![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/2.49795479.jpg\")
Roberto Firmino\u2019s late strike at Wolves continued Liverpool\u2019s fairytale season to move them 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.<\/p>\nRoberto Firmino\u2019s late strike at Wolves continued Liverpool\u2019s fairytale season to move them 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.<\/p>\n
The forward snatched a 2-1 victory with six minutes left to maintain the Reds\u2019 unbeaten Premier League run, although they were given a major scare at Molineux.<\/p>\n
Raul Jimenez\u2019s 20th goal of the season had cancelled out Jordan Henderson\u2019s early opener.<\/p>\n
But Liverpool were indebted to Alisson after vital saves from Jimenez and Adama Traor\u00e9 when they were under serious second-half pressure.<\/p>\n
Victory allowed Jurgen Klopp\u2019s relentless side to stretch their unbeaten league run to 40 and they still have a game in hand in next week\u2019s trip to West Ham.<\/p>\n
Wolves, who remain seventh, dominated much of the play after the break but became another victim of the Liverpool juggernaut.<\/p>\n
The hosts knocked the Reds out of the FA Cup at Molineux last season and looked for a repeat result early on.<\/p>\n
Pedro Neto\u2019s low free-kick caused panic in the visitors\u2019 backline during a bright start.<\/p>\n
But Liverpool underlined their status as runaway leaders when they went ahead after eight minutes.<\/p>\n
Trent Alexander-Arnold\u2019s free-kick was deflected behind and from the resulting corner his delivery found Henderson to nod in his second goal of the season from six yards.<\/p>\n
Wolves remained undaunted, despite going behind, and could have leveled two minutes later when Matt Doherty headed Ruben Neves\u2019 cross wide.<\/p>\n
They refused to let Klopp\u2019s side rest on the ball or dictate the early tempo although failed to click in the final third.<\/p>\n
Liverpool also struggled to create clear chances, with Mohamed Salah denied by a combination of Jonny and Romain Saiss when he found a rare opening.<\/p>\n
They would have been encouraged having ridden out Wolves\u2019 pressure but suffered a first-half setback when Sadio Man\u00e9 was forced off after 33 minutes. Takumi Minamino replaced him for a Premier League debut.<\/p>\n
Jimenez dragged a shot wide eight minutes before the break but Wolves survived a fright late in the half.<\/p>\n
Salah raced onto Firmino\u2019s header to dart into the area but his shot hit Doherty and looped into Rui Patricio\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
The goalkeeper had to be more alert a minute after the break, though, when Salah robbed Traor\u00e9 only to see Patricio turn his sharp drive away.<\/p>\n
It proved vital as Wolves, who had threatened to produce a moment of quality, found the equalizer six minutes into the second half.<\/p>\n
Jimenez fed Traor\u00e9 and continued his run into the box where he arrived unchecked to power in a header from the winger\u2019s pinpoint cross.<\/p>\n
Wolves immediately chased a second and Alisson turned away Traor\u00e9\u2019s fizzing low drive.<\/p>\n
The Wolves winger was causing countless problems for Liverpool and slipped Jimenez in with 22 minutes to go, with Alisson making a vital block.<\/p>\n
Salah fired wide in a brief opening for the visitors but Wolves continued to be a menace \u2013 with Traor\u00e9 the ringleader.<\/p>\n
Yet Firmino nearly restored the Reds\u2019 lead with eight minutes left when he bundled his way through, only to be denied by Patrico\u2019s legs.<\/p>\n
It was only a warning though as, two minutes later, the Brazilian snatched the winner.<\/p>\n
Salah was crowded out on the edge of the area but Henderson managed to slip in Firmino and he smash an angled drive across Patricio into the corner.<\/p>\n
Substitute Diogo Jota could have still leveled for the hosts but hooked over from close range as Liverpool survived.<\/p>\n