Liverpool host Wolves on Saturday afternoon, in what on paper appears like their most winnable fixture of the season up to now. 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 aspect who’ve suffered an terrible Premier League marketing campaign – right here’s all it is advisable know forward of the match.
1. A recreation 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 cause, this guarantees to be an emotional event, as each units of supporters present their love for a preferred participant.
Gone however by no means forgotten, Diogo.
2. Wolves the worst-ever Premier League staff?
It has been a disastrous season for Wolves, who’re threatening to be the worst Premier League staff in historical past, actually when it comes to 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 enhancing, so it is a must-win recreation for Liverpool.
Few Premier League video games are ever simple, however the Reds couldn’t ask for a kinder post-Christmas fixture.
3. Liverpool staff 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’ report 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 12 months.
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 will probably be well-rested after every week with out a recreation and Arne Slot ought to identify the same XI to the Spurs recreation.
Jeremie Frimpong will are available if Bradley is out, whereas Milos Kerkez has been improved of late and will proceed forward of Andy Robertson.
With Szoboszlai banned for selecting up 5 yellow playing cards, Liverpool need to make do with out their participant of the season up to now.
Federico Chiesa might be the person to return in, probably 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 adjustments?
Former Reds teen Ki-Jana Hoever is more likely 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.
Doable Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Krejci; Hoever, Lopez, Andre, Gomes, Moller Wolfe; Hwang, Strand Larsen
6. What Arne Slot stated in his press convention
Talking to 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 believe I’ve stated rather a lot concerning the deal with of Xavi Simons, which was for me utterly 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 believe in the event you make that deal with 10 occasions, I believe 10 occasions there’s a severe likelihood {that a} participant will get a severe damage.”
7. Liverpool’s dominant Anfield report vs. Wolves
It’s honest to say that Liverpool get pleasure from this fixture, successful 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 successful the replay at Molineux 1-0.
Wolves‘ final victory at Anfield within the league was a 1-0 triumph in December 2010, through the nadir of Roy Hodgson’s reign.
8. Do you know?
Hugo Ekitike has been in comparison with Fernando Torres when it comes to model, which is excessive reward for Liverpool’s in-form new signing.
In reality, the Frenchman has almost hit the bottom working 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 occasions 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 objective 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. Observe the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Wolves kicks off at 3pm (GMT), however isn’t reside on UK tv for that cause.
So This Is Anfield‘s matchday reside weblog is the place to be, with Sam Millne protecting you firm through the afternoon.
Come on you Reds!
