wolves were reminded that Liverpool usually find a way, when Gini Wijnaldum’s lofted through-ball found Firmino, whose shot was saved smartly by Patricio.
Then after a Salah run had been halted on the edge of the Wolves box, Henderson fed Firmino, who curled home the left-footed winner.
It was inevitable, but unbelievable, all at the same time.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
