Wolves 2-1 Liverpool: Andre’s stoppage-time deflection seals dramatic win at Molineux
Wolves strike late to beat Liverpool 2-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers produced a dramatic late twist to defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Molineux, with Andre’s stoppage-time effort deflecting into the net to hand the bottom club a huge Premier League win. The result left Liverpool still fifth in the table, while Wolves added a second victory in five days after previously winning only once all season.
The match had been slow to ignite, but it ended with a frantic finale. Rodrigo Gomes, introduced from the bench, opened the scoring with a counter-attacking finish well into the second half. Mohamed Salah quickly levelled for Liverpool, seemingly rescuing a point, only for Wolves to find a decisive moment in the 94th minute when Andre’s speculative shot took a touch off Joe Gomez and beat Alisson.
Key moments
- Rodrigo Gomes (Wolves) 1-0: The substitute finished a counter-attack, lifting the ball over Alisson under pressure.
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 1-1: Salah equalised soon after Wolves went in front, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
- Andre (Wolves) 2-1: A 94th-minute shot deflected off Joe Gomez and into the net to decide the contest.
A slow start, then a game that unravelled late
Much of the story was shaped by the contrast between a subdued opening and a chaotic finish. Liverpool, who could have moved up to third with a convincing win, did not begin with the intensity their position demanded. Wolves, buoyed by their recent win over Aston Villa, were content to stay in the contest and gradually grew in confidence.
The first half was notable for Liverpool’s inability to turn possession into clear openings and for Wolves’ defensive resilience. Wolves also dealt with a series of Liverpool corners, with Joao Gomes described as the dominant presence during those set-piece situations. For a match involving the reigning champions, it was a surprisingly cautious and scrappy opening period, and one that drew criticism from Liverpool head coach Arne Slot afterwards.
Liverpool’s second-half pressure and a major missed chance
Liverpool did increase the tempo after the break. Slot’s side pushed higher and created moments that should have changed the outcome. One of the clearest opportunities came when substitute Curtis Jones failed to score from close range, a yard out, after Cody Gakpo unexpectedly toed the ball away from him on the line. It was the kind of moment that can define a match, particularly away from home against a team fighting for points.
Those missed chances mattered because Wolves remained dangerous on the break. As Liverpool committed more bodies forward, the spaces behind them became more inviting. Wolves did not need a long spell of dominance to hurt Liverpool; they needed one decisive transition.
Rodrigo Gomes rewards Wolves’ counter-attack
That transition arrived when Tolu Arokodare outmuscled Virgil van Dijk, creating the opening Wolves had been waiting for. Van Dijk was pushed in the duel, but the assessment in the match report was that he needed to be stronger. Arokodare then fed Rodrigo Gomes, who showed composure to lift the ball over Alisson, despite pressure from Ibrahima Konate.
For Wolves, it was a moment of quality and clarity after a game that had often looked short on both. For Liverpool, it was a warning sign: even when controlling large parts of the ball, they were not secure when the match became stretched.
Salah responds, but Wolves have the last word
Liverpool’s response was immediate. Salah’s equaliser appeared to drag them out of trouble and set up a late push for a winner. Yet the match did not settle. Instead, it became increasingly open and emotionally charged, with both teams sensing an opportunity.
In stoppage time, Wolves found the decisive action. Andre’s shot was described as speculative, and it required a deflection off Joe Gomez to beat Alisson. The goal was unfortunate for Gomez, but it also reflected a broader issue for Liverpool on the day: they lost control of the contest at the point when game management mattered most.
Late concessions: a recurring Liverpool problem this season
The defeat was another entry in a troubling pattern for Liverpool. This was the fifth time this season that Slot’s side have conceded a winning goal in the 90th minute or later, described as the most ever by a team in a single Premier League campaign. The accumulation of those late setbacks has weighed heavily on their season, with the report noting that such slips have long since derailed their title defence and could yet cost them Champions League football.
On this occasion, the frustration was heightened by the nature of the winner. Slot argued that Wolves’ second goal did not come from a clear chance, pointing to how often Liverpool have been punished despite limiting opponents’ opportunities.
Team news and selections
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards made four changes from the side that beat Aston Villa. Ladislav Krejci, Matt Doherty, Angel Gomes and David Moller Wolfe came into the starting line-up. Liverpool made one change after beating West Ham, with Jeremie Frimpong starting at right-back and Joe Gomez moving to the bench.
The match also underlined the impact of Wolves’ substitutes, with Rodrigo Gomes coming on to score, and the overall influence of Andre, who was named player of the match.
Player ratings and standout performers
Andre was the standout, earning an 8 rating and the official player-of-the-match recognition. Joao Gomes also impressed with an 8, while several Wolves defenders were rated 7 as they held firm through long periods without the ball.
Liverpool’s ratings reflected a mixed performance: Alisson (6), the back line largely at 6, and midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister both rated 5. Those numbers aligned with Slot’s post-match view that Liverpool did not play well enough, particularly in the first half, and that their open-play finishing remains an issue.
- Wolves: Sa (7), Tchatchoua (7), Doherty (7), S Bueno (7), Krejci (7), Moller Wolfe (6), Andre (8), A Gomes (6), J Gomes (8), Mane (6), Armstrong (6).
- Wolves subs: Mosquera (6), Bellegarde (6), Arokodare (7), R Gomes (8), H Bueno (7).
- Liverpool: Alisson (6), Frimpong (6), Konate (6), Van Dijk (6), Kerkez (6), Gravenberch (5), Mac Allister (5), Szoboszlai (6), Salah (6), Ekitike (6), Gakpo (6).
- Liverpool subs: Jones (6), Ngumoha (6), Robertson (6), Gomez (5), Chiesa (6).
Slot: ‘Same old story’ as Liverpool struggle to score from open play
In his press conference, Slot offered a blunt assessment. He described the match as a familiar pattern, arguing that Liverpool have recently picked up points by scoring from set-pieces, but continue to find it difficult to convert open-play chances.
“How would I sum it up? Same old story,” Slot said. He pointed to Liverpool’s possession and chance creation, but emphasised that the end product has not matched their control. “We have far more ball possession than the other team. We have created more open play and general chances than the other team. But from open play, we struggle to score.”
Slot also criticised Liverpool’s first-half performance and their set-piece delivery during that period, describing it as “very poor taking” and linking it to the overall level of their play. While he felt the second half was better, he did not consider it great, and he highlighted late moments when Liverpool came close to taking the lead before conceding.
He referenced an attack involving Salah’s dribble with two players available, only for the ball to be intercepted, and also mentioned a Virgil van Dijk header. Slot’s frustration was that Wolves’ winner did not come from what he considered a genuine chance, echoing his view that Liverpool have frequently conceded in decisive moments despite limiting opponents.
Looking ahead, Slot acknowledged the pressure of the run-in. With nine games to go, he said Liverpool are “coming closer to the end” and dropping points when it is “absolutely not necessary.” He also stressed that Liverpool must improve rather than rely on fortunate moments such as deflections, while still giving Wolves credit for their effort and resilience.
Edwards: Work rate and togetherness driving Wolves’ improvement
For Wolves, Edwards focused on the process behind the result. He said the plan was to stay in the game and improve as it went on, increasing pressure until spaces appeared. “We wanted to be in the game, we felt we could improve. More pressure on opponent, they start to open up, more spaces,” he explained.
Edwards framed the team’s recent progress in terms of work rate and a growing understanding of what is required to compete at Premier League level. He described a “stark difference now” and noted that Wolves have a small squad, but one that is tightly bonded. While he admitted Wolves are not playing exactly how he wants them to, he emphasised that they are showing key characteristics and “having to find a way.”
The win also fed into a broader message: Wolves, despite their position, believe they are better than their season record suggests. Edwards said the group is fighting for each other and working hard to prove they are “not as bad as people might have thought.”
What the result means
From Liverpool’s perspective, the afternoon was a missed opportunity. A strong win would have lifted them to third, but instead they remain fifth. The performance raised familiar questions about their ability to turn control into goals from open play and about their vulnerability to late, decisive moments.
For Wolves, the victory was another step in a short burst of momentum. Having won only once all season before their recent success, they have now made it two wins in five days. Beyond the points, the manner of the win—staying in the contest, striking on the counter, and then finding a late winner—will strengthen belief within a squad still fighting to climb away from the bottom.
Next meeting: FA Cup tie at Molineux
The two teams will meet again at Molineux in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday evening. Edwards acknowledged the challenge of facing Liverpool again so soon, suggesting the result might leave their opponents motivated for a response: “We have probably made them quite angry now so we will see!”
When asked whether supporters might prioritise cup success given Wolves’ Premier League situation, Edwards pushed back on the idea that it had to be one or the other. “Does it have to be one or the other? We will try to win both,” he said.
Match summary
- Wolves beat Liverpool 2-1 at Molineux.
- Rodrigo Gomes scored after coming on as a substitute; Salah equalised.
- Andre’s 94th-minute shot deflected off Joe Gomez to win it.
- Liverpool remain fifth; Wolves claimed a second win in five days.
- It was the fifth time this season Liverpool have lost to a 90th-minute (or later) winner.