Slot praises Liverpool's resilience after hard-fought win over Wolves

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a tense 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield on 16 February, as Arne Slot's side battled through fatigue to claim a vital three points.

First-half goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool early control, but Matheus Cunha's powerful strike before the hour mark set up a nervy finish.

The hosts were forced to dig deep, with Alisson Becker making key saves to preserve the lead, securing their first win in three matches across all competitions.

Slot acknowledged the challenge his team faced, particularly after Wednesday's draining 2-2 draw against Everton and last weekend's FA Cup exit at Plymouth.

"This one is big. We needed to fight, and we needed Alisson," Slot admitted. "Wolves took a lot of risks. If you want to achieve something in a season, you need wins like this."

Liverpool thought they had sealed the match with a third goal, only for VAR to rule it out. They were then awarded a penalty, which was later overturned, adding to the frustration. Slot noted signs of fatigue among his players but praised their determination to get over the line.

"We were mentally tested today. Maybe that led to us being a bit tired. I saw, for the first time this season, that the players were more fatigued than usual," he said. "If you want to achieve something, it's not just about playing beautiful football. It's also about defending."

Title race remains tight

Liverpool's fourth win in five league games kept them seven points clear of Arsenal, with 13 matches left to play. Slot acknowledged the pressure of the title race, with crucial fixtures against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Newcastle coming up.

"If you look at the last few seasons, it has mostly been a battle between two teams. Right now, it looks like it's between us and Arsenal," he said. "You can never breathe in this competition. Arsenal have been unbeaten in 15 games, and the gap has always stayed the same. That shows how much we need to keep winning."

Despite being charged for abusive behaviour towards match officials after his red card in the Merseyside derby, Slot was allowed to be on the touchline against Wolves. The Dutchman declined to discuss the matter in detail, stating only that it was an "ongoing process" and would be decided by a disciplinary panel.