Patricio sustains head injury as Liverpool beats Wolves 1-0

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Wolverhampton goalkeeper Rui Patricio was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking head injury after more than 10 minutes of treatment late in his team’s 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the English Premier League on Monday.

The Portugal international was struck on the head in the 87th minute by the knee of teammate Conor Coady, who was running back into his area.

Coady looked particularly concerned as medical staff attended to Patricio with caution.

In November, Wolves striker Raul Jimenez fractured his skull in a clash of heads playing a league match at Arsenal. Jimenez was in the stands at Molineux on Monday.

Diogo Jota scored the winner against the club he left to join Liverpool in September for about $52 million.

The Portugal forward’s low shot squirmed into the corner in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, with Patricio getting a hand on the ball but failing to keep it out at his near post.

Jota was playing his fourth straight game since returning from three months out with a knee injury.

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1of8Medical staff attend to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goalkeeper Rui Patricio during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Monday, March. 15, 2021.Jason Cairnduff/APShow MoreShow Less 2of8Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Conor Coady, left, checks on teammate goalkeeper Rui Patricio during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Monday, March. 15, 2021.Jason Cairnduff/APShow MoreShow Less 3of8 4of8Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has his shot at goal blocked by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goalkeeper Rui Patricio, left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Monday, March. 15, 2021.Jason Cairnduff/APShow MoreShow Less 5of8Medical staff carry Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goalkeeper Rui Patricio from the pitch during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Monday, March. 15, 2021.Paul Ellis/APShow MoreShow Less 6of8 7of8Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, second right, celebrates with teammate Mohamed Salah after scoring his team’s first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Monday, March. 15, 2021.Laurence Griffiths/APShow MoreShow Less 8of8

It was only Liverpool’s second win in its last eight league games of a title defense that has imploded in the second half of the season.

The Reds climbed two places to sixth, but was still five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification with nine games remaining.

Aided by the return of Jota to spark the attack and Fabinho in the holding midfield role, there are small signs of a revival for the Reds, who also beat Leipzig last midweek to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.

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