Wolves v Liverpool player ratings: Rui Patricio sickening head injury; Diogo Jota outshines Mohamed Salah

Portuguese goalkeeper appeared to take Conor Coady's knee to the face in 1-0 defeat to Liverpool

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  WOLVES RATINGS: Rui Patricio – 6 The game was overshadowed by the 33-year-old’s head injury. He was carried off on a stretcher after a collision with Coady. The goalkeeper made good saves from Salah and Jota but might have done better for the goal. Replaced by Ruddy in stoppage time. AFP

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  Romain Saiss - 5 The 30-year-old made a telling block to deny Mane but was caught out in the build-up to the goal. He sent in a great cross for Coady when the centre-back headed over. Reuters

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  Conor Coady - 5 The captain put a second-half header over the bar and sometimes looked close to being overwhelmed by Liverpool’s attack. He was clearly upset after colliding with Patricio. AFP

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  Willy Boly - 6 The Ivorian was the most composed of the back three. He was good in the air, solid at set-pieces and kept Salah under guard. AFP

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  Nelson Semedo - 6 The wingback got forward and caused problems for the champions. He might have had a penalty when he tangled with Alisson. At the other end, the 27-year-old could not contain Mane. Left the field with six minutes left when Gibbs-White was introduced. EPA

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  Ruben Neves - 6 The 24-year-old wasted an excellent chance just before Liverpool scored. His passing was neat enough but did not open up the defence. Taken off for Dendoncker with 14 minutes to go. EPA

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  Joao Moutinho - 7 The Portuguese produced a selection of penetrating passes and outshone Thiago. The 34-year-old was full of energy in midfield. AFP

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  Jonny Otto - 5 The wingback tried to get forward but was forced back by Alexander-Arnold and Salah. Most of Liverpool’s productive work came down the Spaniard’s flank. AFP

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  Adama Traore - 6 The winger’s obvious threat was undermined by bad decisions on the ball and poor shooting. If his end product was better, Wolves might have taken the points. AFP

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  Willian Jose - 4 The Brazilian failed to make his mark on the game. He selected the wrong pass when the defence seemed to be in trouble and lacked conviction in shooting positions. Replaced by Silva with 20 minutes left. AFP

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  Pedro Neto - 6 The winger was involved in some neat interplay with Traore but drifted out of the game for periods. There was little sign of an understanding with Willian. Reuters

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  SUB: Fabio Silva - 5 Replaced Willian in the 70th minute. The 18-year-old had two headed chances. One lacked power and an even better opportunity bounced off his shoulder. AFP

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  SUB: Leander Dendoncker - 5 Came on for Neves with 14 minutes left but did not get involved in a way that affected the direction of the match. AFP

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  SUB: Morgan Gibbs-White - 6 The 21-year-old joined the action for Semedo in the 84th minute. He added energy and drove the team forward. AFP

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  SUB: John Ruddy - 5 Came on in stoppage time under concussion protocols after Patricio was knocked out. Saw out the final few minutes. EPA

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  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 5 The goalkeeper made an uncertain start and could have given away an early penalty after fumbling the ball. The Brazilian saved a Semedo shot well but was nervy on crosses. AFP

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7 The full-back produced quality work at either end of the pitch. He showed great anticipation defensively and provided dangerous crosses. AFP

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  Nathaniel Phillips - 7 The 23-year-old was strong in the air and made one vital headed interception. There was nothing flamboyant about his performance but he was solid . AFP

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  Ozan Kabak - 6 The Turk made a fine block to stop Traore but allowed himself to be sucked out of position on occasion. He gave the ball away too much but there were signs of an understanding with Phillips. AFP

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  Andrew Robertson - 5 He had a difficult night trying to deal with Traore and Semedo. The Scot was pegged back in his own half and created little. EPA

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  Fabinho - 7 Not the easiest night for the Brazilian, who was asked to do too much in midfield. He broke up attacks and was positive in possession. Reuters

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  Thiago Alcantara - 4 The 29-year-old was wasteful on the ball and made a number of rash tackles that culminated in a yellow card. Withdrawn for Keita in the 67th minute. Reuters

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  Georginio Wijnaldum - 5 The Dutchman set up a good chance for Mane in the first half but was not at his dominant best. He was replaced by Milner with 23 minutes left. Reuters

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  Mohamed Salah - 6 The Egyptian linked brilliantly with Mane to set up the goal but endured a frustrating night with too little quality service. No one could complain about his workrate or attitude. Reuters

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  Diogo Jota - 7 Ended a quiet first half with a satisfying goal against his former club. The Portuguese carved out room for a shot in the area in the second period before being replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain for the last eight minutes. AFP

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  Sadio Mane - 7 The Senegalese should have done better with a first-half one-on-one and might have gone down for a penalty when touched by the goalkeeper. He fired a diving header just wide, created the goal and was a constant menace to the defence. Reuters

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  SUB: James Milner - 6 Replaced Wijnaldum and shored up the midfield for the last 23 minutes as Wolves attempted a late barrage. The 35-year-old loves doing the dirty work. AFP

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  SUB: Naby Keita - 6 On for Thiago in the 67th minute but had few chances to turn on the style. The Guinean was more concerned with helping out the defence than getting forward. Reuters

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  SUB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5 Joined the game in the 82nd minute when Jota was substituted. He thought he had set up Salah to score but the through ball was a fraction too late and the striker was offside. Reuters

Diogo Jota scored against his former club to give Liverpool a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday and keep them in contention for a top-four finish.

The result lifted Liverpool two places up to sixth on 46 points from 29 games, five adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea and two behind fifth-placed West Ham who have a game in hand. Wolves stayed 13th on 35 points from 29 matches.

Play was held up for 10 minutes in the closing stages as Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio suffered a concussion and was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with team mate Conor Coady who tried to close down Mohamed Salah.

Jota struck in first-half stoppage time as he beat Patricio with a swerving low shot from inside the penalty area after a flowing move by Salah and Sadio Mane, who fed the Portuguese forward with a sublime pass.