Arne Slot has issued a defiant “we are Liverpool” message to his squad as he looks to banish a “horrific” trend ahead of Friday night’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Wolves.
The Reds travel to Molineux knowing their season reaches a critical juncture, but the shadow of recent defensive lapses looms large over the trip. Liverpool have developed a worrying habit of conceding last-gasp goals a flaw Slot knows must be rectified if his side are to progress in the competition.
Speaking ahead of the cup showdown, the Dutchman was blunt about the standards expected at Anfield, insisting that “wanting to win every game” requires a level of concentration that has been missing in the final moments of recent outings.
Amazingly, this season so far, one of Liverpool’s biggest weaknesses has centred on their bad luck, heading into the late stages of contests.
Just this campaign alone, the reigning Premier League champions have given up five 90th-minute goals, which is the most leaked by a single top-flight club in an entire season.
This wretched luck cursed them mid-week at Molineux, as well, as Andre fortuitously smashed home a deflected effort to gift Rob Edwards’ hosts a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The Dutchman took time during his pre-match press conference to discuss this unfortunate statistic that keeps popping up involving his team, as he desperately hopes the Reds can bounce back from another agonising defeat in the FA Cup.
Slot’s comments on Liverpool’s late goal record
Slot was full of fire when quizzed about Liverpool’s late slip-up at Molineux, stating that the defeat was “hard to take” but he wasn’t completely downbeat about the overall display from his troops.
He stated: “It wasn’t so difficult to analyse, a lot of ball possession for us without being able to create a lot of chances. Not the first time this season it has happened. Enough chances to win the game. We didn’t convert into goals. And not for first time this season their first shot on target led to a goal.
That was also the moment we started to realise we had to bring even more than before and from that moment on we generated quite a lot of chances, scored, missed a few others, then a deflected shot went in.
It was hard to take. But we are one day before another very important game for us. We analysed it, we know we have to be better tomorrow.”
Moreover, alongside commenting on his side’s toothless nature, Slot also offered up his own assessment of Liverpool’s frailties at the back when the clock starts ticking down.
He further elaborated: “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.
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.
It’s not like we push Virgil or Ibou forward every time.”
This desire to want to win every game that’s put in front of them could see the Reds go for blood when travelling back to the West Midlands on Friday night.
After all, while Liverpool are still prioritising a top-four spot back in the Premier League, some silverware – courtesy of the FA Cup – surely won’t be sniffed at.
Liverpool’s last FA Cup honours:
| Year | Opponent | Score |
| 2022 | Chelsea | 0-0 (6-5 on pens) |
It has been four years since Liverpool last lifted the iconic trophy, with this season perhaps given a lift if Slot and Co. are triumphant at Wembley once more.
To get there, however, they’ll have to make sure they don’t fall victim to another late horror show…
