In a thrilling turn of events, Wolves' André delivered a stunning last-gasp winner, dealing a crushing blow to Liverpool and their manager, Arne Slot. This match was far from the stress-free affair that Slot might have envisioned. As Liverpool seemed to secure a point through Mohamed Salah's efforts, André's deflected shot, which ricocheted off Joe Gomez, beat Alisson, securing Wolves' second Premier League win in five days. This victory came after a six-month wait for their first win in January.
For Wolves head coach Rob Edwards, this was a familiar feeling. He celebrated Wolves' second goal against Aston Villa last Friday, and this time, he let loose again after André's strike. Edwards' eyes widened with delight and disbelief as he celebrated another special moment in a grueling season. Liverpool, on the other hand, found themselves beaten by the league's last-placed side.
The winner was born from a half-baked clearance by Alisson, which Jackson Tchatchoua headed back. André seized the ball and took aim from outside the box, with Virgil van Dijk turning his back and Gomez's block proving insufficient. The goal was fittingly scored by André and João Gomes, who were the last to emerge from the pile-on in front of the South Bank. Edwards ended up doing fist pumps, a trademark of Slot's predecessor, in front of the Wolves supporters.
Liverpool, however, have been unconvincing lately, with a 5-2 scoreline against West Ham being their most recent result. The first half at Molineux offered little encouragement, with more signs that Salah's powers are on the wane. The visitors mustered only two shots on goal in the first period, with Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai taking speculative efforts. Something had to change, and Slot made a tactical adjustment at halftime, introducing Curtis Jones in place of Ryan Gravenberch.
The second half saw Liverpool struggle, with a strange episode symptomatic of their struggles. Hugo Ekitiké flicked the ball on at the front post, and Jones was lurking at the back post, but Gakpo's intervention inadvertently hooked the ball against Jones' chest. Wolves, however, exhibited the composure of champions to seize the lead on 78 minutes. Tolu Arokodare, on as a substitute, did superbly, laying the ball off for an advancing Rodrigo Gomes, who surged into space vacated by Konaté. The Liverpool defender tried to make amends, but Rodrigo Gomes toe-poked the ball with his right boot, lifting a deft shot over a stunned Alisson.
Liverpool's old entertainer, Salah, seemed to rescue his side with an inventive shot using the outside of his left boot. However, Wolves had other ideas, and the bad news for Slot is that Liverpool will face Wolves again in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday. Edwards acknowledges that he and his players may have poked the bear, and the question remains: will Liverpool be ready for another thrilling encounter?
