Wolves 0-1 Liverpool: Heroes, villains & player ratings as Origi breaks Wolves hearts

Divock Origi scored a stoppage time winner to break Wolverhampton Wanderers hearts and condemn Bruno Lage’s side to their first defeat in four games.

Wanderers worked tirelessly throughout the 90 minutes and looked to be heading towards a well deserved point but Origi’s strike in the final minute of additional time sent them home empty handed.

A slow start to the game was no bad thing as it allowed both sets of fans inside Molineux to give their undivided attention to the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ tribute on six minutes.

All four stands rose to their feet and applauded in unison for a little boy’s life, needlessly taken far too soon.

It took until around the 25 minute mark for a chance of any real note for either side and it was Liverpool who began really upping the tempo.

Trent Alexander-Arnold finding Wolves old boy Diogo Jota with a pin-point cross but the forward headed wide from six-yards out.

The hosts’ best period of play came in the final five minutes of the half and Rayan Ait-Nouri was heavily involved.

First breaking at pace and playing a teasing ball across the box before then turning into prime Maradona. He turned Alexander-Arnold inside but his shot wasn’t up to the same standard and instead found the corner flag.

Wanderers carried on in that manner in the second-half, playing with much more tempo and causing the visitors far more problems.

Traore was a thorn in the Reds side time and time again but was unable to fathom a real clear-cut chance.

Liverpool were always a danger going forward though and should have gone 1-0 up through Jota.

The former Wolves man found himself with the goal at his mercy after beating Jose Sa to a ball over the top. All he had to do was pick his spot but he found the one defender stood on the line, Conor Coady.

And just as it looked like the visitor’s best chance had come and gone, up popped Belgian forward Origi, who swiveled on a pass to feet from Mohamed Salah and fired past the helpless Sa.

A cruel, cruel end for Wolves who had given their heart and soul on the day.

Heroes

• Wolves fans

I feel ‘fans’ can be said sometimes just to get on side but they really were superb today.

From the first to the last minute they sang. Whether they were on top or on the back-foot - the noise was deafening at times.

Get Molineux like that for the remainder of the season and it will become a fortress.

• Conor Coady

Or his body or whatever part of him the ball hit to deny Diogo Jota.

If we’re being pedantic, he probably knew absolutely nothing about it - but he got back on the line and the roar when the ball didn’t ripple the net as expected was quite something.

A captain’s performance from him today, for sure.

Villains

• Divock Origi

Self-explanatory. A last minute winner from someone that always seem to do it. This time, sadly it had to be against Wolves.

• Lack-of-depth

One thing this game showed once again is that Wolves really do have a lack-of-depth.

The bench was made up of three youngsters, Luke Cundle, Chem Campbell & Hugo Bueno and with all due respect to them as professionals - they can’t expect to be brought on to change a game like this.

Wanderers needed a spark, some support for Jimenez - because for all the Mexican’s quality - he didn’t see the ball nearly enough today.

Everybody knows it but January is huge.

Player ratings

Wolves (3-4-3): Sa 7.5; Kilman 7.5, Coady 7.5,* Saiss 7; Semedo 6, Dendoncker 6.5, Neves 7, Ait-Nouri 7 (90’ Hoever N/A); Traore 7, Jimenez 6.5, Hwang 6 (79’ Moutinho N/A)

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson 6; Robertson 7, van Dijk 6, Matip 7, Alexander-Arnold 7; Thiago 7.5, Fabinho 6.5, Henderson 6 (67’ Origi 7.5*); Mane 6, Jota 5, (81’ Oxlade-Chamberlain N/A) Salah 7 (90’ Milner N/A)

Next up

It doesn’t get any easier for Bruno Lage. Wolves make the trip to Manchester to take on the reigning Premier League champions next Saturday 11 December in the 12:30 kick-off.

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