This was another flat performance from the reigning Premier League champions for most of the night, with an opening goal from Wolves’ Rodrigo Gomes threatening to condemn the champions to an embarrassing defeat.
Mohamed Salah was woeful for most of this match and should have been replaced long before he came to Liverpool’s rescue, as he picked up a masterful pass from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to score his first Premier League goal since the opening day of November.
Liverpool pushed for a winner after that, but it was Wolves who provided the final twist as Andre’s shot flicked off Joe Gomez in injury time to give the home side a victory.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Adam Armstrong
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Adam Armstrong
Wolves boss Rob Edwards raced down the touchline like Jose Mourinho after a goal that gave his side a moment to remember, but this was a night when Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his team came up horribly short once again.
Slot was criticised for lamenting the low block approach so many of his opponents have used to defuse his team’s attacking ambitions, but the finger of blame for a flat opening 45 minutes in this game should not have been directed at the team sitting bottom of the Premier League.
Liverpool should have to come up with solutions to overcome an approach that will continue to be used against them until they prove they can get around it, but this was another example of Slot’s team firing blanks.
The lack of pace in their passing and the absence of width meant they ambled through the opening 45 minutes without offering a major threat to Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
Just three of Liverpool’s 21 goals in Premier League away games have been scored in the first half this season and this was another limp display to add to a growing list, with the most notable moment of the first half coming after 20 minutes.
Diogo Jota’s tragic passing last summer hit Liverpool’s players and fans the hardest, but it also had a big impact on the Wolves fans who idolised the Portuguese forward during his time in their colours.
So when the round of applause began to echo around Molineux to remember the sadly departed Liverpool No.20, the wave of emotion that washed around the stadium touch all present.
Liverpool players show their disappointment after conceding Wolves' injury-time winner
Liverpool players show their disappointment after conceding Wolves' injury-time winner
The memory of their departed team-mate did not inspire Liverpool to raise their game, as the leaders in Slot’s side didn’t appear to be inspired by the prospect of raising their game against the Premier League’s worst team.
Slot had to make a change at half-time to try and spark his team into life, with Curtis Jones replacing Ryan Gravenberch and the substitute should have had an immediate impact.
Hugo Ekitike flicked on a corner and Jones looked certain to score with the goal at his mercy, but he looked as confused as the ball somehow stayed out of the Wolves net as it flicked off the crossbar.
There was more energy injected into the Liverpool team after the break, with Slot likely to have read the riot act to his team on a night when they needed to win to keep their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League on track.
With Liverpool sinking back into their shell as the clock ticked down, Wolves struck the goal that will piled fresh doubts over the future of Slot.
Virgil van Dijk needed to be stronger in his tussle with Tolu Arokodare, with the through ball through given a classy finish by the ice cool Gomes.
The celebrations at Molineux befitted a team that have not had too much to celebrate this season, with Liverpool nearly striking straight back as substitute Rio Ngumoha saw his effort pushed onto the woodwork by Wolves keeper Sa.
Bellegarde’s dreadful pass invited Salah to race in on goal and draw his side level, but there was to be a final chapter in this story as Andre’s deflected shot flew past Alisson to give his side a moment to savour and plunge Liverpool towards more misery.