Liverpool's dire run of form continued as Craig Dawson and Ruben Neves got on the scoresheet for Wolves in a 3-0 thrashing of the beleaguered Reds at Molineux on Saturday.

The Reds' bid for a first Premier League victory of 2023 never got going as debutant Dawson followed up Joel Matip's bizarre own goal to put Wolves firmly in control within 12 minutes.

Jurgen Klopp's team enjoyed plenty of possession after the break, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed with 19 minutes left as Neves capped a swift break to put Wolves 3-0 up.  

As well as avenging last month's FA Cup exit against Liverpool, Wolves claimed a huge three points in their bid to avoid relegation, leaving crisis club Liverpool in 10th and winless in four league matches.   

Wolves needed just five minutes to breach a Liverpool defence bereft of confidence, as Hwang Hee-chan's cut-back spun off Matip and against the post before crossing the goal-line.

Rocked by that goal, Liverpool fell further behind seven minutes later when Joe Gomez inexplicably headed Matheus Cunha's cross away from Alisson's grasp, allowing Dawson to fire high into the net from close range. 

Jose Sa denied Darwin Nunez with a one-on-one save two minutes later, but Liverpool were fortunate to reach half-time 2-0 down as Matheus Nunes broke clear to draw a similar stop from Alisson.

Max Kilman cleared off the line amid a goalmouth scramble as Liverpool looked to respond after the break, before Mohamed Salah bent an effort narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner.

Sa made another huge save from Nunez's low strike as Wolves sat deep to defend their lead, but Julen Lopetegui's men made the points safe when Adama Traore broke clear to tee up Neves for a neat left-footed finish. 

What does it mean? Liverpool in disarray as Wolves end long wait

So far, 2023 has not been a year to remember for Liverpool. Having lost 3-1 at Brentford and 3-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion in back-to-back away games prior to arriving at Molineux, Klopp's team needed a huge improvement. 

All the German got, however, was more of the same. Liverpool have now lost six of their 10 away league games this season – more than they did across their last two campaigns combined (W23 D10 L5).

Wolves, meanwhile, have beaten Liverpool in a league fixture at Molineux for the first time since August 1981.  

Dawson leads the way on debut

Signed to add experience to a backline usually anchored by Kilman and Nathan Collins, former West Ham defender Dawson enjoyed a dream Wolves debut, having an impact at both ends.

In addition to his goal, Dawson led his team-mates for clearances (seven), while only Nunes won possession more often for the hosts (10 times to Dawson's eight).

Salah anonymous on landmark outing

Salah's 200th league appearance for Liverpool did not exactly go to plan, as he failed to manage a single attempt on target in a poor display.

The Egypt international remains three behind Robbie Fowler's club record tally of 128 Premier League goals, with Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri frustrating his attempts to inch closer to that mark.

Key Opta Facts

Liverpool have lost three consecutive away Premier League games for the first time since April 2012 (run of four).

Wolves have won more of their six Premier League games under Julen Lopetegui (3) than they had in their first 15 league matches of 2022-23 under Bruno Lage and Steve Davis beforehand (2). This was also the first time they'd won a Premier League game by more than one goal since March 2022 against Watford (4-0).

Wolves were 2-0 ahead in the 12th minute of this match (11:06); only against Sheffield United in September 2020 (sixth minute) have they ever scored twice faster from the start of a Premier League game. Meanwhile, it was the earliest Liverpool found themselves 2-0 behind in a Premier League match since September 2014 against West Ham (seventh minute).

Liverpool have conceded more Premier League goals in the opening five minutes of matches than any side this season (5), while Matip's own goal was the first time Wolves have scored in the first five minutes of a league game this term.

Matip scored a Premier League own goal for the first time, in what was his 135th appearance in the competition.

What's next?

Liverpool's next Premier League outing sees them host Sean Dyche's Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Monday February 13, while Wolves go to Southampton in a relegation six-pointer next Saturday.