Predicted XI, Injuries & PL's Worst Team?

Predicted XI, Injuries & PL’s Worst Team?

Liverpool host Wolves on Saturday afternoon, in what on paper appears 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 aspect who’ve suffered an terrible Premier League marketing campaign – right here’s all it’s essential to know forward of the match.

1. A sport to recollect Diogo Jota

That is the primary time Liverpool and Wolves have met for the reason that 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 well-liked participant.

Diogo’s two sons shall be a part of the Liverpool matchday mascots.

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, definitely 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 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 remains to be lacking and received’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 shall be well-rested after every week with out a sport and Arne Slot ought to title the same XI to the Spurs sport.

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 should make do with out their participant of the season thus far.

Federico Chiesa may very well 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 might Wolves line up vs. Liverpool?

Like Liverpool, Wolves haven’t performed since final weekend, however will Edwards make any modifications?

Former Reds teenager 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.

Attainable Wolves XI: Sat; 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 sort out on Isak:

“This was for me a reckless problem.

“I believe I’ve stated so much concerning the sort out of Xavi Simons, which was for me utterly unintentional, and I don’t suppose you’ll ever get an damage out of a sort out like that.

“The sort out of Van de Ven, I believe when you make that sort out 10 instances, I believe 10 instances there’s a severe likelihood {that a} participant will get a severe damage.”

7. Liverpool’s dominant Anfield report vs. Wolves

It’s truthful 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 received 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, throughout the nadir of Roy Hodgson’s reign.

8. Do you know?

Hugo Ekitike has been in comparison with Fernando Torres by way of type, which is excessive reward for Liverpool’s in-form new signing.

Actually, the Frenchman has practically hit the bottom operating as a lot because the Spaniard did within the Premier League.

Ekitike has scored eight objectives 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 received’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 received’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.