Salah guides Liverpool in a comeback win

LONDON: Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 away on Saturday thanks to two late goals in a scintillating comeback that put the Reds - at least temporarily – top of the Premier League standings.

The hosts dominated the first half at Molineux against an unusually sloppy Liverpool, Hwang Hee-chan stroking in a 7th minute goal after a brilliant run from Pedro Neto, before Wolves missed a string of further chances.

Liverpool came out transformed in the second half, however, and Mohamed Salah set up fellow striker Cody Gakpo for a tap-in equaliser in the 55th minute.

Wearing the captain’s armband on his 200th Premier League appearance, Andy Robertson slid in Liverpool’s second from another Salah pass in the 85th minute as the visitors poured forward.

Liverpool made it three in time added on, with Wolves’ Hugo Bueno deflecting the ball into his own net from a shot by Harvey Elliott, sending the away fans into delirium.

The result put Liverpool top of the table for now on 13 points after five games (at the time), with Manchester City one point behind them and playing later on Saturday away at West Ham. Wolves are at 15th position with three points.

WOLVES RUE MISSED CHANCES

Liverpool’s slow start on Saturday was due in part to the absence of stalwart defenders Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold through suspension and injury respectively.

Fresh back from international duty for Argentina, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister looked out of sorts, uncharacteristically misplacing passes and losing possession.

But the introduction of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, also back from World Cup qualifiers in South America, reinvigorated Liverpool for their second half onslaught.

Wolves were left to rue missed opportunities, none more so than when Neto again beat his man to dink a cross into Matheus Cunha who inexplicably chested the ball instead of stooping to head home from close range and extend his team’s lead.

“The first half we dominated the game, and we come out with zero points,” Neto said. “We have to continue to work and we have to grow up. It’s tough after that first half to concede three goals, it’s really hard.”

Man City keeps top spot intact after Matchday 5

Manchester City, the defending Premier League champion, defeated West Ham United 3-1 after coming from behind.

With an outstanding header in the 36th minute, James Ward-Prowse gave West Ham the lead.

After the break, Jeremy Doku, a new addition to City, scored to level things before Erling Haaland entered the fray, Bernardo Silva scored in the 76th minute converting Julian Alvarez’s second assist of the match.

City have 15 points from five matches and are the only team with a 100% record.