Arne Slot has long made a habit of expressing how Liverpool have largely got what they deserved this season. So when the final whistle blew on this at times tortuous encounter, the Reds boss will have known his team absolutely got away with one here.

For perhaps the first time this season, the sign of championship-chasing nerves was apparent both in the performance of the team and, at times, the reaction of the crowd.

Indeed, there was one moment midway through the second half when, after Liverpool had played themselves into trouble for the umpteenth time, Andy Robertson motioned to the Kop as if to calm down somewhat.

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The wintry conditions hadn’t made life easy for anyone inside Anfield. That, though, was no excuse for Liverpool freezing both physically and mentally immediately after the interval to allow Wolves back into a game of which the hosts had taken firm control with first-half goals from Luis Diaz and a Mohamed Salah penalty.

The second of five pivotal Premier League games in 15 days, this was largely seen as the easier of the quintet, the one where victory was effectively guaranteed. Wolves’ game-changing substitutions, and Liverpool’s inept second-half showing, ensured this was instead one of the Reds’ most hard-earned wins of the campaign.

It would be wrong to say the late disappointment at Goodison four days earlier lingered, such was Liverpool’s decent enough showing early on. But it surely would have been playing on minds during an extended injury time period in which every home goal kick and Wolves foul was cheered to the rafters.

With Liverpool chairman Tom Werner watching from the stands, Slot’s side made a mockery of their reputation of being a second-half team.

For the first time since such records began, the Reds failed to register a shot of any note after the interval in a home Premier League game. Having had 20 touches in the Wolves box before the break, in the second half it was just three, admittedly not allowing for a disallowed goal by Salah and an overturned penalty for a non-existent foul on Diogo Jota.

Come the end, the relief inside Anfield was palpable, Liverpool having shown their resolve and character to ultimately see out the victory.

Slot approached the Kop and, before his now traditional thumbs up, raised both hands to encourage more noise which duly prompted the response of a defiant cheer from the Reds support.

Buckle up, folks. Thirteen games remain. And, as Anfield was reminded here, title races are not for the faint-hearted.