MY ACCOUNT
– Wolves have avoided defeat in three of their last five Premier League games
– Liverpool have failed to win seven of their nine away league games this season
– Recommended bet: Double Chance – Wolves or Tie
Two and a half weeks on from their FA Cup third-round replay win at Molineux, Liverpool return to the Black Country to take on relegation-threatened Wolves.
Brighton ended the Reds’ defence of the cup on Sunday after Jurgen Klopp’s men wilted late in the contest, although the German disagreed with Andy Robertson’s post-match assessment that Liverpool have been worse since action resumed following the World Cup.
Klopp will seek a reaction from his players when they face a Wolves team infused with fresh blood and optimism after a busy January transfer window.
Julen Lopetegui’s revamped squad have some winnable games coming up and will look to kickstart the second half of their campaign with a solid showing this weekend.
Team news
Lopetegui added Brazilian Joao Gomes to his midfield ranks this week, but the Spanish boss looks likely to stick with the trio that started in Wolves’ 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last time out – Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and new signing Mario Lemina.
Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia and Daniel Podence are all pushing for recalls in attack with Adama Traore, Hwang Hee-Chan and Raul Jimenez all at risk of the axe after being hauled off at the break against City.
Craig Dawson could make his debut in defence and fellow new boy Daniel Bentley will hope that he has shown enough in training this week to be considered for a start ahead of goalkeeper Jose Sa, who has been a little erratic of late.
Liverpool will be forced into at least one change with the news that Ibrahima Konate has suffered a hamstring injury.
The Frenchman complained of discomfort following Sunday’s FA Cup exit and a scan subsequently confirmed he would be out for about two weeks.
Joel Matip will slot into central defence alongside Joe Gomez with captain Virgil van Dijk still a few weeks away from a return and there could be a change at right-back too with Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling to find his best form.
Harvey Elliott should keep his place in attack as he revisits the scene of his FA Cup replay wonder goal, but Cody Gakpo could be dropped to the bench as Darwin Nunez pushes for a recall.
The stats
The six signings made by Wolves last month ensured it was the club’s busiest January transfer window since 2016 when they added seven players, three of whom arrived on loan.
The Liverpool squad has sustained 17 separate hamstring injuries this season with the players involved missing a total of 79 games.
Liverpool have not lost any of their past nine away league games against Wolves (Won 6 Drawn 3), with their last league defeat at Molineux coming back in August 1981.
Prediction
Liverpool would be 14th in the form table over the last four matches and have taken the same number of Premier League points as Wolves have over that span, which suggests this could be a close game.
Klopp’s team appears low on belief at the moment with some of the stars of their quadruple bid last season looking like a shadow of their former selves.
It would be dangerous to completely oppose the Reds when they are facing a team that they regularly beat and at a ground where they have not lost since 1981.
But the visitors’ away record this season is unconvincing and Wolves do appear to be building a grittier squad that looks capable of pulling away from trouble.
Back Wolves or tie in LiveScore Bet’s Double Chance market at 19/20.
