Sadio Mane provided the pass for Jota’s 45th minute strike which divided the two sides, enabling Liverpool to move above both Everton and Tottenham.
The Reds have lost six of their past seven matches heading into the clash but the win, albeit with only one goal scored, snapped their poor form.
“We had good moments but the final touch, final pass was not exactly there. We wanted the result,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.
Jota, who joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton last year, was a central point in the match, particularly after netting the winner. His return from injury also bodes well as Liverpool seek to solve their goal scoring issues.
“Diogo is just a class football player but we don’t, we cannot take it for granted that a boy who’s been out for three months or maybe even a little bit longer is coming back and has an immediate impact again,” Klopp said.
“That’s pretty rare, to be honest, but he has since he’s back. That is really helpful and tonight makes it even more special that he could score that goal, which was a nice goal and good play, passing situation from us.
“The perfect moment to score the goal, to be honest, like a second before the half-time whistle.”
Meanwhile, Wolves keeper Rui Patricio was stretchered off in a concerning late incident after colliding with teammate Conor Coady.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “Rui Patricio is OK. He’s conscious, he’s aware. He remembers what happened. The assessment is positive, he is going to be OK.
“When it’s something so serious, you always get worried. It can happen in football.”