Last weekend, Liverpool let in a 90th-minute winner for a fourth time in the Premier League this season. Is there any explaining why the reigning champions are so fragile late in games?
The Familiar Feeling
The feeling was far, far too familiar. In the third minute of injury time, Erling Haaland slotted his penalty confidently into the bottom-left corner of Alisson’s goal and, with it, took another point off Liverpool.
For a fourth time in just 25 league games this season, Arne Slot’s team conceded a winner in second-half stoppage time. With 13 games of the season remaining, they have already equalled the Premier League record for 90th-minute winners conceded in a season.
Late goals have become more common in the Premier League in recent years, largely because the amount of time added on at the end of matches has increased, but also because five substitutes are now allowed, meaning more fresh players are on the pitch late in games. So, maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that this particular record has been equalled relatively early in 2025-26.
But that it is Liverpool, the reigning champions, who are well on course to break it, should be of real concern.
Historical Context
Four other teams have let in four winners in second-half stoppage time in a Premier League season: Watford in 2017-18, West Ham in 2021-22, Watford again in 2021-22, and Southampton in 2024-25. Two of those four sides were relegated. None of them would have gone into the season in question with ambitions to win the title.
And after less than two-thirds of 2025-26, Liverpool, with some of the best players in Premier League history in tow, have already matched them.
Teams With Four 90th-Minute Winners Conceded
| Team | Season | Final Position | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watford | 2017-18 | – | Relegated |
| West Ham | 2021-22 | – | Survived |
| Watford | 2021-22 | – | Relegated |
| Southampton | 2024-25 | – | – |
| Liverpool | 2025-26 | Ongoing | Title defenders |
The Timeline of Liverpool’s Late Collapses
First, there was Eddie Nketiah’s winner for Crystal Palace in the 97th minute at Selhurst Park back in September. Then, the next week, Estêvão struck a 95th-minute winner for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool then went 22 games in all competitions without letting in an injury-time winner, before Amine Adli got one for Bournemouth in mid-January. Haaland then made it four for the season on Sunday.
Liverpool’s 90th-Minute Winners Conceded 2025-26
| Match | Opponent | Minute | Scorer | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Palace (A) | 97′ | Eddie Nketiah | Loss |
| 2 | Chelsea (A) | 95′ | Estêvão | Loss |
| 3 | Bournemouth (H) | 90+’ | Amine Adli | Loss |
| 4 | Man City (A) | 90+3′ | Erling Haaland | Loss |
Beyond the 90th Minute
The really worrying thing about all of this, though, is that the 90th-minute winners Liverpool have conceded don’t paint a full picture of their struggles late on in games. There have been other costly concessions.
In early December, they conceded a 96th-minute equaliser at Leeds, scored by Ao Tanaka, and in early January, they shipped another to Fulham, when Harrison Reed’s wonderstrike denied them three points at the death at Craven Cottage.
That means Liverpool have conceded six goals in second-half stoppage time already this season, their joint most in any Premier League season on record since 2006-07, along with 2010-11. However, this season, all six of them have been result-altering, making this their worst season in that regard. Only two of the late goals they conceded in 2010-11 changed the result.
Result-Altering Stoppage Time Goals
| Season | Stoppage Time Goals Conceded | Result-Altering | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 6 | 2 | Previous record |
| 2025-26 | 6 | 6 | All changed results |
The Wider Picture
But while it is the really, really late sucker punches that have hurt most, Liverpool’s issues aren’t restricted to injury time.
Slot’s side have conceded 12 goals beyond the 76th minute of Premier League matches this season, which is fewer than only Newcastle with 14, Leeds with 13 and Bournemouth with 13. It is also the fourth-highest total in Liverpool’s Premier League history, and only three goals off their club record of 15 conceded in the final quarter of an hour of games in 2002-03.
Games being longer and the fact that everyone is scoring more late goals are both playing a part in Liverpool’s problems, but they aren’t the entire reason for it. It is only Liverpool, after all, who are letting in this many late winners. They have conceded two more than anyone else in the Premier League this season, and twice as many as all but one other team.
Goals Conceded After 76th Minute (2025-26)
| Team | Goals Conceded 76’+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | 14 | Most in league |
| Leeds | 13 | Second most |
| Bournemouth | 13 | Joint second |
| Liverpool | 12 | Fourth most |
What’s Going Wrong?
So, what’s going on? Why are Slot’s side letting in so many late goals, and particularly goals that matter?
Early on in the season, they were conceding a lot of goals trying to play the fast-paced football that won them the title last season. Games were open and incredibly entertaining for the neutral, but what they were doing wasn’t sustainable. They conceded equalisers after the 76th minute in their first two league games of the season, against Bournemouth and Newcastle, but went on to win both by scoring even later winners. Eventually, they were on the wrong side of the late drama with defeats at Palace and Chelsea. There was also an 84th-minute winner conceded at home to Manchester United.
Slot decided a more defensive approach was needed to protect his team from the kind of chaos that littered the early part of the season, but the late equalisers conceded at Leeds and Fulham proved his team were also vulnerable when sitting back and trying to keep hold of a lead.
The recent defeats to Bournemouth and City proved that Liverpool have been unable to fully shake off the chaos from early on in the season.
Squad Rotation Issues
A major problem appears to be, depending on how you look at it, a lack of depth, or that Slot has his favoured players and doesn’t really trust enough of the rest of his squad to start games regularly.
Whether because he hasn’t been able to or because he hasn’t wanted to, he has not rotated as much as most other teams. No team have more players who have started 20-plus Premier League games this season than Liverpool, with eight players reaching that mark, level with Crystal Palace.
Nowhere is that more apparent than at the heart of defence, where Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté have started more Premier League games together this season than any other centre-back combination, appearing in 24 out of 25 matches. It would be understandable if they were finding the relentlessness of this season testing, and late on in games, with pressure rising, small mistakes or lapses of concentration might be sneaking in. The players can’t really be blamed too much if that is the case.
Liverpool Squad Usage 2025-26
| Metric | Liverpool | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Players with 20+ starts | 8 | Joint-most with Crystal Palace |
| Van Dijk-Konaté partnership | 24/25 games | Most-used CB pairing in PL |
| Rotation frequency | Low | Compared to other top teams |
Tactical Adjustments
As detailed earlier in the season, opponents are increasingly going long to beat Liverpool, and perhaps their defence isn’t yet accustomed to dealing with that kind of approach quite so much, especially when tired late on in games.
Injuries, unlike last season, have also played a part. Slot was able to rely on his key players for the majority of their title-winning campaign as well as most of his favoured replacements. Right now, the treatment room has robbed him of depth both in defence and up front.
There have been teething problems with new players settling in, while the psychological impact of the loss of Diogo Jota cannot be forgotten. There’s no measuring the ongoing effect that grief will be having on this group of players.
The Lack of Pattern
There may be no explaining precisely why Liverpool are letting in so many last-gasp winners. As Slot has pointed out, there is little consistency in the type of goal they are conceding. “They are different goals,” he said.
But the fact is that a worrying pattern has developed, and whatever the reason, Slot needs to find a solution if Liverpool are to avoid setting an unwanted outright Premier League record.
Opponents will be aware of how fragile Liverpool are and, as a result, will push right until the very end when facing them. Unfortunately for them, that won’t change any time soon, so it will take a strong mindset to turn this around.
Contributing Factors
Multiple issues appear to be contributing to Liverpool’s late-game fragility:
Early Season Chaos: The reigning champions began the campaign playing high-tempo, attacking football that produced open games with goals at both ends. While exciting, this approach proved unsustainable and led to vulnerability in the closing stages.
Defensive Tactical Shift: After recognizing the chaos, Slot implemented a more defensive approach. However, this created different problems, as late equalisers against Leeds and Fulham demonstrated that sitting back wasn’t the solution either.
Limited Rotation: The lack of squad rotation has potentially contributed to fatigue among key players, particularly the central defensive partnership of Van Dijk and Konaté, who have played together in 24 of 25 league matches.
Injury Crisis: Unlike their title-winning campaign when Slot could rely on his preferred players remaining fit, injuries have depleted depth options in both defence and attack this season.
Opposition Tactics: Teams have adjusted their approach against Liverpool, increasingly using long balls to bypass the Reds’ press. The defence may not yet be fully comfortable dealing with this tactic, especially when tired late in matches.
Integration Challenges: New signings have experienced teething problems settling into the system, affecting the team’s cohesion during crucial moments.
Psychological Factors: The emotional impact of Diogo Jota’s loss continues to affect the squad in ways that cannot be easily measured but undoubtedly influence performance.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Liverpool’s statistics paint a concerning picture:
- Four 90th-minute winners conceded in 25 games equals the Premier League record
- Six stoppage-time goals conceded, all result-altering, worst in club’s Premier League history
- 12 goals conceded after the 76th minute, fourth-most in the league
- Only three goals away from their club record of 15 late goals conceded (set in 2002-03)
These numbers represent more than just unfortunate timing. They suggest systemic issues that need addressing if Liverpool are to defend their title successfully.
The Road Ahead
With 13 games remaining, Liverpool face a critical period. Every late collapse not only costs points but also damages confidence and momentum. The psychological impact of repeatedly conceding late goals can be devastating, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy where players expect to concede and opponents sense vulnerability.
Slot must find solutions quickly. Whether through tactical adjustments, increased rotation to keep players fresh, or mental conditioning to strengthen resolve in crucial moments, changes are necessary.
The manager faces difficult decisions. Does he return to the attacking approach that won the title but left them vulnerable? Does he persist with a more conservative style despite its own failings? Or does he find a middle ground that provides both defensive security and attacking threat?
Whatever path he chooses, time is running short. With competitors sensing weakness and the record for 90th-minute winners conceded within reach, Liverpool cannot afford many more late heartbreaks.
Read More: Bukayo Saka Signs New Deal: Arsenal Star Commits Until 2031 on £300k-Per-Week Contract
