Slot: “We gave away one chance and conceded two goals” — and more

Slow and Predictable Liverpool Performance Raises Questions

Liverpool’s season has contained moments of flair and dominance, yet the defeat at Molineux served as a reminder that this side can still drift into patterns that are slow, predictable and ultimately costly.

Wolves seized on those weaknesses to claim a dramatic 2–1 victory, striking late after Liverpool had finally shown signs of life. The result left frustration hanging in the air, not only among supporters but within the dressing room itself.

Captain Virgil van Dijk described Liverpool’s display as “slow, predictable and sloppy”, a verdict that cut through the usual post-match pleasantries. It was not the language of excuses or deflection; it was the blunt assessment of a side that knows it is capable of far better.

Liverpool’s problem was not simply the defeat. Teams lose matches. It was the manner in which the game unfolded. Wolves’ first real attempt on goal arrived deep into the contest and still ended with Liverpool chasing the game. When Mohamed Salah eventually equalised, it seemed the visitors might salvage something. Instead, stoppage time brought another familiar sting.

For Liverpool, the pattern is becoming uncomfortable.

Slot Accepts Van Dijk Verdict

Head coach Arne Slot did not attempt to soften the captain’s criticism. Instead, he accepted it.

“So ‘slow’ or ‘predictable’ are words that I can understand [Van Dijk] uses,” Slot admitted after the match.

That admission is significant. Managers often defend their players publicly, particularly after a frustrating defeat. Slot chose a different path, acknowledging that Liverpool had not played with the urgency expected of them.

He did, however, note that there were improvements as the game wore on.

“The second half was better; still not great, but better. Created more and in added time – or just before added time – I think we were twice very close from chances to score the 2-1.”

Liverpool’s attacking sequence late in the game illustrated both promise and frustration in equal measure. Salah drove forward with intent, options opening around him.

“Mo was dribbling and had on the left and the right two players open, but the ball was intercepted by the defender, and the Virgil header.”

Moments like these underline the difference between opportunity and outcome. Liverpool had the openings but failed to convert them, leaving Wolves with the final word.

Recurring Late Goals Hurt Liverpool

If one statistic tells the story of Liverpool’s season, it is this: another match lost in stoppage time.

The winner for Wolves ensured Liverpool have now conceded decisive late goals multiple times during the campaign. Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Bournemouth and Manchester City had already delivered similar blows. Add this defeat and the pattern becomes undeniable.

Slot acknowledged the cruel irony of the situation.

“Those are chances and the one we concede is not even a chance, and that is what has happened so many times to us this season,” he said.

“That it happens in added time might be a coincidence maybe, although it happened so many times, but we hardly gave away a chance today. We gave away one chance but conceded two.”

From a tactical standpoint, this raises serious questions. Liverpool have not always been overrun defensively. In fact, in several of these matches they have limited opponents to very few opportunities. Yet the margins have proved ruthless.

Slow build-up play, predictable attacking phases and occasional lapses in concentration have combined to create an uncomfortable narrative.

For a club accustomed to controlling matches, that is a troubling shift.

FA Cup Rematch Offers Immediate Response

Football rarely allows time for self-pity. Liverpool will return to Molineux just 72 hours after this defeat, this time in the FA Cup.

In many ways, it presents the perfect opportunity for a response. Another slow and predictable performance would reinforce the concerns raised by Van Dijk and acknowledged by Slot. A sharper display, however, could reset the narrative entirely.

Cup competitions often hinge on momentum and mentality. Liverpool must show both. The squad has quality, experience and attacking firepower. What it needs now is clarity and urgency.

Slot’s honesty after the defeat suggests he understands the task ahead. Recognising problems is one thing; solving them is quite another.

Liverpool’s season remains alive across multiple fronts, but performances like this cannot become the norm. Slow starts, predictable patterns and late concessions are habits that must be broken quickly.

Otherwise, the verdict delivered at Molineux will linger far longer than a single defeat.

Raducanu also explained to the BBC why she may not employ a full-time coach, suggesting she would prefer tapping ‘into a few people’

While the news of Stefon Diggs’ upcoming release dominated headlines, the New England Patriots quietly made another personnel decision.

Cornerback Alex Austin will not be tendered as a restricted free agent and enter the open market next Wednesday. NFL insider Jordan Schultz was first to report the news.

Austin, 24, arrived in the NFL as a seventh-round selection by the Bills in the 2023 draft. After relatively brief stints in Buffalo and Houston, he joined the Patriots in November of his rookie campaign and has since appeared in 29 games with six starts. He registered 31 tackles as well as an interception.

In 2025, Austin appeared in 15 of 21 contests but was on the field for only 11.2% of defensive snaps and none from Week 5 on. He lost his fourth position on the cornerback depth chart to Charles Woods early in the season, missed time on injured reserve with a wrist injury, and was employed exclusively on special teams down the stretch.

Austin entered the offseason as one of five restricted free agents the Patriots had to take care of. In addition to him, quarterback Tommy DeVito, offensive tackle Yasir Durant, defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy and linebacker Jack Gibbens are also RFAs.

The Patriots have until 3:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Mar. 11, to either tender them or let them become unrestricted free agents.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he would not “point fingers” at any of his players despite his side twice failing to hold onto the lead in the eventual 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

City faced Vitor Pereira’s relegation-threatened side at the Etihad on Wednesday night and went ahead through an Antoine Semenyo goal in the first half, though a clever finish from Morgan Gibbs-White drew the visitors level before another equaliser came later on courtesy of rumoured City target Elliot Anderson.

It’s a result that takes the title out of City’s hands, leaving them seven points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, though the Guardiola’s team do have a game in hand to come against Crystal Palace.

And after the final whistle, Guardiola explained that he would “like to concede fewer” goals but insisted that he would “never point fingers at my players”.

"It is a lot but there are games that maybe we didn't deserve it but today we played, in general, good for 90 minutes," said Guardiola.

"You have to stop transitions, long balls you have to defend but it's not about this action or that action, in general the game was well played.

"We created a lot against a team so defensive, a really good team, [which is] more dynamic."

"I would like to concede fewer but it's not about analysing one specific action," explained the Spaniard.

"We did everything. We had the chances at the end and in the first half and the momentum. But something always happens and we could not win,” he added.

The result hands Arsenal the advantage in the title race, with the Gunners seven points in front ahead of City’s re-arranged game against Palace.

However, Guardiola’s side still have opportunities to land psychological blows on the Gunners, with both sides contesting the Carabao Cup later this month and Arsenal travelling to the Etihad in the league on 19 April.

City are next in league action against West Ham on 14 March, while they face Newcastle in the FA Cup this weekend before travelling to Spain to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday 11 March.

British number one Emma Raducanu says she wants to "bring my instincts back out" as she prepares for Indian Wells in California.