Liverpool vs Wolves Prediction: Could over-reliance on Salah cost Reds in Premier League title chase?

 

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points on Wednesday evening as they played out a 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.  

 

 

However, instead of feeling jubilation, there was a sense of frustration from those in red. The Reds had, once again, given up a lead to inferior opposition. The same thing happened against Manchester United in early January. Despite not playing well, Liverpool had gotten themselves into a position to claim maximum points.  

 

And then they didn’t. 

 

The Reds should be seeing out these games. They have the best goalkeeper in the world in Alisson Becker and two of the best centre-backs in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Regardless of what is going on elsewhere, Arne Slot has a solid base.  

 

Sometimes, though, you need your forward line to get you out of trouble. Mohamed Salah, as he always does, held up his end of the bargain. He assisted the opener, chipping in a cross for Alexis Mac Allister to nod home, before lashing in Liverpool’s second after a goalmouth scramble.  

 

It was the 11th time this season that the Liverpool No 11 had scored and assisted in a single game.  

 

 

It was also his 22nd goal and his 14th assist in the Premier League this term. He currently leads the way for goals and assists. He also shattered the record last night for most goal contributions away from home in a single top-flight campaign and we’re still only in February.  

 

There’s plenty of time for him to add to that record and it is a certainty he will.  

 

While he’s thriving in Slot’s new system. Other Liverpool attackers aren’t pulling their weight.  

 

Cody Gakpo, named Liverpool’s Player of the Month for January, has impressed lately but he struggled against Everton. Luis Diaz, meanwhile, is without a goal in 2025. He started the season well with five goals in his opening five appearances but hasn’t been anywhere near as impactful since then, adding just three Premier League goals to his haul since September.  

 

Darwin Nunez has just four Premier League strikes to his name this term and two of those arrived in one game - the 2-0 win over Brentford - while injuries have limited Diogo Jota to just five goals in the English top-flight.  

 

Right now, it is very much a case of Salah or bust for Liverpool. If the three-time Golden Boot winner isn’t firing, the Reds don’t look too threatening. Fortunately for the league leaders, the No 11 has been able to make the most of moments this season. He’s not dominated entire games but he hasn’t has to. If the opposition manage to limit these moments, however, Liverpool look blunt.  

 

It happened at Goodison.  

 

Salah had two moments and finished with two goal involvements. His goal was fortunate though. Jake O’Brien’s clearance could’ve landed anywhere else and Salah wouldn’t have been able to convert. It wasn’t a case of Liverpool carving out opportunities for their main man. In fact, it was the complete opposite on Wednesday evening.  

 

That could be a theme for the remainder of the season. Teams could look to nullify Salah and go to extreme lengths to do so, knowing full well Liverpool have no solution to that particular problem.  

 

The attackers aren't pulling their weight. And that is something that will have to be addressed in the summer if Liverpool are to remain dangerous under Slot.  

 

Liverpool can’t be Mo Salah FC. Not when there’s a chance the 32-year-old departs at the end of the current season. Even if he remains at Anfield, the Reds need to reinforce their attack. If that means some of the current crop are sacrificed, so be it. Slot needs attackers he can rely on. He needs attackers who can do their job - put the ball in the back of the net.  

 

 

If it is going to be a summer of change, the Reds will have money to spend and this could be the year the summer they go big. It happened once before, when Liverpool added Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to their squad in the space of six months.  

 

If there’s money there, they will spend it. And a certain Alexander Isak could be on the market. He’d cost a club record fee - rumoured to be £120million - but if he guarantees goals, knows the Premier League and is young enough to potentially give you seven years at the highest level, you pay that money for the best centre-forward in the English top-flight.  

 

The Salah reliance could be the best thing to happen to Liverpool in the long-term as the decision makers may realise the No 11 is in desperate need of assistance.

Liverpool vs Wolves Prediction: Could over-reliance on Salah cost Reds in Premier League title chase?