Liverpool star hooked at halftime as Arne Slot pre-empts problem against Wolves

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Liverpool coach Arne Slot took off fellow Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch at halftime for Curtis Jones during a 2-1 loss to Wolves on Tuesday ahead of a frantic second half

Arne Slot made a halftime swap in Wolves-Liverpool on Tuesday(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool fell 2-1 to Wolves on Tuesday night, a further dent in the club's push to finish in a Champions League place. All three goals came in the second half.

Ryan Gravenberch was hooked at halftime for the first time this season, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during a relatively pedestrian first half. Coach Arne Slot brought on midfielder Curtis Jones to partner Alexis Mac Allister at the base of his 4-2-3-1 formation, though he couldn't help but prevent a ferocious second-half Wolves counter-attack.

The Dutch international isn't in jeopardy of earning a suspension: he would need to pick up five more by the 33rd Premier League game of the season to earn a two-match ban. The move was likely to avoid a second yellow card in a game that was quickly getting chippy.

Liverpool held 64% of the ball in the first half but attempted only six shots, registering a paltry 0.21 xG. He completed 26 of his 29 passes and lost all six of his ground duels.

For Gravenberch, it's the first time he's been hooked at halftime since the Dutch national pulled him at the break during a ho-hum 4-0 win against Finland in October.

Ryan Gravenberch reacts to his first half yellow card against Wolves(Image: Getty Images)

For the Reds, he was last pulled prior to the 65th minute in a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in October. On the season, he's started 27 league games for Liverpool, scoring four times while assisting three others.

Jones nearly scored, hitting the crossbar on a whipped-in cross midway through the second half. However, he was slightly at fault for Wolves' winner.

Arne Slot's body language was poor after Liverpool's defeat(Image: Getty Images)

He played a back pass while under pressure to Hugo Bueno to Alisson. The goalkeeper had little time to clear, and his swipe found the feet of Andre in the midfield.

The Wolverhampton player carried relatively easily in the direction of the Liverpool box, with Jones still out of position. His outside-the-box strike hit Joe Gomez and found the back of the net.

Speaking on commentary, former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock pointed the finger at Jones. "It was a mistake from Curtis Jones - he plays a ball into Alisson, and Alisson's never going to get any purchase on it," he said. "André looked heavy in the last five or so minutes, but he takes a shot, and it takes a wicked deflection to loop over Alisson."

The 2-1 loss is Liverpool's ninth of the campaign, more than each of the last two Premier League seasons combined. The Reds will face Wolves yet again this Friday in the FA Cup.