Match reportLiverpool beaten by late Wolves goal at Molineux

The Reds’ first of two visits to Molineux this week ended in defeat as a deflected effort by Andre in the 94th minute earned all three points for the hosts in the Premier League.

After a pedestrian first half, the closing stages of the match were high on drama and incident.

Rodrigo Gomes’ opener 12 minutes from time was quickly cancelled out by Mohamed Salah, before Rio Ngumoha saw an attempt tipped onto the post by Jose Sa.

Virgil van Dijk then missed a big chance to win it for Liverpool, the captain heading straight at Sa, and Wolves went up the other end to snatch a late victory.

Team

Jeremie Frimpong returned to the starting XI in place of Joe Gomez as Arne Slot made one change from the weekend win over West Ham United.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate (Chiesa, 79), Kerkez (Robertson, 65), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo (Ngumoha, 65), Ekitike, Frimpong (Gomez, 72), Gravenberch (Jones, 46).

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison.

First half

Liverpool’s best moments of an uneventful first half arrived inside the opening quarter of an hour, with Alexis Mac Allister the primary instigator.

Twice in quick succession, Mac Allister pinched the ball in the midfield, with the first instance resulting in a Cody Gakpo attempt on goal and the second leading to Matt Doherty needing to make a last-ditch block to repel Milos Kerkez’s cross.

Hugo Ekitike then took matters into his own hands by seizing possession inside his own half and driving deep into Wolves territory, with Frimpong then miscuing a shot over the crossbar.

But the remainder of the half was played out at a slow tempo, with neither goalkeeper unduly troubled.

Second half

Curtis Jones emerged for the second half, the No.17 replacing Ryan Gravenberch, who had been cautioned before the break.

There was significant increase in the urgency of Liverpool’s play and the visitors appeared certain to break the deadlock five minutes after the restart.

The chance came from a set-piece, as Ekitike flicked on Salah’s corner to the back post where Jones and Gakpo were waiting, only for the latter’s hooked boot to send the ball onto the crossbar and out.

Fine work down the left from Ekitike, who sped from halfway to the byline, carved out the next opportunity, but his low cross was cut out.

Then, with 12 minutes left, the game suddenly sprang into life. Wolves struck first through Gomes, who gathered a knock-on by Tolu Arokodare and finished coolly from close range.

Ngumoha so nearly equalised immediately, the Liverpool substitute eking out a low curler that Wolves goalkeeper Sa somehow managed to tip onto the foot of the post.

But Sa could do nothing to prevent Salah from levelling soon after, the No.11 intercepting a loose pass, surging forward and wrong-footing his marker before dispatching with the outside of his left boot.

The Reds then pushed on in search of a winner and Van Dijk spurned their best opportunity.

Moments later and with 94 on the clock, Andre’s strike deflected off Gomez to condemn Liverpool – who return to Molineux in the Emirates FA Cup on Friday – to defeat.