A late fightback could not prevent Liverpool crashing out of a second cup competition in three days against Wolves.
Richard Stearman put the visitors ahead in the FA Cup fourth round tie with a free header as Jurgen Klopp’s side were immediately placed on the back foot with barely a minute played.
The Championship side increased the deficit before the half time interval when Andrea Weimann slotted home after latching onto a Helder Costa through ball.
Liverpool sent on Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in a bid to turn the tide and were given hope as Divock Origi pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
No excuses this time around
After the midweek defeat to Southampton saw his side’s EFL Cup dreams ended, Jurgen Klopp claimed external factors had been working against his team.
Both the wind and the officials came in for criticism, the latter for failing to give his side a penalty for a handball from Shane Long.
Earlier this month he had also mentioned that Manchester United’s goal being offside in the draw at Old Trafford.
But the Liverpool manager can have no excuses for this loss.
His side were nervous at the back, lacked cohesion in the middle of the park and posed the Wolves defence little threat up front.
For a top-four Premier League team to register 20 shots against a side that sits 18th in the Championship and not come away with at least a draw is poor by anyone’s standards.
Experienced heads let the side down
Much will be made of the decision to name another young side for this game, with hindsight proving it may have been something of a mistake.
The fact is, though, it was not the younger players who let their manager down on this occasion but the more experienced heads around them.
The likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno, Roberto Firmino, and later Philippe Coutinho, were not even close to being at their best.
Wijnaldum, in particular, offered nothing defensively or offensively and it is hard to see what he brings to this current line-up.
As a whole Liverpool have under-performed in January but the senior pros must take the criticism for their failure on this occasion.
Klopp’s stubbornness hurts his team
There is a long list of words to describe Jurgen Klopp and one that should certainly be added to the collection is stubborn.
The German has stuck resolutely to his guns across January, backing the club’s younger players to get his team through a period that will have seen them play 11 games in all competitions.
He has also refused to enter the transfer market to add to a squad that is very clearly lacking the quality in depth of that the rest of the top four contenders have at their disposal.
Both decisions have ended up costing Liverpool in January, with just one win to their name this month, and that was against League Two Plymouth.
Chelsea game is now season-defining
It’s the age-old adage that a week is a long time in football and Jurgen Klopp can certainly attest to that.
Last week his side were in both domestic cup competitions and still competing for the Premier League. Fast forward seven days and they are now out of both the cups and ten points behind leaders Chelsea.
Antonio Conte’s team travel to Anfield on Tuesday and it has fast become a game that could end up defining Liverpool’s season.
A loss to the Londoners will ring the ultimate death knell on the Reds’ title challenge and leave them knowing a top four spot is the best this season has to offer.
Should they win the game, though, it will provide much-needed impetus and confidence to a side that is badly lacking in both regards. It should make for fascinating viewing.