Divock Origi came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux took them top of the Premier League above Chelsea before Man City's win at Watford.
The Premier League top scorers had spurned numerous chances with Conor Coady producing a heroic goal-line clearance to deny Diogo Jota as Wolves defended doggedly.
But their resistance was broken in the 94th minute when Mohamed Salah set up Origi who swivelled and turned home from close-range, sparking wild celebration in the away end.
Chelsea's defeat to West Ham earlier in the afternoon had given Liverpool the chance to leapfrog them and while Manchester City ended the day top of the Premier League, this felt like a huge three points for Jurgen Klopp's side as they came so close to being denied by Bruno Lage's men.
How Liverpool won it
Klopp's team had to be patient as they probed for the opening and the chances came in a flurry from the midway point in the half as the full-backs pushed forward.
Thiago's delicious dinked pass in behind the Wolves defence found Trent Alexander-Arnold but he could only volley over. The England man then turned provider for Jota who headed wide at the far post - much to the delight of the fans who had once cheered him.
Liverpool's threat comes from both flanks, of course, and the opener looked an inevitability when Jota was able to thread Andy Robertson through in the left channel but his inviting cross was somehow missed by Salah under pressure from Romain Saiss.
Just as Wolves looked to be cracking they were able to conjure a couple of counter-attacks that reminded Liverpool of the danger. The impressive Rayan Ait-Nouri was even able to fashion a good opening by beating two men before blazing wide with his weaker foot.
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In the second half, the pattern of Liverpool domination resumed and Jose Sa was fortunate to save from Thiago when Raul Jimenez's clearance ricocheted off the midfielder.
The pressure was building with Wolves' breakaways becoming rarer and rarer even as Traore enjoyed his moments - frequently fouled as Liverpool tried to contain him.
But the missed chance of the game arrived on the hour after Sa missed the ball when racing off his line to allow Jota through. A goal looked inevitable even with defenders on the line.
Jota took aim but somehow only managed to find Coady who heroically kept the ball out. Molineux erupted and it made for a frenzied final third of the game as Liverpool pushed.
Sadio Mane found a good position but his touch let him down. Robertson came close after carrying the ball into the box but Ait-Nouri cleared at the last. It was tense.
Mane had an even more promising moment with just minutes remaining but his effort was brilliantly saved by Sa. Salah scuffed a 90th-minute shot that the goalkeeper stopped.
That looked to be that but with Ait-Nouri having been replaced by Ki-Jana Hoever, Salah finally found space as his fine touch took him away from his new marker and through.
The cut-back found Origi - so often Liverpool's talisman - and his left-footed shot went through the legs of Coady, beating Saiss and Sa on the line.
It was cruel on Wolves who looked on course for a third goalless draw in a row - one that would have been more celebrated than the previous ones. Instead, Liverpool march on.
What the managers said...
Wolves boss Bruno Lage: "I am frustrated because when I see my players' faces I don't think they deserved to lose the game. It was more difficult to see their faces at the end than when we conceded the goal. We have the same situation against Leeds, if you remember. It is difficult but we have the opposite taste against Aston Villa.
"We were very solid. I am proud of everyone. I am very happy with my players. We have a young team, young players, they need to experience all the moments of the game. We move on because today we played one of the best teams in the world. Next week, we will, for sure, also play one of the best teams in the world."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "It was really big, really important. It was really difficult for us today. We missed a lot of chances and we had to defend the counter-attack of Wolves with Traore. That was the challenge today.
"But I liked the game we played because we played between lines. It was really good apart from the finishing. Divock Origi, the legend, came and finishing it off for us. It is not a lucky win. We were lucky we scored late but a point would have been lucky for Wolves."
Analysis: Origi proves his worth yet again
No player has scored more goals from the bench for Liverpool in the Premier League than Divock Origi and that total does not even include the one that he scored against Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final. This was yet another important goal for the club.
It was also reward for Jurgen Klopp's positive substitution in removing his captain Jordan Henderson. Wolves have a strong defensive record, riding their luck at times as they sought what would have been a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet.
It took Origi to change that.
"Divock Origi, the legend," as Klopp put it in his post-match press conference. "He is an incredible football player. To create these moments he does not need a big run-up. He was a threat before he scored. That goal we have seen often in training."
Klopp even went as far as to describe Origi as one of the best finishers that he had ever seen in his life and was keen to point out that in just about any other team in the world, the Belgian striker would be featuring rather than more than he does at Liverpool.
Was he close to leaving in the summer?
"If I was at another team I would have gone for him. Just because you are not playing for Liverpool does not mean you are not good. Top striker and a top boy. He has already scored some of the most important goals in the history of this club."
It must take a certain mentality to be able to accept the situation and adjust to the tempo of a game when not used to playing regularly. Origi has carved out a role for himself and carved out a place in Liverpool's folklore. Klopp summed up the mood in a sentence.
"Winning is great but when Divock scores it is better."
Opta stats
- ● Divock Origi's strike was Liverpool's 39th winning goal scored in 90+ minutes in the Premier League, at least 13 more than other side.
- ● Liverpool have scored in each of their last 25 Premier League games, since a 0-1 loss against Fulham in March.
- ● Wolves had just three shots in this game, their fewest in a Premier League match since March 2019.
- ● Divock Origi's goal was his 10th as a substitute in the Premier League for Liverpool - no player has netted more from the bench for the club in the competition.
- ● Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has either scored or assisted a goal in each of his last 13 appearances in the Premier League. The Egyptian tops the charts for both goals (13) and assists (9) in the competition so far this term.
What's next?
Wolves take on champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday December 12 (12.30pm), while Liverpool travel to face AC Milan in their final Champions League group-stage clash on Tuesday (8pm), before hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League on December 12 (3pm).