Worse than Gomes: Wolves flop who made 0 tackles must never start again

Wolverhampton Wanderers were knocked out of the FA Cup on Friday night after suffering a 3–1 defeat to Liverpool FC.

Only a few days after securing a dramatic 2–1 victory over the Reds in the Premier League, manager Rob Edwards was unable to guide his side to another win against Arne Slot’s team.

Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah struck within two minutes of each other shortly after the hour mark, before Curtis Jones sealed the victory with a composed finish from outside the penalty area.

With elimination from the cup confirmed, Wolves now turn their full attention to the final eight league matches of the 2025/26 season.

However, the Old Gold remain 12 points away from safety, leaving them staring at a likely drop to the EFL Championship unless a remarkable turnaround occurs. The club is therefore expected to start preparing for life in the second tier while aiming to finish the campaign on a more positive note.

Angel Gomes struggles against Liverpool
One player who found it difficult to cope with Liverpool’s intensity was midfielder Angel Gomes, who is currently on loan from Olympique de Marseille until the end of the season.

Wolves hold an option to sign him permanently for £6 million this summer, but his displays so far have raised doubts about whether that investment would be worthwhile.

During the defeat to Liverpool, Gomes failed to register a shot or create a chance, while completing only 64% of his passes in midfield. Although he did win his only tackle and two out of three duels, he struggled to match the tempo of the match.

His overall defensive contribution has also been limited, with the midfielder yet to make an interception in 257 minutes of Premier League football this season.

Since the move is not a mandatory purchase, Wolves retain the option of sending him back to Marseille unless his performances improve enough to justify a permanent deal.

The Wolves player who may not deserve another start
While Gomes may still be given more time to prove his worth, another Wolves player arguably should not start again before the season ends.

With the club likely preparing for relegation, Edwards could use the remaining games to evaluate players who might be important in the Championship. In that context, full-back Jackson Tchatchoua has struggled to justify his place in the starting lineup.

The 24-year-old endured a difficult night against Liverpool, failing to close down Robertson quickly enough during the two-minute spell that produced the first two goals. The Scotland international scored once and set up another down Wolves’ left side.

Tchatchoua also endured a poor defensive showing overall, losing both of his attempted tackles and three of his five ground duels, while being dribbled past twice and getting caught out during two of Liverpool’s goals.

Going forward, he also failed to make an impact, missing the target with all four of his crosses.

Across the league season he has contributed just one assist and no goals, offering little influence in attack or defense.
Meanwhile, young right-back Pedro Lima remained an unused substitute in the match and has only appeared three times from the bench in the league this season

Given Tchatchoua’s struggles, the final stretch of the campaign could provide an opportunity for the 19-year-old Brazilian to prove himself and potentially secure a bigger role next season if Wolves are relegated.

As for Tchatchoua, his recent performances suggest Wolves may look to move him on in the summer transfer window rather than continue relying on him in the starting lineup.