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Liverpool head back to Molineux on Friday for an FA Cup fifth-round tie, still dealing with the impact of Andre’s stoppage-time winner that gave Wolves a 2-1 league victory. Arne Slot accepts scrutiny after that late setback but maintains the overall game plan remains the right one.

The defeat was especially painful for Liverpool because Wolves sit bottom of the Premier League table. Andre’s goal, scored deep into second-half added time, gave the relegation-threatened side a rare win. It was also the first time a team in the relegation zone beat the reigning champions with a 90th-minute or later winner.

Slot rejected the idea that Liverpool’s tactical set-up is behind their late league defeats. Slot told reporters: “I’m almost annoyed if you say that approach. The approach isn’t different. We want to have the ball as often as possible and then get it back as often as possible, so we press high.” Slot stressed Liverpool still commit players forward in attack.

He underlined that the team style stays consistent across matches. Slot said: “It’s never the approach that changes in the game. We bring enough players forward but we aren’t converting enough chances.” Liverpool have now lost five Premier League matches this season to goals scored in the 90th minute or later.

Those five defeats, all caused by very late strikes, represent a competition record. No previous Premier League team had ever lost so many games in a single campaign to goals scored from the 90th minute onwards. That unwanted statistic adds pressure before Liverpool return to Wolves in the domestic cup.

Slot accepted repeated late losses create concern, but highlighted differences between each concession. Slot said: “If you lose many times in the same manner, then it’s more of a concern. The way we concede goals in these last minutes is not always similar, set-pieces, shots from outside back. They aren’t big chances we are giving away.”

Slot added that the players still chase wins in every competition despite these setbacks. Slot said: “Is it our approach? Not too sure about that as we want to win that game. We’re Liverpool. We want to win every game.” Slot also pointed towards specific defensive phases that have already improved this season.

The pattern of late goals has included counter-attacks and set-pieces. Slot noted Liverpool have worked on those weaknesses. Slot said: “There are periods we have conceded a lot of goals on counter-attacks and set-pieces. Against Wolves, we conceded on counter-attack, but I see an improvement overall in defending them.”

Liverpool creativity issues and Florian Wirtz injury

While defensive focus remains important, Slot also highlighted problems in chance creation. Not every Liverpool match has shown progress in attack. Slot said: “Not all the games have improved in terms of creating chances. But we’re not the only team that finds it hard to create from open play. It’s the quality of the league that makes it more complicated.”

Slot stressed that the development of several Liverpool players has been disrupted by injuries. Slot said: “You see individual players getting better and better. Progress has had setbacks due to injuries.” One key absence has been Florian Wirtz, who missed recent fixtures and is viewed as a major creative influence in attack.

Slot detailed how Wirtz’s injury changed Liverpool’s balance in the final third. Slot said: “One of the players who creates is Wirtz. He got injured three games ago. Before that team had a certain balance and we’ve had to adjust again. That’s happened a lot this season.” Those adjustments have affected fluency in possession.

Wirtz has delivered strong attacking numbers across all competitions for Liverpool this season. The midfielder has created 69 chances, provided six assists and scored six goals. Slot confirmed Wirtz returned to training this week and could feature on Friday, offering Liverpool an important creative option against Wolves at Molineux.

As Liverpool prepare for the FA Cup tie, Slot faces the task of maintaining belief in the existing approach while tightening late-game details. The potential return of Wirtz and recent work on defending transitions give Liverpool reasons for optimism as the team seek a response to the league defeat.

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