Liverpool got away with a poor performance to beat Wolves 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds were a long, long way below their best against the relegation battlers, but just about held on to get the job done.

The win restores Liverpool’s seven point lead at the top of the Premier League table, one they can extend if they beat Aston Villa in midweek.

But Arne Slot will not be happy following the win, with far too many of the Liverpool squad showing worrying signs of fatigue ahead of the trip to Villa Park.

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It was not the tiredness that should concern Slot the most, though.

The fact is, that would not have even been a factor had Diogo Jota done what he should have and slotted the ball home for 3-0 early in the second-half.

Instead, for some explicable reason, Jota decided to dive past Emmanuel Agbadou and try to win Liverpool a penalty.

Slot should be fuming.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Jota came in for his first Premier League start since October 20th and would have been desperate to put in a good performance against his former club.

Despite having a quiet game, the 28-year-old could – and should – have ended the game with a goal.

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He did superbly well to hold his run and take Ryan Gravenberch’s pass into his stride and past Agbadou.

There was no contact and Liverpool missed the chance for a game-clinching third goal.

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Wolves were brave at Anfield and may have found a way back into the game anyway, but there’s surely no chance they were coming back from three down.

With the deficit just two, however, they had a real chance.

Jota could have avoided this scenario entirely.

There is a chance that Slot had planned to take Jota off just seven minutes after the penalty incident.

It would have been justified.

Minutes PlayedPass AccuracyTouchesShot AccuracyDuels WonDiogo Jota vs Wolves6410/13201/30/5

In truth, Darwin Nunez came on and did not do much better, meaning the central striker position is still up for grabs ahead of the Villa clash.

When Slot reviews the game with the Liverpool coaching staff again, though, they will surely be just as perplexed by Jota’s decision and will be relieved that it didn’t really cost the Reds.

Jota can be ‘ridiculous’ on his day and he’ll have betters ones ahead.