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Liverpool missed a chance to move into the Premier League’s top four after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Richarlison struck in injury time to cancel out Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half opener.
The result left Liverpool fifth in the Premier League table, continuing a pattern that has repeatedly undermined their push for Champions League qualification during the 2025-26 season.
Szoboszlai Voices Frustration After Another Late Goal
Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored Liverpool’s opener in the 18th minute, admitted the squad must respond quickly to avoid further damage to their season. Speaking after the match, the Liverpool midfielder said the team cannot afford to continue conceding decisive late goals.
“I feel flat,” Szoboszlai said. “We have to wake up because if we carry on like this, we should be happy with the Conference League. I don’t know why this is happening.”
The Hungarian midfielder pointed to the recurring nature of the problem, noting the equaliser arrived in the closing moments once again. Liverpool have now conceded eight Premier League goals in the 90th minute or later this season, the highest total in a single campaign for the club.
Each of those late goals has cost Liverpool points.
Late Concessions Continue To Damage Liverpool’s Season
Liverpool’s vulnerability late in matches has become a defining theme of their league campaign. In more than a quarter of their Premier League fixtures this season, they have conceded either an equaliser or a decisive goal after the 90-minute mark.
Five of those goals proved to be match winners for the opposition, including defeats against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Three others have turned potential victories into draws, including matches against Leeds United, Fulham and now Tottenham.
Without those late concessions, Liverpool would currently sit on 60 points and be close to securing Champions League qualification.
Instead, Arne Slot’s side remain fifth, only one point ahead of Chelsea. Aston Villa occupy fourth place, while Manchester United strengthened their position in third after beating Villa on Sunday.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher described the dropped points as a major setback in the race for a top-four finish.
“This is an absolute disaster in terms of Champions League qualification,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.
Slot Admits Defensive Record Has Cost Liverpool
Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged the team’s defensive issues after the draw, admitting the number of goals conceded has prevented the club from collecting the points expected at Anfield.
“We have conceded far too many goals to pick up the amount of points that this club and I am used to,” Slot said.
Slot also suggested the late goals have come in different circumstances rather than from a single recurring tactical issue. According to the Liverpool manager, Tottenham’s equaliser followed a sequence involving long balls and second-ball situations that Liverpool failed to clear quickly enough.
“As this season is going, it is not a complete surprise we are conceding in the last moments,” Slot said.
Liverpool have conceded 15 Premier League goals from the 75th minute onward this season, the highest figure in the division during the final stages of matches.
Champions League Pressure Looms For Liverpool
The Anfield crowd voiced frustration at the final whistle after the late equaliser, but both Arne Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai said they understood the reaction.
Liverpool now turn their focus to the Champions League, where they host Galatasaray in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday. Slot’s team must overturn a 1-0 deficit to progress in the competition.
Slot said he expects the supporters to return with full backing when the European fixture begins.
“I’m 100% sure that if they show up on Wednesday they will be supportive again from the start,” the Liverpool manager said.
Ngumoha’s Debut Start Offers Liverpool A Positive Note
One encouraging performance for Liverpool came from 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, who made his first Premier League start.
Ngumoha attempted seven dribbles during the match and completed all of them, becoming the first player to achieve that mark in a Premier League game since Matheus Cunha for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Aston Villa in May 2023.
The teenager had previously made 11 substitute appearances in the league and also featured in domestic cup competitions during the season.
Slot said the young winger’s progress has been clear over recent months and suggested performances like this could lead to increased playing time.
“A performance like today will only help him to get more minutes for this club,” the Liverpool manager said.
For Liverpool, however, the immediate concern remains the same. Another late goal has cost them points — and with the Premier League season entering its decisive stage, the margin for further mistakes is narrowing.