Liverpool host Wolves on Saturday afternoon, in what on paper looks like their most winnable fixture of the season so far. Here’s what to expect including our predicted XI.
Liverpool vs. Wolves
Premier League (18) | Anfield
December 27, 3pm (GMT)
The Reds beat 2-1 Tottenham before Christmas, making it all six games unbeaten, with much-needed life being injected into the season.
Next up is Saturday’s visit of a Wolves side who have suffered an awful Premier League campaign – here’s all you need to know ahead of the match.
1. A game to remember Diogo Jota
This is the first time Liverpool and Wolves have met since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota back in July.
For that reason, this promises to be an emotional occasion, as both sets of supporters show their love for a popular player.
Gone but never forgotten, Diogo.
2. Wolves the worst-ever Premier League team?
It has been a disastrous season for Wolves, who are threatening to be the worst Premier League team in history, certainly in terms of points.
They have picked up just two points from their first 17 league games – they came in back-to-back matches away to Spurs and at home to Brighton in late September and early October.
Vitor Pereira was replaced by Rob Edwards last month, but Wolves have shown few signs of improving, so this is a must-win game for Liverpool.
Few Premier League games are ever easy, but the Reds couldn’t ask for a kinder post-Christmas fixture.
3. Liverpool team news: Isak out and two ’50-50’s
Alexander Isak‘s broken leg is a seismic setback for both the player and Liverpool, with the Reds’ record signing out for several months after undergoing surgery.
Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo are rated as “50/50” for Saturday, while Joe Gomez is still missing and won’t return until the New Year.
Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns are all out.
Mohamed Salah is off representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring a late winner in Monday’s 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, while Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended.
4. Predicted Liverpool XI
Liverpool will be well-rested after a week without a game and Arne Slot should name a similar XI to the Spurs game.
Jeremie Frimpong will come in if Bradley is out, while Milos Kerkez has been improved of late and should continue ahead of Andy Robertson.
With Szoboszlai banned for picking up five yellow cards, Liverpool have to make do without their player of the season so far.
Federico Chiesa could be the man to come in, potentially making his first league start of the season.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Wirtz, Ekitike
5. How could Wolves line up vs. Liverpool?
Like Liverpool, Wolves haven’t played since last weekend, but will Edwards make any changes?
Former Reds youngster Ki-Jana Hoever is likely to start at right wing-back, having played in last Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Brentford.
Midfielder Andre was linked with a move to Liverpool before he joined Wolves, and he and Joao Gomes are key figures for the visitors.
Rodrigo Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Hugo Bueno and Toti Gomes are among those injured while Yerson Mosquera is suspended.
Possible Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Krejci; Hoever, Lopez, Andre, Gomes, Moller Wolfe; Hwang, Strand Larsen
6. What Arne Slot said in his press conference
Speaking to the media, Slot admitted he wasn’t impressed by Micky van de Ven’s leg-breaking tackle on Isak:
“This was for me a reckless challenge.
“I think I’ve said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons, which was for me completely unintentional, and I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.
“The tackle of Van de Ven, I think if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”
7. Liverpool’s dominant Anfield record vs. Wolves
It’s fair to say that Liverpool enjoy this fixture, winning all of their last eight home Premier League clashes with Wolves.
Last season, a Luis Diaz strike and Salah penalty helped the soon-to-be champions win 2-1 at Anfield.
That said, Wolves won 2-1 there in the FA Cup fourth round in 2017, and drew 2-2 in the third round in 2023, with Liverpool winning the replay at Molineux 1-0.
Wolves‘ last victory at Anfield in the league was a 1-0 triumph in December 2010, during the nadir of Roy Hodgson’s reign.
8. Did you know?
Hugo Ekitike has been compared to Fernando Torres in terms of style, which is high praise for Liverpool’s in-form new signing.
In fact, the Frenchman has nearly hit the ground running as much as the Spaniard did in the Premier League.
Ekitike has scored eight goals in 16 league outings, coming in only 11 starts, with Torres netting nine times in the same period.
Both were 23 in their first seasons at Liverpool – let’s hope the comparisons continue in the coming years!
9. Who is referee for Liverpool vs. Wolves?
Simon Hooper will referee Saturday’s match, which won’t exactly delight Liverpool fans!
Many officials are unpopular among the fanbase, but Hooper’s involvement in that Diaz disallowed goal at Spurs in 2023 won’t be forgotten.
Adrian Holmes and Simon Long are his assistants at Anfield this weekend and Adam Herczeg is the fourth official.
In the VAR booth, Michael Salisbury is assisted by James Mainwaring.
10. Follow the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Wolves kicks off at 3pm (GMT), but isn’t live on UK television for that reason.
So This Is Anfield‘s matchday live blog is the place to be, with Sam Millne keeping you company during the afternoon.
Come on you Reds!
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