Walk On: The Athletic FC's Liverpool show Same old story as momentum halted at Molineux
Mar 4, 2026
James Pearce, an experienced football journalist and Liverpool correspondent, breaks down Liverpool's stoppage-time loss at Wolves. He discusses defensive errors and the sequence that led to the late winner. Conversation covers tactical starting issues, questionable substitutions, fading impact of a striker, and worrying form from the wide players. The impact on Champions League qualification and off-field European matters are also debated.
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Recurring Slow Starts Kill Momentum
- Liverpool surrendered early control again, letting the first 45 minutes drift and killing momentum.
- James Pearce described Molineux as a “tick box” of season-long problems: slow starts, lack of ruthless finishing and defensive lapses leading to late collapse.
Late Goal Was A Chain Of Small Errors
- The Wolves winner exposed a chain of small errors rather than a single mistake, from a hesitant Curtis Jones pass to poor kicking from Alisson.
- Pearce listed the sequence: Gakpo miscue, Jones's slow pass, Alisson's weak clearance, and defenders failing to close André promptly.
Defensive Fragility In Late Moments
- Defensive reaction and set-piece/long-range vulnerability is recurring: players didn't close down Andre quickly, Van Dijk got bullied, and Alisson's distribution put the team under pressure.
- Andy Jones highlighted similar late concessions earlier in the season, linking physical and positioning weaknesses to late goals.