Liverpool's Champions League Hopes Dented by Late Wolves Winner
Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed frustration after a dramatic late defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, describing it as "another setback" in a disappointing Premier League campaign. The Reds fell to a 2-1 loss at Molineux on Tuesday, with Andre's deflected stoppage-time goal proving decisive.
Late Drama Seals Wolves Victory
Rodrigo Gomes put Wolves ahead with just 12 minutes remaining, but Liverpool appeared to have salvaged a point when Mohammed Salah equalised five minutes later—his first league goal since November. However, Wolves snatched all three points in added time when Andre's effort took a cruel deflection off Joe Gomez and beat Alisson Becker.
This marked the third consecutive home match where Wolves have scored in stoppage time, showcasing their resilience under pressure. The defeat leaves Liverpool missing a crucial opportunity to draw level with Aston Villa and Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification.
Slot Laments Familiar Story
Slot admitted the late goal perfectly encapsulated Liverpool's season of frustration. "Same old story," he said. "Recently we are picking up points because we scored many times from set-pieces. But end result, we score one and they scored two and another in added time so it sums up our season again."
The Liverpool boss highlighted his team's ongoing struggles in open play, despite dominating possession and creating chances. "What I mean by it sums up our season is that we have far more ball possession than the other team and we've created most open play chances, but in open play we've struggled to score," Slot explained.
With nine games remaining, Slot acknowledged the setback but refused to give up on their objectives. "My expectations have changed throughout the season because I expected more from us and what we are fighting for now. But it's another setback and we didn't help ourselves with this result, not at all," he stated.
Wolves' Upturn Continues
Wolves manager Rob Edwards praised his team's fighting spirit as they continue their battle against relegation. Despite sitting 11 points from safety with eight games left, Edwards sees positive signs in their recent performances.
"Certainly could get used to it, it's a good feeling," Edwards said of the late victory. "It's taken a while to realise how hard you've got to work to take something from a game, especially at this level. There is a stark difference from when we came in to now, the level of fight and work the lads are showing."
Edwards emphasised the growing cohesion within his squad. "We've got a tight group that are fighting for each other and working hard. Showing that we're not as bad as people thought. We're showing characteristics what I want my teams to have but we are finding a way. That's where I want it to be."
Consequences for Liverpool
The defeat ended Liverpool's three-match winning streak and could see them drop to sixth place if Chelsea defeat Aston Villa on Wednesday. Slot gave full credit to Wolves for their determined performance, acknowledging their compact defensive structure made life difficult for his team.
"Well done by Wolves, they made it really hard for us and compact," Slot added. "If you want to go faster you have to dominate situations on the side, and we struggled to dominate on the sides today. If we don't want to rely on a deflected shot, we need to do better and play better. But we've had enough chances to win the game but credit to Wolves, they fought from the first second to the end and got a little bit of luck they deserved."
As the Premier League season enters its final stages, Liverpool face mounting pressure to secure a top-four finish, while Wolves continue their unlikely fight for survival against increasingly difficult odds.
