What looked like bad luck when André’s shot deflected off Joe Gomez and looped over Alisson Becker was part of a clear pattern: this was Liverpool’s fifth defeat this season decided in stoppage time.
Stoppage-time losses this season include Crystal Palace 2-1 (Estevão, 90+5), Chelsea 2-1 (Nketiah, 90+7), Bournemouth 3-2 (Adli, 90+5), Man City 2-1 (Haaland pen, 90+3) and Wolves 2-1 (André, 90+4). There have also been late draws — Fulham 2-2 (Reed, 90+7) and Leeds 3-3 (Tanaka, 90+6).
The problem is not that Liverpool suddenly collapse after the 90th minute; it is that so many of their games are still finely balanced by then. Early in the season those late wins — several coming after the 83rd minute — were celebrated as evidence of a champions’ mentality. The same pattern now leaves them exposed: opponents retreat into low blocks and invite pressure, waiting for spaces to open when Liverpool push for a winner.
Wolves manager Rob Edwards admitted his plan was to stay compact and then exploit the gaps that appear when Liverpool press late. Arne Slot acknowledged the frequency: “That it happens in extra time might be a coincidence, maybe, although it happens so many times.” No side in Premier League history has lost as many matches as Liverpool have this season so late on.
Slot pointed out that Alisson made only one save, arguing Liverpool “hardly give away a chance,” but the narrative misses the deterioration of structure when they chase the game. After going behind their shape can dissolve — Wolves had several clear openings before the final deflection. In the 88th minute André ran at Liverpool in a five‑on‑three; Joao Gomes later chose the wrong option in another break; support on André’s decisive run created the situation that ultimately produced the unlucky touch off Gomez. The finish was harsh on Gomez, but the defensive exposure was largely self-inflicted.
Slot and players have been candid about attacking shortcomings. “From open play, we struggle to score,” Slot said, noting an over-reliance on set-pieces and blunt finishing early in matches. Virgil van Dijk described the display as predictable and hesitant: “We were slow, we were predictable and sloppy in possession and wrong with decision‑making.” Slot urged quicker side‑to‑side movement at half-time so wingers could face full-backs; the second half showed some improvement but not enough to avoid late danger.
Underlying numbers reinforce the diagnosis. Liverpool sit eighth for expected goals in the first half this season — their lowest first‑half ranking since before Jurgen Klopp arrived — and are ninth in a provisional half-time table. Their average goal time is later than any other top‑flight side. By contrast, Manchester City continue to dominate the half‑time standings, showing low blocks can be broken more consistently.
A major difference from last season is how often Liverpool hold comfortable leads late on. In 2022–23 they were two or more goals ahead entering the final five minutes in 14 of 38 league games; this season that has happened only four times, and not until recently did they build commanding advantages. Fewer early leads mean more matches are decided in frantic, error‑prone closing minutes.
Slot summed up the simple remedy: “If we don’t want to rely on a deflected shot, we need to do better, we have to play better.” Leaving too many games to the final moments hands fate to deflections, penalties and individual mistakes. That vulnerability has already undermined their title defence and could yet jeopardise Champions League qualification if it is not fixed.