Florian Wirtz finally broke his scoring duck for Liverpool in their recent 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield. The win, however, highlighted familiar failings for both sides.

The match was also marked by an emotional tribute to former Liverpool and Wolves forward Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in July. Jota's children accompanied Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk onto the pitch, and the stadium honored the Portuguese player in the 20th minute.

Liverpool started strong, with Hugo Ekitike hitting the post early on. Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring in the 41st minute, with a powerful low drive from a Jeremie Frimpong pull-back. Just moments later, Wirtz latched onto an Ekitike throughball and poked it past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa, marking his first Premier League goal. The goal was Wirtz's first in 17 Premier League appearances and came from his 21st shot in the competition. Every Liverpool outfield player made a point of celebrating with Wirtz after he scored.

Despite the two-goal lead, Liverpool failed to maintain their momentum in the second half. Wolves' Santiago Bueno scored in the 51st minute after Alisson Becker parried Tolu Arokodare's shot, making it 2-1. Wolves, despite being the Premier League's bottom club, then mounted pressure on Liverpool's defense. Arokodare had two further opportunities to equalize.

Liverpool's inability to comfortably close out the game against a struggling Wolves side exposed their defensive vulnerabilities. Wolves' positive and purposeful passing game caused problems for the home side, and they were particularly vulnerable at set-pieces. Arokodare missed a header and a volley, further intensifying the anxiety at Anfield.

For Wolves, the defeat continues their dismal run, remaining winless in 18 Premier League games and without a point in seven matches under manager Rob Edwards. Despite their battling qualities, they sit far adrift of safety. The team showed promise with 18-year-old Mateus Mane, who forced a good save from Alisson.

The victory lifts Liverpool into the top four, albeit possibly temporarily pending other results. However, manager Arne Slot will be concerned about his team's second-half performance and defensive frailties. Wirtz's goal and overall creative play were a positive, but Liverpool will need to address their inconsistencies if they want to maintain a title challenge.