What Liverpool away end didn't do speaks volumes as 'war' breaks out in PL

Verdict from Paul Gorst after Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1 in the Premier League to go top of the table

What Liverpool away end didn't do speaks volumes as 'war' breaks out in Premier League

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While the back pages of Saturday’s papers screeched of a "war" that is now apparently brewing between Manchester City and Arsenal, Liverpool simply got on with the business of going top of the Premier League.

The ascent to the summit of the English game in recent years has been typically met with a hearty rendition of "Liverpool, Liverpool top of the league" by Reds supporters, but the fact that no such terrace anthem was belted out here at Wolves, not in any great volume at least, was symbolic of a team who are instead content stay away from the spotlight and the headlines just now. As much as it's possible to at Anfield, that is.

"You want a war? Now we war," City boss Pep Guardiola boomed in his Friday press conference about Mikel Arteta, after seemingly taking umbrage with one of the Arsenal boss' observations following their tersely contested draw last Sunday. It was an inflammatory response that will now be the subject of ample column inches, particularly when the two teams lock horns once more later this season.

And while Arne Slot will no doubt claim it to be none of his or Liverpool's business, there must be some part of him that privately hopes the fans are flamed for both his Premier League title competitors for the months ahead as a result.

Allow City and Arsenal to dominate the predictions and the debates and let it become a hyped-up, overblown rivalry. Liverpool are better off out of it all, for now. "I don't mind if they underestimate or overestimate us," Slot said on Friday and as evidenced by this 2-1 win, the squad are instead content to build up momentum further. City's stumble at Newcastle in the lunchtime kick-off, where they were held to a 1-1 draw, left Slot and his players able to plot a peaceful path to top spot here at Molineux.

It was done in an almost unassuming style and while it was far from easy, there is undoubtedly a new-found element of control that is making difficult destinations such as this appear that bit more straightforward. The new league leaders were kept honest right into the final knockings, but the three points were theirs thanks to goals from Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah.

A lot of Liverpool's success so far this term has been based on what is the best defensive record in the division, with just two goals conceded in the opening six games. There was a debate to be had over who was at fault for Wolves' equaliser on the day here as Konate and the recalled Alisson Becker dawdled and got themselves in a mix-up, but Slot has to be impressed with how his backline and the accompanying holding midfielders of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are keeping things generally watertight. Few real chances are being coughed up and it's a system that is flourishing, rare individual mishaps aside.

'Attacks win you games, defences win you titles' is the old adage that even Trent Alexander-Arnold was dusting off after last week's 3-0 win over Bournemouth and while Wolves huffed and puffed, Slot will be able to look back at the analysis videos with plenty of admiration for how his players are adapting to the defensive demands of his setup.

A first-half devoid of any real chances for either side saw Sam Johnstone make a superb save from Dominik Szoboszlai when he connected with Andy Robertson's dangerous delivery inside the six-yard box. The Hungary captain was to be denied but the Reds wouldn't have to wait too much longer for their breakthrough.

It owed so much to the ingenuity of Diogo Jota who quickly deduced that he had the beating of Wolves target man Jorgen Strand Larsen when the pair contested the ball down the left side in first-half stoppage time. Portugal international Jota simply knocked it into the space Larsen was unable to cover and flung in a left-footed cross that was met by Konate for the opening goal.

Having not been at their fluent best throughout a first period where the hosts gave as good as they got, it was a reminder that Slot's side have more than one way to skin the cat. When the vision of control that the head coach sees for his side is unable to be properly executed, or when a number of his key men are subdued, Liverpool still have plenty of ways of doing the damage.

The leveller from the excellent Rayan Ait-Nouri was an avoidable lapse between two otherwise stellar performers in Konate and Alisson but the parity lasted just five minutes when Jota was wrestled to the ground for a penalty that an unusually quiet Salah dispatched for his fifth of the season. The Egyptian was not at his sparkling best but it is now eight goal contributions this term for him before October is here.

There was an intelligence and a resilience to Liverpool in the closing stages as they held off those in Old Gold to emerge with an important victory in the early-season jousting sessions. It's all far too early to be making any sweeping, grandiose statements of what might be possible this term - as evidenced by supporters' unwillingness to indulge in their new-found status as Premier League leaders - but it will be Liverpool's name in first spot when October rolls in.

The platform to build is becoming more secure by the week. Liverpool, Liverpool top of the league, indeed. Just don't sing that too loudly just yet.

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