This time to Richarlison in a 1-1 draw against struggling Tottenham that cost them a chance to go fourth in the table.

And don’t the players – who were booed off by their fans at full-time – know it.

“I feel flat,” said Dominik Szoboszlai – who scored the Reds’ 18th-minute opener – on Sky Sports.

“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, I honestly don’t know.

“In the last minute, again, I don’t know how many times this season already.”

Eight times, that’s how many.

Liverpool have now conceded eight Premier League goals in the 90th minute or later this season – their most in a single campaign, surpassing seven in 2010-11. Every single one has cost them points.

Why is this happening and how much could it cost them at the end of the season?

How many more points could Liverpool have…

In over a quarter of their Premier League games this season, Liverpool have conceded either an equaliser or a losing goal after the 90-minute mark.

Five have been winning goals as they were beaten by Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Manchester City and Wolves.

Three have been draws – against Leeds, Fulham and now Tottenham, although that Fulham game had seen the Reds take a 2-1 lead in the fourth minute of injury time themselves before conceding three minutes later.

By comparison, Liverpool have won three matches with last minute or injury-time goals, with two of them coming in the first four games of the season.

Without those late concessions the Reds would be on 60 points and pretty much have a Champions League spot wrapped up.

Instead they are fifth – which will probably be enough for a place in next season’s competition – but only one point above Chelsea, who lost at the weekend to Newcastle. Aston Villa, who are two points clear in fourth, were also beaten by third-placed Manchester United on Sunday.

“This is an absolute disaster in terms of Champions League qualification,” said ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports.

“With Aston Villa and Man Utd playing each other, someone was going to drop points.

“It was coming, I was saying it all second half. They have been sleepwalking. Liverpool were all over the place.”

Reds boss Arne Slot admitted: “We have conceded far too many goals to pick up the amount of points that this club and I am used to.”

Liverpool are not exactly air-tight in the stages before the 90th minute either.

They have conceded 15 league goals from the 75th minute onwards. No other team in the league have let in more in the final 15 minutes.

‘Is it down to the manager or make-up of the squad?’

Who is to blame for these late points dropped – and why so many poor performances after winning last season’s Premier League title?

“Awful performance, considering the opposition. With the incentive of the other results, to put a performance in like that – but it’s been like this all season,” said Carragher.

“The big question is, is that down to the manager or the make-up of the squad? I’m not too sure.”

What is causing it? The problem is, if Liverpool knew, they would have sorted it by now.

In a bid to find a theme, Dutchman Slot pointed out all the goals were not similar.

“Again in the last minute, again after an opportunity to score ourselves and again we leave the pitch with a disappointing result,” he told Sky Sports.

“The way we concede is not always the same in the last minute. You cannot compare the deflected shot against Wolves with the shot today. All of the moments they had came from long balls and second balls and we were not able to clear the ball fast enough.

“As this season is going, it is not a complete surprise we are conceding in the last moments. “

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Slot added: “Every time it happens in the last minute it is an enormous frustration.

“How many times does it need to happen? And it happened again today. This time it didn’t come as a complete surprise – the last 15-20 minutes of the game were the most equal part of the game.”

And the booing from the Anfield faithful?

Both Slot and Szoboszlai said they understood it – but the midfielder added they should “support us in a difficult time”, with a 1-0 deficit to overcome on Wednesday in the Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at home to Galatasaray.

“I’m 100% sure that if they show up on Wednesday that they will be supportive again from the start, but if the team doesn’t perform to the standards that they are used to, I think it is completely normal that they are frustrated,” added Slot.

“Arne Slot has to have a look at himself,” said ex-Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“If Liverpool play like this midweek, then they will be knocked out of the Champions League.”

Ngumoha offers glimmer of hope?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Rio Ngumoha was lively on his first league start

One positive for Liverpool was the performance of 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha on his first Premier League start.

He became the first player to attempt seven or more dribbles in a Premier League game and complete them all since Matheus Cunha for Wolves against Aston Villa in May 2023.

Ngumoha had previously made 11 substitute appearances in the league, and featured in each cup competition this season.

“I think I have said two months ago, he progressed so well as a 16-year-old and now 17 he is progressing well,” said Slot.

“A performance like today will only help him to get more minutes for this club.

“I have 12 or 13 players that are able to bring good performances. Rio is doing that well it makes sense to play him.”

Salah has been included in Liverpool’s squad for the Champions League match in Marseille on Wednesday following his return from Afcon.

There is uncertainty over the 33-year-old’s future following an explosive interview during which he said his relationship with manager Arne Slot had broken down – but Szoboszlai would give no insight into the forward’s situation.

“That’s between me and him. He will come back and then we keep on going. It’s the decision between the manager and the club,” the 25-year-old said.

Asked if he had much contact with Salah since he left Merseyside on 15 December, Szoboszlai added: “Yes, to be honest, almost every day. We speak about everything. I’m following him, I guess he is following me. We talk a lot.”

Salah last played for Liverpool in their 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton on 13 December.

Slot said last week he is “happy” to have Salah back – and Saturday’s draw against Burnley illustrated why.

Liverpool had 32 shots, of which 11 were on target, but only scored once despite having an xG of 2.95. Szoboszlai also missed a penalty.

“That’s the first time we have played really well against a low block and created a lot of chances,” said the Hungary attacking midfielder.

“We had loads of guys in the box, we had crosses and shots. That is what we have to aim for against Marseille but they don’t have a low block – they try to play from the back and we have to be ready for this too.”

Szoboszlai also defended himself against accusations by Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane of being “disrespectful” during the FA Cup tie last week.

Barnsley scored when the Liverpool midfielder attempted a back heel deep inside his own box, and Hourihane suggested Szoboszlai would not have tried it against bigger clubs.

“Personally, it’s been a tough week,” said Szoboszlai. “I made a mistake against Barnsley but I have to make it clear it wasn’t disrespectful and I would do the same against Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

“I didn’t want to give it back to Giorgi [Mamardashvili]. I tried to pretend I was playing it back. I then missed a penalty against Burnley but I’m going to keep on going, I’m going to take the next one and I’m going to score – I’m pretty sure.”

Szoboszlai’s miss on Saturday was his second from 22 attempts from the penalty spot but he is happy to continue in the role when Salah is not on the pitch.

“Yes, one time against the post and now the crossbar,” added Szoboszlai, who revealed talks are ongoing over a new contract, with his current deal expiring in 2028.

“The next one is in. If he [Salah] comes back, he is the first penalty taker.

“He will give me some advice on what to think about when you miss as he’s missed a couple of times but he forgets what has happened.”

The Gunners had the better of a first half short on clear-cut chances but Arne Slot’s side stepped things up when attacking the Kop after the interval and got their reward through the tireless Hungarian, who played the game out of position at right-back.

Liverpool are now the only team with a perfect record in the Premier League this season, moving ahead of Chelsea at the top, while Mikel Arteta’s men lose their own unbeaten record having suffered their first defeat against the ‘big six’ in 23 matches.

The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Preston in a behind-closed-doors friendly at their training ground earlier this month but the post-Jurgen Klopp era is now up and running with their first win on their US tour.

Hungarian midfielder Szoboszlai opened the scoring after 34 minutes by sweeping in Mohamed Salah’s through ball, while Betis striker Juanmi missed two chances in front of 42,679 fans.

Liverpool lost midfielder Curtis Jones on the half-hour mark with Slot saying it was too early to say how bad the injury was.

The Reds face Arsenal in Philadelphia on Thursday and then take on Manchester United in Columbia on Sunday, 4 August.

How did Liverpool play?

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Arne Slot has joined Liverpool from Feyenoord

Slot has taken over from Klopp, who was in charge for nine years, and the German’s often dubbed ‘heavy metal football’ looked a little more soft rock under their new Dutch manager.

The changes in the style of play came in a fluid 4-2-4 formation and the Reds played without a striker.

Again, it was partly down to the limited personnel, but Klopp’s gegenpressing style turned into a slower possession-based approach, typically favoured by Johan Cruyff-influenced Dutch coaches.

Slot delivered his instructions at the Pittsburgh Steelers’s half-full Acrisure Stadium while constantly stood in the technical area and moved players into position with hand gestures and measured shouts.

Harvey Elliot and Szoboszlai took turns playing in the attacking midfielder number 10 role, so Liverpool were effectively without a striker for the majority of the game.

“I think during the season you will see us playing with a real striker but at this moment we have no-one with Darwin [Nunez] unavailable,” Slot said.

“We played with two number 10s and put them in the position they will play during the season. That was maybe out of necessity.

“But for the rest of the style of play, we tried to build from the back, that is our style to control the game, not concede constant counterattacks.

“That will hopefully be our style during the season and there were also many things we can improve but that’s normal after two weeks.”

It looked similar to the unenforced but successful tactical approach taken by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in the FA Cup final, with Bruno Fernandes up front in the win against Manchester City.

For Liverpool, it worked well given they had so few senior players. They dominated early on with shots from Fabio Carvalho, Salah and Wataru Endo, albeit from difficult positions. Elliot then scuffed the first real chance from a good Conor Bradley cutback, before Szoboszlai’s goal.

The second half was more of a non-event for the spectators as a host of youngsters disrupted the rhythm. Nabil Fekir hit the side netting from a good free-kick position and Carvalho had a shot saved by former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian before coming off.

But it was an important exercise in fitness building, and introducing Slot’s style to his players, the supporters and football world before the new Premier League season starts.

Who stood out?

Defender Bradley was the pick of the starters, linking well with Salah on the right flank and created the majority of the best chances.

Meanwhile, Carvalho, fresh from a loan spell at Hull City, looked determined to impress with a number of dangerous moments.

There was ultimately a total change in line up as youthful substitutes Trey Nyoni, Vítezslav Jaros, Tyler Morton, Harvey Blair, Ben Doak, Luke Chambers, Nat Phillips, Luca Stephenson, Owen Beck, Stefan Bajetic, Kaide Gordon and Lewis Koumas all came on in the second half.

Nyoni, 17, excelled as the first of the youngsters coming on for an injured Curtis Jones. He dictated the play in the middle of the pitch and also created a big chance for Blair.

The youthful squad was down to Liverpool’s policy to give their players from Euro 2024 and Copa America their full recommended three-week holiday, as dictated by players’ union FIFPro when many rivals cut them short.

Ibrahim Konate and Diogo Jota will return early, however, having had minimal involvement for their national teams.

Jones injured?

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Curtis Jones started only 14 Premier League games in Jurgen Klopp’s final season

The midfielder highlighted just how much he is enjoying Slot’s approach before kick-off but he came off injured in the 28th minute and went straight down the tunnel.

After the match, Slot played down concerns about Jones’ fitness saying: “I think it’s too early to tell [how bad it is]. He maybe could have played on, but I think maybe you could see he was not at 100%.”

The Reds triggered the Hungarian’s release clause to make him their second major signing of the summer.

Szoboszlai arrives, subject to a work permit, following the £35m signing of Argentina international midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton.

The 22-year-old won the German Cup in each of the last two seasons.

Szoboszlai made 31 appearances in the Bundesliga last season, scoring six goals and registering eight assists.

He signed from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in January 2021 and has since scored 20 goals and had 21 assists in 91 appearances.

Szoboszlai’s release clause expired on Friday but Liverpool activated it in time before agreeing personal terms.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is looking to reinforce his midfield with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving the club this summer.

The 22-year-old Hungary attacking midfielder helped Leipzig finish third in the Bundesliga and claim the German Cup last season.

A meeting took place between the representatives of Szoboszlai’s camp and Liverpool, who are looking to bolster their midfield.

A move appeared unlikely earlier in the week but is now a possibility.

There are reports that Szoboszlai has a release clause of about £60m which expires on Friday.

Szoboszlai made 31 appearances for Leipzig in the Bundesliga last season, scoring six goals and registering eight assists.

Liverpool have already added to their midfield earlier this month with the signing of Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister for £35m from Brighton.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is looking to reinforce that area of the pitch with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving the club this summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool forward Fabio Carvalho is close to completing a season-long loan move in the other direction.

Carvalho joined the Reds from Fulham last summer for an initial £5m and on a five-year contract.

He made 21 appearances for Liverpool last season, including eight starts, and scored three goals.