Liverpool restores order with unconvincing win as Spurs give Ange timely boost

Liverpool has restored order at the top of the Premier League table with a necessary yet unconvincing 2-1 win over Wolves at Anfield.

Following the heated 2-2 Merseyside derby draw during the week, Arne Slot’s Reds bounced back with a workmanlike performance to move seven points clear of Arsenal at the summit of England’s top flight.

A bundled goal from Luis Diaz in the 15th minute opened proceedings before the Colombian won a penalty from a scrambling Wolves keeper José Sá in the 35th minute.

Mo Salah made no mistake from the spot to score this 23rd league goal of the season which has the Egyptian four clear of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.

A few near misses from the visitors preceded a disallowed Salah goal for offside and an overturned penalty due to a simulated Diogo Jota fall before Wolves struck.

It came in the 67th minute when Matheus Cunha turned his defender outside the area before slotting home a sumptuous left-footed curler.

The result has the Reds sitting on 60 points from 25 matches with the Gunners on 53 from the same amount of completed fixtures with Nottingham Forest third on 47 and Man City fourth on 44.

Further down the table it was Tottenham who landed an essential lot of three points by beating a hapless Manchester United 1-0 in London.

The two teams were separated when James Maddison side-footed home with ease in the 13th minute after Andre Onana had kept out Lucas Bergvall’s effort.

United challenged through Alejandro Garncaho who missed a sitter soon after the opening goal before forcing two great saves from Guglielmo Vicario in the second half.

But Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils, now 15th on the table, were unable to force an equaliser as Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs made it two wins on the trot to slide up to 12th on the table.

It was a first home win in the league for Spurs since early November.