Ibrahima Konate headed home his first ever Premier League goal and Mohamed Salah converted a penalty as Liverpool climbed to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s men have 15 points after six games, one more than both Manchester City and Arsenal, while Wolves are bottom with a single point.
Konate scored in first-half injury time after Diogo Jota beat his man down the left then served up a pinpoint cross that the 25-year-old centre back leapt to head home.
Wolves capitalised on some sloppy defending by Konate, however, to level in the 56th minute. The French centre back appeared to be leaving the ball to run out for a goal kick but Jorgen Strand Larsen kept it in, and Rayan Ait-Nouri scored from close range.
Yet Salah silenced the celebratory home crowd at Molineux five minutes later when Liverpool were awarded a penalty for Nelson Semedo’s foul on Jota, Salah sending keeper Sam Johnstone the wrong way.
“I think a team like Liverpool has to be in the top four for sure; we keep pushing, we keep pushing, but it’s really early,” Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch told Sky Sports after another impressive display from the Dutch midfielder.
“This season I wanted to show myself again and I am really happy. He (Slot) put me in the starting 11 and gave me a lot of confidence.”
Dominik Szoboszlai had squandered a brilliant chance to get Liverpool on the scoreboard when he connected with a cross from Andy Robertson, but Johnstone stopped the Hungarian’s point-blank shot.
The Reds had a few more chances in the dying minutes including a corner that Konate headed over the bar and a shot to the bottom corner by Curtis Jones after a one-two with Salah that Johnstone saved.
Liverpool’s victory comes amid a busy schedule, with Slot’s side crushing West Ham United 5-1 in a League Cup third-round tie on Wednesday, while they host Bologna in a Champions League match in four days’ time.
Aston Villa could draw level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table today with a win at Ipswich Town, although Unai Emery’s side trail 10-3 on goal difference.

Man City draw as Arsenal get tested by Leicester
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City dropped points for the second week in a row as they were held at Newcastle United and were joined at the top of the table by Arsenal who left it late to beat Leicester City 4-2 on Saturday.
City led through Josko Gvardiol’s opener at St James’ Park but had to be content with a 1-1 draw as Anthony Gordon levelled from the penalty spot after the break.
Arsenal, who drew 2-2 at City last weekend after conceding a last-gasp equaliser, joined Pep Guardiola’s side on 14 points from six games with City ahead on goal difference.
Chelsea have 13 points after they came from a goal down to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 on Saturday with Cole Palmer scoring all of his side’s goals in a stunning first half.
Palmer is the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before halftime.
Brighton led early on at Stamford Bridge through French forward Georginio Rutter but the 22-year-old Palmer struck an 11-minute hat-trick, including a penalty and a superb 30-metre free kick into the top corner.
Carlos Baleba pulled a goal back for Brighton almost immediately but Palmer struck again shortly before halftime from an assist by Jadon Sancho.
“I just said to Cole, he scored four but he could have scored two or three more,” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said. “It is important he continues to be hungry and ambitious. The best thing for me is that he enjoys, he loves football, he’s always in the same way and it is something fantastic.”
City appeared to be coping well without midfield lynchpin Rodri, who this week was ruled out for the season with a knee injury sustained last week against Arsenal. But they failed to build on the lead given to them by Gvardiol in the 35th minute and paid the price.
Gordon went down under challenge from City goalkeeper Ederson just before the hour mark. The forward picked himself up to dispatch the penalty, sending Ederson the wrong way.
“We had chances to score, but this is their stadium and they had chances to score, so I’m happy (with a point),” Guardiola, whose side remain unbeaten, said.
Arsenal were cruising as Gabriel Martinelli scored his first goal since March and then set up Leandro Trossard to make it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime against Leicester.
But two goals by James Justin early in the second half drew Leicester level against the odds. Arsenal sealed the win though as Trossard’s close-range shot deflected in off Wilfred Ndidi in the fourth minute of stoppage time before Kai Havertz made absolutely sure with virtually the last kick of the game.