Wolves sabotage mission continues but Liverpool’s woes go beyond one cruel moment

Wolves 2-1 Liverpool: Andre’s 94th-minute deflected strike snatched all three points for the Premier League’s bottom club SportFootballWolves sabotage mission continues but Liverpool’s woes go beyond one cruel momentWolves 2-1 Liverpool: Andre’s 94th-minute deflected strike snatched all three points for the Premier League’s bottom clubRichard Jolly at Molineux Tuesday 03 March 2026 22:44 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverArne Slot bemoans Premier League set-piece trendYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreFor the second time in four days, Rob Edwards set off down the touchline in manic celebration. Wolves, as their fans had chorused, are bound for the Championship, but on the way they are bloodying the noses of those with ambitions of Champions League qualification. First Aston Villa and now Liverpool have fallen at Molineux.A night when the champions could have gone third instead ended with the greater possibility this season will end in failure. There was a familiarity to the finale. Liverpool have only lost three times in 22 games but all three have come with a goal in added time, whether to Bournemouth, Manchester City or now Wolves. Liverpool could call it cruel, when the decider needed a deflection, when they had hit the woodwork twice, but another late show calls into question their game management.open image in galleryAndre’s deflected strike snatched all three points for Wolves (AFP via Getty Images)They paid a price for a sluggish start. Even as they picked up the pace, even as Mohamed Salah ended a Premier League goal drought that had extended over four months, even though Wolves did not attempt a shot of any kind until their opening goal, Liverpool arguably did too little over the course of a match that was three-quarters forgettable fare, one quarter outstanding entertainment. Or it was for Wolves, anyway. They began compact and organised, four central midfielders and three centre-backs forming a solid block. They ended more attacking, Edwards making influential substitutes.Two combined for the breakthrough with a second goal in as many games for the man who finished off Aston Villa. Rodrigo Gomes had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he struck. A fellow substitute, Tolu Arokodare, was too strong for Virgil van Dijk, turning him and supplying on the on-rushing Gomes to dink a shot over Alisson.open image in gallery(AFP via Getty Images)After Salah levelled, as Liverpool committed men forward in the search for a winner, so did Wolves. After Alisson’s poor kick, Andre’s shot looped up off Joe Gomez and left the goalkeeper helpless. Wolves, the team with a Gomes quartet, got the decisive touch from a Gomez.And Liverpool are left to consider the prospect their struggles against their inferiors will cost them a top-five finish. They have lost to Nottingham Forest and Wolves this season, drawn with Burnley and Leeds. Some 12 points have escaped their grasped in those games.RecommendedWolves vs Liverpool live: Premier League bottom club snatch injury-time winner in another huge upsetLiverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai shocks fans with new look for Wolves gameThe unusual trend defining Arsenal and Man City’s Premier League title battleWhen it seemed they had salvaged something at Molineux, it was when Salah briefly turned back time. There are times, even when their powers are waning, when the greats can summon a little of their old selves. For Mohamed Salah, this had seemed a night that offered proof of decline. His touch had betrayed him, his legs seemed incapable of generating enough speed, his goal drought looked certain to continue.Then, instead of the failings of the ageing Salah, there was a flash of the old Salah. The drive to dart into space, the finish that was almost improvised, flicked with the outside of his left foot. Jose Sa got his left hand to it, but the ball nestled in the net. Salah’s 253rd Liverpool goal was his first in the Premier League since November.open image in galleryMohamed Salah ended his goal drought but Liverpool were beaten (Jacob King/PA) (PA Wire)Perhaps, though, it summed up the current Salah that it did not prevent def