Tense Liverpool victory over Wolves in vain

Sadio Mane scored his 22nd goal of the season

Liverpool's hopes of winning a quadruple were ended on the final day of the Premier League season as a tense victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers proved too little to deny Manchester City the title.

The Reds needed to win and hope Manchester City failed to do so, and the unlikely looked to be happening when Pep Guardiola's side found themselves 2-0 down at home to Aston Villa midway through the second half.

That gave hope to Liverpool, who had been dealt an early blow when Pedro Neto drove in from Raul Jimenez's square ball inside the third minute, Sadio Mane slotting in an equaliser 21 minutes later.

At that stage, Jurgen Klopp's side were set to finish level with City on 90 points, with Pep Guardiola's team top because of their superior goal difference.

Liverpool pushed for a winner that looked like it could seal a 20th league title, Mane having an effort correctly ruled out for offside before Trent Alexander-Arnold saw a long-range effort pushed away.

The second goal finally arrived six minutes before full-time when Mohamed Salah bundled in from close range but by then Manchester City had staged an incredible comeback to lead 3-2.

Andy Robertson added a late third for the Reds but there was no late equaliser at Etihad Stadium as Guardiola's side took their sixth Premier League title. Regardless, Anfield applauded their side's efforts at full-time as they came close to an unlikely title.

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Reds come close on a day of high drama and hopeSadio Mane's equaliser was met by incredible noise as Anfield started to believe the title bid was on

For Liverpool to have come within six days of the Champions League final with a quadruple still on the table was in itself an incredible achievement.

Klopp's side have already won the League Cup and FA Cup and will hope to add to that collection by becoming European champions for a seventh time when they play Real Madrid in Saturday's final in Paris.

Fans were hopeful but also realistic in the build-up to Sunday's game but they did everything they could to help their side get the win they needed.

The streets around Anfield were a sea of red in the hours before kick-off, with red smoke flares filling the air as the team bus approached.

In the minutes before the game got under way the atmosphere was electric but all the hope and expectation that had been building was quickly deflated by the early Wolves goal.

The disappointment quickly subsided, however, and the supporters soon got back to encouraging their side, playing their part by relaying the score from Manchester City's game with roars of encouragement.

From then on the game was a rollercoaster of emotions with the fans - and no doubt the players - at various points experiencing hope, frustration and belief as they knew just one goal could give them the title.

But although Liverpool did as they have done many times this season and found a way to win, City did likewise as they scored three goals in five minutes to take matters out of the Reds' hands.

Player of the match

Rúben NevesRúben Neves

with an average of 7.73

LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpoolWolvesWolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers

LiverpoolAvgSquad number10Player nameManéAverage rating

7.22

Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating

6.86

Squad number23Player nameDíazAverage rating

6.77

Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating

6.76

Squad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraAverage rating

6.60

Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating

6.53

Squad number7Player nameMilnerAverage rating

6.50

Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating

6.49

Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating

6.48

Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating

6.46

Squad number32Player nameMatipAverage rating

6.37

Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating

6.25

Squad number8Player nameKeïtaAverage rating

6.23

Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating

6.22

Wolverhampton WanderersAvgSquad number8Player nameRúben NevesAverage rating

7.73

Squad number7Player namePedro NetoAverage rating

6.38

Squad number9Player nameJiménezAverage rating

6.13

Squad number16Player nameCoadyAverage rating

5.95

Squad number28Player nameJoão MoutinhoAverage rating

5.85

Squad number24Player nameTotiAverage rating

5.83

Squad number1Player nameJosé SáAverage rating

5.82

Squad number15Player nameBolyAverage rating

5.80

Squad number21Player nameRuddyAverage rating

5.79

Squad number19Player nameJonnyAverage rating

5.76

Squad number3Player nameAït-NouriAverage rating

5.75

Squad number11Player nameTrincãoAverage rating

5.72

Squad number32Player nameDendonckerAverage rating

5.72

Squad number26Player nameHwang Hee-ChanAverage rating

5.33

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsLiverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold32Matip5Konaté26Robertson8Keïta14Henderson6Thiago Alcántara20Jota10Mané23Díaz

1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold32MatipBooked at 46mins5Konaté26Robertson8KeïtaSubstituted forFirminoat 70'minutes14Henderson6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forMilnerat 45'minutes20JotaSubstituted forSalahat 58'minutes10Mané23Díaz

Substitutes

4van Dijk7Milner9Firmino11Salah17Jones18Minamino21Tsimikas62Kelleher67Elliott

Wolves

Formation 3-5-2

1Malheiro de Sá15Boly16Coady24Gomes19Castro Otto32Dendoncker8Neves28João Moutinho3Aït-Nouri9Jiménez7Neto

1Malheiro de SáSubstituted forRuddyat 45'minutes15Boly16Coady24Gomes19Castro Otto32DendonckerSubstituted forMachado Trincãoat 90'minutes8Neves28João Moutinho3Aït-Nouri9Jiménez7NetoSubstituted forHwang Hee-Chanat 22'minutes

Substitutes

2Hoever5Marçal10Podence11Machado Trincão14Mosquera17Fábio Silva20Tomás Oliveira21Ruddy26Hwang Hee-Chan

Referee:Anthony TaylorMatch StatsHome TeamLiverpoolAway TeamWolvesPossessionHome63%Away37%ShotsHome29Away7Shots on TargetHome8Away5CornersHome5Away3FoulsHome6Away3Live TextPost update

Match ends, Liverpool 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.

90'+4'Full Time

Second Half ends, Liverpool 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.

90'+4'Post update

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+4'Post update

Foul by Toti (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

90'+3'Post update

Offside, Liverpool. Mohamed Salah tries a through ball, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is caught offside.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

90'+2'Post update

Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

90'Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Trincão replaces Leander Dendoncker.

89'goalGoal!

Goal! Liverpool 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.

89'Post update

Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

85'Post update

Hand ball by Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

84'goalGoal!

Goal! Liverpool 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joel Matip with a headed pass following a corner.

84'Post update

Attempt blocked. Joel Matip (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross.

83'Post update

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Conor Coady.

83'Post update

Attempt blocked. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

82'Post update

Attempt saved. Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Moutinho.

80'Post update

Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luis Díaz.

80'Post update

Attempt saved. Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Raúl Jiménez.

79'Post update

Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sadio Mané.

78'Post update

Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.

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Source: bbc.com