Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Wolves as Mohamed Salah scores but 3 really poor

Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Wolves as Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo were among those to struggle and Andre deflected in a late winner at Molineux

Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON // Mohamed Salah ended his Premier League goal drought but a disappointing Liverpool dropped more points in the race for the Champions League places, losing in stoppage time to a deflected Andre strike.

A dull first half was followed up by a second 45 minutes largely along the same lines. Liverpool struggled to break Wolves down and Rodrigo Gomes broke away near the end to open the scoring. It wasn't exactly coming, but by not scoring themselves, the Reds were always running the risk of such an outcome.

Arne Slot threw on Rio Ngumoha and he hit the post but Liverpool was not capable of generating clear-cut opportunities. It is another example of how it is really lacking in the final third, ultimately paying another painful price.

Winners

Few came out with much in the way of credit here. Defensively, Liverpool didn't have enough to do to be properly tested. Offensively, it was really lacking. Florian Wirtz, probably, is the man whose stock rose here, purely because without him, the Reds toiled again. The German should not be out for long, which is good, but probably won't be back for Friday's rematch, which certainly isn't.

Losers

Once again, the Liverpool wide players flattered to deceive. Both Salah and Cody Gakpo lacked the kind of searing pace that can light up games like these, though the former did score.

Without the creative spark that Wirtz provides, the Reds were lacking anything in the way of guile in the final third. Hugo Ekitike started OK but faded and Alexis Mac Allister was another who was barely noticeable.

Player ratings

Alisson Becker (6). He wasn't that composed against West Ham but his distribution was better here. In terms of saves, he didn't really have anything to do apart from the two goals that beat him, which he could do nothing about.

Jeremie Frimpong (6). Back in the side for his first league start since Bournemouth in January, the Dutchman was unable to provide an injection of attacking quality. Fine defensively, but limited going forward.

Ibrahima Konate (6). In a strong vein of form of late, the Frenchman was solid in possession and didn't have much else to be judged on.

Virgil van Dijk (6). Continuing his consistent run at the back, the Dutchman didn't have loads to do during the game. Cruised through, as he so often does, until he was outmuscled for the winner.

Milos Kerkez (6). The Hungary international got into some great positions but didn't always find the right ball, sometimes taking a little too long to make a decision.

Ryan Gravenberch (5). Strangely error-prone at the weekend, he was booked early on in the game after a series of fouls. Struggled to do much in a positive sense going forward and was taken off at half-time before he was sent off.

Alexis Mac Allister (6). The Argentine has not been in the best form of late, but flung into a couple of tackles strongly here. In possession, he was guilty of being ponderous at times but could have been helped by better movement ahead of him.

Mohamed Salah (6). Lacking a yard of pace to beat his man, a lot of his attempted passes and crosses in the final third were blocked. Some of his corners were not very well delivered, to say the least, but took his goal well and ended his drought.

Dominik Szoboszlai (6). The most advanced midfielder once again with Florian Wirtz missing, he wasn't as involved as he often has been this season. Sporting a new haircut, that was the most notable thing about him here.

Cody Gakpo (5). Though he scored against West Ham, his overall game was not particularly exciting. This was more of the same, really, with the Dutchman cutting inside a lot. Predictable.

Hugo Ekitike (5). Drove forward with the ball on a few occasions and had more space to run into than he might have been expecting. After a decent start, though, he really tailed off.

Substitutes

Curtis Jones (6). On at the halfway mark, the Scouser tried his best to inject some life in the game, but wasn't really able to do so. Those around him needed to show some more urgency too.

Rio Ngumoha (6). Threatened to inject some life into the attacking performance a couple of times, but wasn't involved as much as he might have wanted, even though he played a decent chunk of the game. Hit the post with one decent attempt.

Joe Gomez (6). On for Frimpong, as the Dutch full-back's minutes are managed, he slotted in and did a job. The winner deflected in off him as he tried to get back.