Liverpool secured a nervy 2-1 victory over winless Wolves at Anfield, moving into the Premier League's top four. Florian Wirtz marked his first league goal for the Reds just 90 seconds after Ryan Gravenberch's opener, though Santiago Bueno's second-half reply made it tense. The match served as an emotional tribute to former player Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July.
The Premier League clash at Anfield on December 27, 2025, began with a poignant tribute to Diogo Jota, the former Liverpool and Wolves forward killed in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva in July. Jota's children joined mascots to walk out with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa, while fans from both sides applauded in the 20th minute and played Jota's favorite song at halftime.
Liverpool, unbeaten in six matches across competitions, started strongly but labored to break down Wolves. In the 41st minute, Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring with a powerful low drive from Jeremie Frimpong's pull-back. Just 90 seconds later, Florian Wirtz, signed for £100 million in the summer, netted his long-awaited first Premier League goal, poking home Hugo Ekitike's through-ball past Jose Sa.
Wolves, seeking their first win in 18 league games under manager Rob Edwards, responded six minutes into the second half. Santiago Bueno tapped in after Alisson Becker parried Tolu Arokodare's shot from a corner, exposing Liverpool's set-piece vulnerabilities. The visitors grew in confidence, with Arokodare heading over and Conor Bradley making a crucial block to deny Jhon Arias an equalizer.
Despite Liverpool's possession dominance—over 70%—Wolves matched them in shots on target and looked more threatening late on. Arne Slot praised Wirtz's all-round impact: "He was special for us in many parts of the game." Edwards expressed frustration: "I am getting really fed up of this," but noted his team's brave second-half display.
The win propelled Liverpool above Manchester United and Chelsea into fourth place, though concerns linger over their defensive frailties against the league's bottom side, who remain pointless after 18 fixtures.
