Liverpool suffered an unwanted club first in their unconvincing 2-1 Premier League success over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.
Arne Slot's men re-established a seven-point lead over Arsenal at the summit of the top-flight table on Sunday afternoon, but they did not conquer Vitor Pereira's relegation battlers without a monumental effort.
The Reds cantered through the opening period thanks to a Luis Diaz effort and a Mohamed Salah penalty, but they were second best throughout the entire second half, despite having another Salah goal ruled out and a Diogo Jota penalty correctly overturned.
At the other end of the field, Alisson Becker crucially came out on top in a one-v-one with Marshall Munetsi, but Brazilian was powerless to prevent Matheus Cunha's wonderful effort from finding the far corner not long after.
Liverpool ultimately survived a couple more scares to come out on top, but the Reds did not register a single shot in the second half, the first time since Premier League records began in 2003-04 where they have not managed a single attempt on goal in a top-flight half at home.
While the Reds were shot-shy during the entire second period, Wolves were also left to lament a couple of wasted openings, as Liverpool moved onto 60 points for the 2024-25 season.
To date, only one manager has ever taken more points from their first 25 Premier League matches than Slot, as Jose Mourinho won 64 points in his first 25 top-flight contests as Chelsea boss.
Virgil van Dijk admits Liverpool were "sloppy" in Wolves victory
© Imago
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk was under no illusions that his side were slightly fortunate not to have been punished further in the second half, where they were guilty of constantly gifting possession back to Wolves.
"We'd love to dominate for the full 90 minutes but it is the Premier League and Wolves can punish you and create dangerous moments against you. It says a lot we kept fighting and kept going and got the three points," Van Dijk told BBC's Match of the Day.
"Today showed at times that when we have the ball you can exploit it as well. Cunha was a danger man for them today we had to be aware of. Unfortunately he scored but we kept them to that.
"I definitely give them credit the way they went one v one most of the times and how they found the free man between the lines. At times we were sloppy as well and we couldn't keep the ball as well as we can at times."
Liverpool now only have another two full days to recuperate before they go again in the Premier League, visiting European-chasing Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, four days before a mouthwatering clash with Manchester City at the Etihad.
Ben Knapton
