Liverpool found the burst they needed right when it mattered, then survived a scare. A quick-fire one-two from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz near half-time set up a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. It was tidy, tense, and ultimately telling: three points that moved the Reds into the Premier League’s top four.

This was not a procession. Wolves, bottom of the table and in search of a spark, dragged the contest back into a battle after the break. But the headline belongs to Wirtz. The Germany international finally scored his first goal for Liverpool, a moment loaded with relief after his record transfer and the weight of expectation that followed it.

A 90-second burst that changed Liverpool vs Wolves

For 41 minutes, Liverpool probed. They moved the ball, enjoyed territory, but needed a clean touch in the box. Gravenberch supplied it. His strike in the 41st minute broke Wolves’ resistance and the tension in the stands. One minute later, Wirtz doubled the lead. Two goals in two minutes. Anfield roared. It felt like lift-off.

The speed of those goals mattered. It showed what this new-look Liverpool attack can do when timing and movement click. Gravenberch, a midfielder who thrives on carrying the ball and arriving late, set the tone. Wirtz, a clever playmaker who sees space early, followed with a cool finish to open his Reds account.

“That 90-second burst is the blueprint for this attack. More of that, week in, week out.”

Florian Wirtz’s first Liverpool goal: why it matters

Wirtz’s first Liverpool goal was more than a number on the scoreboard. It was a pressure valve. Big transfers come with big eyes on every touch. Getting that first goal changes the story around a player. It calms the mind. It builds trust with teammates and fans. And it shows the system is beginning to fit him, and him it.

The finish itself was simple and smart. The reaction from Anfield told the rest. Wirtz has been signed to decide games. This one needed a spark, and he delivered one right before the break. If Liverpool are going to stay in the top-four hunt, they will need his creativity and calm in tight moments like this.

Wolves’ fightback and Liverpool’s game management

Credit to Wolves. At 2-0 down away from home, some teams fade. They did not. Santi Bueno’s goal in the 51st minute, guided in after a corner, put the game back on edge. The away end believed; the home crowd shifted in their seats.

From there, Liverpool had to manage the moment. They kept the ball longer when they could. They pressed less wildly and chose their times to break. It was not perfect, but it was enough. Sometimes, especially in the festive run, winning is about doing the simple things late in games: clear your lines, use your bench, take the sting out of it.

“Job done, but set-pieces still bite. That Bueno goal was avoidable — learn fast.”

Lineup notes: new faces, key roles, and timely subs

Liverpool’s XI mixed trusted leaders with fresh energy: Alisson; Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté; Milos Kerkez at left-back; Jeremie Frimpong on the right; Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones in midfield; Gravenberch as the late runner; Wirtz as the creative spark; Federico Chiesa wide; and Hugo Ekitike through the middle.

The bench mattered. The Reds used changes at 56′, 61′, 62′, 79′, 86′, and 90+3′ to close out the game. Two were notable by name and timing: Chiesa made way for Conor Bradley on 62 to add legs on the flank, and Ekitike was replaced by Cody Gakpo late on to hold the ball up. In stoppage time, Wirtz left to applause as Nyoni came on at 90+3′. These were practical, game-state moves designed to steady a narrow lead.

• Scorers: Gravenberch 41′, Wirtz 42′ (Liverpool); Santi Bueno 51′ (Wolves)
• Final score: Liverpool 2–1 Wolves
• Changes: 56′, 61′, 62′ (Chiesa → Bradley), 79′, 86′, 90+3′ (Wirtz → Nyoni); Ekitike → Gakpo late on

Anfield’s festive edge and a poignant moment

Anfield over the festive period is usually a force. Coming into this game, Liverpool had lost just one of their last 32 Premier League home matches played between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, and that lone defeat was to Wolves back in 2010. That backdrop matters. It feeds belief, and belief often drives the small margins that decide December games.

Before kick-off, there was also a respectful, emotional moment. This was the first meeting between the clubs since a tragic passing in July. The tribute underlined that football can be fierce for 90 minutes and still hold space for shared respect.

“Wirtz is in the book now. One becomes two, and two becomes ten if the balance stays right.”

What it means for Liverpool and the Premier League table

The win moves Liverpool to fourth: 18 games played, 10 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses, with a +4 goal difference and 32 points. It is a platform, not a finish line. The top-four race is decided by days like this as much as the big head-to-heads. You have to win when you’re not perfect. You have to bank points when the legs are heavy and the schedule is tight.

For Wolves, the table still hurts, but there are positives. They fought back away at Anfield and forced a strong side to dig in. They will need that spirit again and again to climb off the bottom. The lesson for both teams is clear: small details in both boxes decide seasons.

Final word: a first step for Wirtz, a steady stride for Liverpool

Gravenberch’s timing and Wirtz’s finish won the day. Bueno’s reply made it real and forced Liverpool to work. In the end, the Reds did enough to claim a tight Premier League win in front of a loud Anfield. Wirtz’s first Liverpool goal will be replayed because it opened his account. More importantly, it may open a run.

That is the bigger picture. Liverpool do not need fireworks every week. They need points, rhythm, and the right players hitting form. On this night, they got all three. Now comes the hard part: doing it again.