Liverpool Hold Leeds to a Draw: Wirtz Ends His Drought and Looks Set to Kick On—How Can the Reds Keep Their Three-Win Run Rolling?

Premier League Matchweek 19 kicks off in the early hours of December 31, featuring several fixtures that could reshape the title picture. Chelsea vs Bournemouth and Arsenal vs Aston Villa stand out as pivotal clashes, with only three points separating the leading contenders. Manchester United vs Wolves is widely viewed as a more manageable task on paper, while Liverpool’s home meeting with Leeds United carries a genuine test. Elsewhere, Manchester City travel to Sunderland, and Tottenham head to Brentford, where an upset cannot be ruled out.

As this round marks the final set of league games in 2025, top sides are expected to go all-in. With the table still tightly packed, the top-four race can shift dramatically from one matchweek to the next. Arsenal lead on 42 points, followed by Manchester City (40), Aston Villa (39), and Liverpool (32). Chelsea and Manchester United sit on 29, with Sunderland close behind on 28—a snapshot of how fierce the competition has been this season.

In the previous round, Liverpool edged Wolves 2–1 thanks to decisive goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz, extending their league winning streak to three matches and lifting them into fourth place. The result mattered for more than just points. Summer marquee signing Wirtz finally ended his goal drought in a Liverpool shirt, finishing a one-on-one chance to signal that he is settling in. At the same time, the growing chemistry among the club’s Dutch recruits has begun to sharpen Liverpool’s attacking structure—an encouraging foundation as they continue to close the gap.

Liverpool set the tone early with clear attacking intent. In the 10th minute, Federico Chiesa delivered a precise diagonal ball and Ekitike curled a dangerous effort from inside the left side of the box, the shot skimming past the far post. Later, in the 27th minute, Frimpong drove to the byline on the right and cut the ball back, only for the clearance to fall to Mac Allister, whose strike took a touch from Wolves goalkeeper José Sá and crashed against the post. Two close calls against the woodwork suggested misfortune—but Liverpool soon found their breakthrough.

The opener arrived in the 40th minute, and it showcased exactly why Liverpool moved for Frimpong in the summer. Bursting down the right flank, he powered into the penalty area before cutting back a low pass into the middle. Gravenberch met it in stride and drilled home to make it 1–0. It was a crucial contribution from the midfielder, and also a milestone moment for Frimpong—his first Premier League assist—as the Dutch connection began to click.

Just two minutes later, Liverpool struck again. Ekitike drifted inside from the left and threaded a clever diagonal pass for Wirtz, who ran through on goal and finished with composure to double the lead at 2–0. The scoreline gave Liverpool control, but Wolves responded strongly after the break and ensured the contest remained alive.

In the 51st minute, Wolves created danger from a left-sided corner. Alokodair directed a header on target, forcing Alisson into a sharp save, but Santiago Bueno reacted quickest to the second ball and fired in the rebound to pull it back to 2–1, reigniting the tension.

From there, Wolves continued to push. In the 76th minute, Chachuha delivered a cross from the right, and Alokodair’s header flashed just over the bar—nearly an equaliser. Liverpool had their own moments to restore breathing room: Wirtz saw an effort hit the side netting after a quickly taken set piece around the 60th minute, while Curtis Jones later cut inside and tested José Sá with a low drive. The end-to-end rhythm kept the pace high, but neither side found another goal.

The win allowed Liverpool to navigate a crucial stretch of the festive schedule and strengthen their position in the top-four race, with three straight league victories boosting both confidence and momentum. For Wirtz, that first goal could prove a defining turning point, while the early promise of the Frimpong–Gravenberch partnership hints at a more dynamic attacking platform. Still, Liverpool’s second-half spell under heavy pressure exposed areas to tighten up defensively—issues they will need to address quickly, because the next match against Leeds United is not one they can afford to take lightly.