Liverpool v Wolves – Match Preview

Liverpool return to Premier League action this weekend after securing their qualification to the Champions League’s knockout stages in midweek, with their injury-hit side currently behind league leaders Tottenham on goal difference.

Jurgen Klopp’s side face a difficult task with Wolves visiting Merseyside on Sunday evening, in what will be the Reds’ first fixture with a small number of fans since the coronavirus outbreak.

Here is all you need to know about this weekend’s clash:

Form

Liverpool: DWDWW

Liverpool have managed to continue picking up results despite an ever-increasing number of injuries, their options have been severely depleted in recent weeks, particularly defensively.

Their thrashing at Aston Villa remains their sole league defeat of the campaign to date, however, recovering from that hammering well and head into this weekend’s fixture level on points with league leaders Tottenham.

Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Brighton was disappointing given the conceding of a contentious stoppage-time penalty, though Diogo Jota continued his fine form with his ninth goal of the season and will be out to make an impact against his former side on Sunday.

Embed from Getty Images

Neco Williams is expected to deputise at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold absent and James Milner picking up a hamstring injury at right-back, whilst Caoimhin Kelleher could make his Premier League debut in goal after impressing in midweek – Alisson expected to miss up to two weeks with a hamstring problem.

Liverpool have won each of the four Premier League meetings since Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League two years ago and will hope to continue that dominance this weekend.

Wolves: WDLWD

Wolves remain one of the most impressive sides in the Premier League and currently sit seventh in the division at present, having secured three points with a 2-1 victory at Arsenal last time out.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have enjoyed a positive record against the league’s ‘top six’ sides since returning to the Premier League and will hope to finally secure a league victory over Liverpool at the fifth time of asking.

Wolves will be without the services of talismanic figure Raul Jimenez, however, after the Mexican international suffered a fractured skull in a sickening clash of heads at the Emirates last weekend.

Embed from Getty Images

Teenager Fabio Silva – signed in a big-money deal from Porto during the summer – could deputise, whilst the in-form Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence are expected to form part of a vibrant attacking unit, the former having scored in each of his past two appearances.

Last meeting

Wolves 1-2 Liverpool, 23rd January 2020

Liverpool’s record-breaking run to the Premier League title continued with a 22nd win in just 23 league fixtures at Molineux in January, Roberto Firmino’s late goal sealing yet another victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Jordan Henderson had headed the Reds into an eighth-minute lead following a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner, only for Wolves to hit back through Raul Jimenez early in the second period.

The Mexican combined in familiar fashion before directing a magnificent header beyond Alisson to level the scores.

Liverpool rode their luck on occasion but pushed forward in search of a winner, Firmino lashing home a left-footed effort with just six minutes remaining as the eventual champions overcame one of their sternest tests of the season.