Wolves 0 Liverpool 3 - analysis

It will take more than the last-gasp signing of Sebastien Bassong to restore hope of survival among the Molineux masses after this night of despair.

But at least it's a start. And Wolves need that because their biggest home crowd of the season last night witnessed a collapse which could only mean relegation is the end game of this fractious season.

Mick McCarthy gathered his players for today's de-brief hoping that the arrival of the powerful Spurs defender until the end of the season will have a galvanising effect on a group of players who, for all their faults, have never lost heart quite so obviously as was witnessed against Liverpool.

Indeed, the fans passed a comment on their team's ultimate disarray more devastating and damaging then the anger and vitriol which had accompanied some of this season's other low points. With the game settled and Liverpool dominant, mockery and derision provided the backdrop for the final 15 minutes.

In truth – as McCarthy observed – there was nothing in the first half which suggested the night would end in quite such a dispiriting fashion. But then back came the same old defensive fallibilities which have cost the team so dear this season to help Liverpool score two goals in eight minutes before a third on the counter-attack made a nonsense of Wolves' unconvincing efforts to retrieve a hopeless deficit.

These frailties in front of an over-worked Wayne Hennessey will be what Bassong has been recruited to address and represents McCarthy's last throw of the dice to prop up an ailing campaign.

The problems for Roger Johnson and Christophe Berra were further aggravated by the thin cover in front of them where Emmanuel Frimpong and Eggert Jonsson played exactly as they might have expected to – newcomers to the team and to each other.

But most of all this was a collective failure which will have worried Wolves fans in that it contained something rarely seen from McCarthy's players during his six seasons at the club – a draining spirit and belief in their ability to get out of this mess.

They were, of course, facing opposition fresh from conquering Manchester's finest in two Cup competitions. And without ever getting on top of Liverpool, Wolves certainly registered enough counter-punches in an open first half to give supporters hope.

Yes, Dirk Kuyt might have scrambled home a goal in the opening minutes, Wayne Hennessey had to be at his best to keep out an Andy Carroll header and saved his finest moment for a classic, full-stretch save to hold on to Craig Bellamy's arcing free-kick.

But equally, Wolves had David Edwards racing on to a clever Michael Kightly pass and testing Pepe Reina, Steven Fletcher dipping a header just over and then exchanging a quick-combination with Kightly for the winger to shave the outside of the post.

If it wasn't totally convincing, Wolves' challenge was still potent enough to hope that they might turn in one of their memorable results.

Seven minutes into the second half, the optimism was crushed. Kevin Foley was left exposed with both Bellamy and Charlie Adam to deal with as Liverpool broke away and the latter's cross eluded the rest of the back four for Carroll to pounce at the far post.

That was simple enough for the visitors but the way in which Bellamy was afforded the freedom of midfield to advance and then strike for goal eight minutes later was criminal. Yes, Hennessey will be angry with himself for not adding another save to his season's collection – but not half as angry as he should be with the men in front of him.

The third goal, finished by Kuyt after another counter-attack had caught Wolves gung-ho, was a late, punishing conclusion to Liverpool's superiority but it must have stung the Wolves players to then have their meagre attempts to claw back some pride derided by the Molineux fans.

When, in an act of token defiance, substitute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake rattled Reina's left-hand post, they struck up a chorus of "We've had a shot at goal" before the mockery continued with cries of "Shoot, Shoot" every time a Wolves player gathered possession thereafter.

It was painful, crushing and deeply unsettling.

This is what Monsieur Bassong is stepping into – and we can only all wish him the very best of luck.

By Martin Swain