Arne Slot should know brutal truth after most embarrassing defeat of Liverpool's season

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Just when the Liverpool boss had thought this season had thrown everything at him, along came another reminder of why his team continue to scrabble around among the also-rans in the hope of salvaging Champions League qualification.It was bad enough the Reds slumped to yet another last-gasp defeat to miss the opportunity to, at least temporarily, move back into the top four.But that it came against a team that had previously won just two of 29 Premier League games and had long given up hope of survival made this arguably the most embarrassing defeat of a campaign that continues to offer so many contenders.Was it misfortune that Liverpool, having dragged themselves level when Mohamed Salah ended his goal drought to equalise substitute Rodrigo Gomes’s opener, were ultimately undone by Andre’s shot taking a massive deflection off Joe Gomez four minutes into injury time? And there could be few arguments that if one team deserved to win this game, it was Wolves.While it wasn’t simply a question of the home team wanting it more, what was beyond dispute is that Liverpool simply didn’t show sufficient ambition going forward despite dominating possession until it was too late.It didn’t help that the midfield lacked bite, Ryan Gravenberch hooked at half-time after a weak showing while Alexis Mac Allister faded from view and even Dominik Szoboszlai couldn’t hold things together all by himself.And some things are surely more than just coincidence.

They didn’t here.This was the 10th time Liverpool saw a goal after the 90th minute change the outcome of a Premier League game this season, the fifth occasion on which they had lost – the first time a side have been beaten so many times in such a manner in the competition.Throw in the draws at Fulham and Leeds United, and that’s nine points they have frittered away – the difference between their current predicament and comfortably being in third place.Indeed, all three of the defeats the Reds have suffered in the last 22 games in all competitions have come when conceding during the extra period.Salah’s goal on 83 minutes, intercepting a poor pass from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to race forward and hit a shot that home goalkeeper Jose Sa couldn’t keep out, was his first in 11 Premier League games.It was, though, out of keeping with a poor overall performance summed up shortly afterwards when, sprinting towards goal with players free either side, the Egyptian directed his pass straight at a retreating Wolves defender.But he wasn’t alone. Hugo Ekitike spent far too much time away from the centre forward position due to lack of service while Cody Gakpo’s endeavour wasn’t matched with his end product.Telling, then, that Rio Ngumoha made an instant impact from the bench with a low shot Sa had to turn against the post.

The 17-year-old must surely start the FA Cup fifth round match here on Friday.Despite their lowly position, Wolves went into the game having lost just one of their previous five games and buoyed by Friday’s 2-0 home win over neighbours Aston Villa.Coming after the 2-2 draw at home to leaders Arsenal, Rob Edwards’ side are starting to connect with the Molineux faithful again as they continue to rebuild after a dismal campaign.Slot admitted before the game Liverpool had largely been unable to capitalise on the pace they sought to inject into their attacking efforts this season, with Jeremie Frimpong making only his seventh Premier League start and Alexander Isak still weeks away from a return from his broken leg.That the main talking point of a tepid first half was the intrigue over Szoboszlai’s new braided hairstyle underlined how little action there was.Wolves were reluctant to push too many players forward and their attempts to counter were too quickly doused either by poor passing or simple Liverpool defending.The Reds, though, couldn’t really make any inroads on the home rearguard as, Mac Allister aside, they laboured without really threatening.Frimpong struck horribly over from the edge of the area after a brilliant Ekitike run from inside his own half, while Gakpo and Szoboszlai both shot at Sa.But six minutes after the break, only the outstretched leg of David Moller Wolfe prevented Jones – on for Gravenberch at the interval – from scoring the opener with his chest after Ekitike had flicked on Salah’s corner.Good defending from Ladislav Krejci then prevented Mac Allister from tapping in an Ekitike cross after the Liverpool striker was released down the left by Gakpo, while Szoboszlai dragged an ambitious shot harmlessly wide.Then, with 78 minutes gone, Rodrigo Gomes lit the spark for the dramatic finale when finishing confidently after fellow substitute Tolu Arokodare was too strong for Virgil van Dijk.The two teams will now do it all again at Molineux on Friday evening. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageEnsure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.