Wolves suffered defeat to Liverpool on the final day of the 2023/24 calendar, seeing one of Gary O’Neil’s players already cause problems ahead of next season.
It was a difficult day for Wolves on Merseyside as the Old Gold lost 2-0 to Liverpool, seeing Jurgen Klopp bid farewell to the Premier League with three points.
While Gary O’Neil would have preferred to see his first season at Molineux end with a positive result, there have been plenty of things to celebrate around the Midlands club this term.
That being said, one area of the 2023/24 campaign that has let many down is VAR, reinforcing why Wolves took the step towards expelling the system from the Premier League next season.
VAR has cost the club on numerous occasions since its introduction, with the final game providing yet more controversy as Nelson Semedo was sent off in the first half at Anfield, causing more than just problems during the defeat.
Nelson Semedo will miss the opening three games of 2024/25 with suspension after red card against Liverpool
In the 28th minute, Semedo lunged into Alexis Mac Allister and received a yellow card from referee Chris Kavanagh, which was eventually upgraded to a red after VAR’s intervention.
VAR called Kavanagh over to the monitor to reassess the challenge, which when slowed down, was deemed to be a dismissable offence for violent conduct.
It wasn’t a good tackle from Semedo, who could have injured Mac Allister however, there were questions raised by Jamie Carragher, who admitted a yellow card could have sufficed to punish the foul.
A red card was given and the Portugal international left the pitch, which could now see him cause O’Neil problems ahead of the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
If Semedo is to stay at Wolves after this summer, the right-back will serve his three-match ban from the opening day of the Premier League season, giving the boss something to think about well in advance.
Nelson Semedo could leave Wolves this summer
There are several names who have had their futures at Wolves speculated, with Semedo being one for the reason of his wage bill and contract situation.
Earning £80k-a-week at Molineux, the £37m signing is expensive to maintain and with the final season of his contract approaching, now could be the optimum time for the club to offload him for a reasonable price.
There will be fear of allowing the defender to leave as a free agent next summer, with his form this term demonstrating that he could exit for a fair price if suitors were to come forward.
For now, Semedo will be looking back on his final day of the season with regret, seeing his closing game of a successful 2023/24 campaign end after just 28 minutes.