Salah strikes in Liverpool win but it’s not enough for PL crown

Liverpool finished a memorable domestic season with a 3-1 win over Wolves at Anfield – although on a rollercoaster of a final day, that wasn’t quite enough to turn the title race, with Manchester City eventually beating Aston Villa at the Etihad 3-2 to be crowned champions by a point.

The Reds never hit top spot but incredibly looked primed to go on and pull off a historic triumph when they were level on points with City, after recovering from Pedro Neto’s shock opener with a Sadio Mane strike and Villa going 2-0 up in Manchester.

With Philippe Coutinho on the scoresheet at the Etihad and Steven Gerrard in the dugout as Villa boss, it seemed Liverpool’s old guard were delivering the favours the Reds’ supporters had dreamed of.

Anfield was electric at that point but City brilliantly fought back to win the race for the crown.

Golden-boot winner Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson struck late on to ensure it was at least victory on the pitch for Liverpool, with their supporters paying tribute to a side which has won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season and closed what was once a 14-point deficit with two games in hand on City in January with a remarkable 19-game unbeaten run.

It was also some send off for a Liverpool team who now look ahead to Saturday’s Champions League final with Real Madrid in Paris, where more glory and silverware beckons, although the unprecedented quadruple is now out of their reach.

The win means Liverpool finish their Premier League campaign with 92 points, enough to win the title in 24 of the previous 29 seasons, while Salah shared the Premier League golden boot prize with Heung-Min Son of Tottenham and Alisson picked up a second golden glove award.

The victory also secures an unbeaten season at home for Liverpool, for the fourth time in five years, with Wolves losing an 11th Premier League game in a row against the Reds.

Bruno Lage’s side have failed to win any of their final seven matches but finish eighth, with six points more than last season.

A rollercoaster of a final day…

A fog of red flares had greeted the team buses outside Anfield before kick-off but Wolves hadn’t read the script, with Raul Jiminez exploiting a gaping space left by Ibrahima Konate to cross for Neto to slot in a shock opener for the visitors. It was the Wolves’ supporters turn to be heard, with a gold flare delaying the re-start.

Liverpool’s response was unsurprisingly intense, with Joel Matip heading wide and Luis Diaz seeing a penalty shout waved away before crossing through the six-yard box. But Leander Dendoncker exposed the hosts’ defence again and should have made it 2-0 when Matip gave the ball away on halfway.

An injury to Neto on 20 minutes was a major blow for Wolves given the problems he’d caused early on and Liverpool were back level moments after he was subbed off, with a wonderful flick from Thiago sending Mane through to slot in his 16th of the season. “That’s out of this world from Thiago,” said Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

Robertson volleyed over and Thiago shot wide as Liverpool pressed for a second and the atmosphere hit a whole new level when news of Matty Cash’s goal for Aston Villa at Man City filtered through. But still the Reds looked vulnerable, with Alisson having to save from sub Hwang Hee-Chan.

Thiago was forced off with injury on the stroke of half-time and replaced by James Milner but Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa also needed to be changed at the break, with John Ruddy coming on – and the replacement shot-stopper was beaten inside five minutes, with Mane slotting home again, although VAR spotted a clear offside.

Liverpool continued to pile forwards, with a fierce Diaz strike decking Conor Coady, and Salah was sent on to bolster the attack. Trent Alexander-Arnold drew a good stop from Ruddy and a superb tackle from Willy Boly denied Salah. News of Coutinho’s goal sent Liverpool hands onto Liverpool heads in disbelief. It was on. Alexander-Arnold’s drive was blocked.

But then it all changed around, with Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri, and then Gundgoan again incredibly switching the title race back into City’s favour with a three-goal salvo.

Salah grabbed his goal to give Liverpool hope – and there were celebrations when a false report of a Villa equaliser spread around the stadium. By the time Robertson made it 3-1, though, there was an acceptance Liverpool were going to fall just short in this race.

But two out of three domestically ain’t bad. And if they can make it three out of four on Saturday, then this will really be a special season to remember.

Henderson: We’ve given everything but this season isn’t over yet

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson: “It was a tough afternoon. We didn’t play particularly well or as well as we can. We went a goal behind and it was never easy, there were a few nerves today. We came through really well, scored some good goals and found a way to win. I didn’t know what the score was [at Man City] and there were too many cheers from our fans and the Wolves fans. I lost count! We tried to focus on what we needed to do and win the game.

“We have been in this position before. It is tough when you’re hearing cheers and Wolves are a good side and we knew they would make it difficult. We always believe that we can find a way and we certainly found a way to get three points. It wasn’t enough. The lads have given everything and you cant give too many issues. We’ve given everything all season right until the last day. Even in January you would have taken your hand off to take it until the last day.

“I’ve been proud of what they’ve done this season so far, but it’s not over yet. We’ve got disappointment today and we have to say congratulations to City of course. But then we need to focus on the job next week against a really good side and we’ll have to be at our very best to come away with the trophy.”

Opta stats – Liverpool’s big points total

Liverpool have finished the season on 92 points, the second-highest total by a side that didn’t go on to win the title in English top-flight history, behind only their own 97 in 2018-19.Wolves have lost each of their last 11 Premier League games against Liverpool by an aggregate score of 24-3.Liverpool have gained 20 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. Only in 2008-09 (22) have the gained more in a single campaign in the competition.Pedro Neto scored Wolves’ third-earliest ever Premier League goal (02:11), behind only Jody Craddock’s strike v Bolton in December 2009 (02:05) and Matt Jarvis’ goal v Blackpool in February 2011 (01:56).Liverpool have had 10 Premier League goals scored via substitutes this season (excl. own goals) – no side have netted more from players coming off the bench.Sadio Man? has scored six goals on the final day of a Premier League season for Liverpool, the most of any player for the club. Three of those six strikes have come against Wolves.Wolves’ Pedro Neto scored his first goal in 20 Premier League appearances since netting against Southampton in February 2021, 462 days ago.