Liverpool host Wolves on Saturday afternoon, in what on paper seems like their most winnable fixture of the season thus far. Right here’s what to anticipate together with our predicted XI.
Liverpool vs. Wolves
Premier League (18) | AnfieldDecember 27, 3pm (GMT)
The Reds beat 2-1 Tottenham earlier than Christmas, making all of it six video games unbeaten, with much-needed life being injected into the season.
Subsequent up is Saturday’s go to of a Wolves facet who’ve suffered an terrible Premier League marketing campaign – right here’s all you have to know forward of the match.
1. A sport to recollect Diogo Jota
That is the primary time Liverpool and Wolves have met because the tragic passing of Diogo Jota again in July.
For that purpose, this guarantees to be an emotional event, as each units of supporters present their love for a preferred participant.
Diogo’s two sons might be a part of the Liverpool matchday mascots.
2. Wolves the worst-ever Premier League group?
It has been a disastrous season for Wolves, who’re threatening to be the worst Premier League group in historical past, actually by way of factors.
They’ve picked up simply two factors from their first 17 league video games – they got here in back-to-back matches away to Spurs and at house to Brighton in late September and early October.
Vitor Pereira was changed by Rob Edwards final month, however Wolves have proven few indicators of bettering, so it is a must-win sport for Liverpool.
Few Premier League video games are ever straightforward, however the Reds couldn’t ask for a kinder post-Christmas fixture.
3. Liverpool group information: Isak out and two ’50-50’s
Alexander Isak‘s damaged leg is a seismic setback for each the participant and Liverpool, with the Reds’ document signing out for a number of months after present process surgical procedure.
Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo are rated as “50/50” for Saturday, whereas Joe Gomez continues to be lacking and gained’t return till the New Yr.
Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns are all out.
Mohamed Salah is off representing Egypt on the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring a late winner in Monday’s 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, whereas Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended.
4. Predicted Liverpool XI
Liverpool might be well-rested after per week with no sport and Arne Slot ought to identify the same XI to the Spurs sport.
Jeremie Frimpong will are available in if Bradley is out, whereas Milos Kerkez has been improved of late and may proceed forward of Andy Robertson.
With Szoboszlai banned for selecting up 5 yellow playing cards, Liverpool should make do with out their participant of the season thus far.
Federico Chiesa might be the person to return in, doubtlessly making his first league begin of the season.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Wirtz, Ekitike
5. How may Wolves line up vs. Liverpool?
Like Liverpool, Wolves haven’t performed since final weekend, however will Edwards make any modifications?
Former Reds teen Ki-Jana Hoever is prone to begin at proper wing-back, having performed in final Saturday’s 2-0 house defeat to Brentford.
Midfielder Andre was linked with a transfer to Liverpool earlier than he joined Wolves, and he and Joao Gomes are key figures for the guests.
Rodrigo Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Hugo Bueno and Toti Gomes are amongst these injured whereas Yerson Mosquera is suspended.
Potential Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Krejci; Hoever, Lopez, Andre, Gomes, Moller Wolfe; Hwang, Strand Larsen
6. What Arne Slot stated in his press convention
Chatting with the media, Slot admitted he wasn’t impressed by Micky van de Ven’s leg-breaking deal with on Isak:
“This was for me a reckless problem.
“I feel I’ve stated so much in regards to the deal with of Xavi Simons, which was for me fully unintentional, and I don’t assume you’ll ever get an damage out of a deal with like that.
“The deal with of Van de Ven, I feel should you make that deal with 10 instances, I feel 10 instances there’s a severe likelihood {that a} participant will get a severe damage.”
7. Liverpool’s dominant Anfield document vs. Wolves
It’s truthful to say that Liverpool take pleasure in this fixture, profitable all of their final eight house Premier League clashes with Wolves.
Final season, a Luis Diaz strike and Salah penalty helped the soon-to-be champions win 2-1 at Anfield.
That stated, Wolves gained 2-1 there within the FA Cup fourth spherical in 2017, and drew 2-2 within the third spherical in 2023, with Liverpool profitable the replay at Molineux 1-0.
Wolves‘ final victory at Anfield within the league was a 1-0 triumph in December 2010, throughout the nadir of Roy Hodgson’s reign.
8. Do you know?
Hugo Ekitike has been in comparison with Fernando Torres by way of model, which is excessive reward for Liverpool’s in-form new signing.
In actual fact, the Frenchman has almost hit the bottom operating as a lot because the Spaniard did within the Premier League.
Ekitike has scored eight targets in 16 league outings, coming in solely 11 begins, with Torres netting 9 instances in the identical interval.
Each have been 23 of their first seasons at Liverpool – let’s hope the comparisons proceed within the coming years!
9. Who’s referee for Liverpool vs. Wolves?
Simon Hooper will referee Saturday’s match, which gained’t precisely delight Liverpool followers!
Many officers are unpopular among the many fanbase, however Hooper’s involvement in that Diaz disallowed aim at Spurs in 2023 gained’t be forgotten.
Adrian Holmes and Simon Lengthy are his assistants at Anfield this weekend and Adam Herczeg is the fourth official.
Within the VAR sales space, Michael Salisbury is assisted by James Mainwaring.
10. Comply with the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Wolves kicks off at 3pm (GMT), however isn’t stay on UK tv for that purpose.
So This Is Anfield‘s matchday stay weblog is the place to be, with Sam Millne conserving you firm throughout the afternoon.
Come on you Reds!
