Liverpool edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on an emotional afternoon at Anfield that saw both clubs pay tribute to Diogo Jota.

For much of the first half it looked like Liverpool’s dominance of the ball was not going to translate to the scoreline, with the visitors putting in the sort of dogged defensive display that so nearly frustrated Arsenal earlier in the month. However, two goals in the space of 89 seconds from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz (the German’s first for the club) put Arne Slot’s side in what looked like complete control as half-time approached.

But Wolves pulled a goal back a few minutes into the second half, which made the remainder of the game more nervy than it should have been. Substitute Conor Bradley made a superb block in the closing stages to prevent a Jhon Arias equaliser as Slot’s team continue to look susceptible at the back.

Gregg Evans and James Pearce dissect the game.

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More signs of progress from imperfect Liverpool?

Although Liverpool’s in-game management is still a concern, their recent results show a steady improvement on those torrid months of September and November.

Slot’s side have won four in a row and are now on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions after a previous period of nine defeats in 12 outings.

The slender nature of their victories — three of the last four by a single goal — show plenty of room for improvement, though, and after only narrowly beating a Tottenham Hotspur team that finished with nine men last week, Liverpool squeezed past bottom-placed Wolves despite a nervy second-half performance that left many inside Anfield feeling uncomfortable until the final whistle.

Their inability to defend set pieces was again highlighted as Santiago Bueno’s second-half strike piled the pressure on the hosts for the remainder of the half.

Liverpool have now conceded 12 goals from set pieces this season — the joint most alongside Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. Only West Ham United (10) have conceded more from corners than Liverpool (seven) and if there’s a stand-out reason why they’re no longer in the title race, you only have to look at those shocking figures.

(Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

In the build-up to the game, Slot said that their negative set-piece balance — 12 conceded, three scored — makes it impossible to compete with those above them.

And it’s not only set pieces that are a problem. Liverpool are struggling to see out games this season, and until they show more conviction there will always be a concern. For now, they’re doing what they have to do by winning games but it remains far from free-flowing.

Gregg Evans