Premier League: Liverpool Enter the Wolves’ Den

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool

When times are tough, things aren’t going your way and you need a friendly face to cheer you up; my advice would be…don’t go to Molineux!

But that’s where Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool team is heading, currently ninth in the league table and out of both domestic cups. And with a lengthy injury list of key players, the Reds need to summon all their strength in pursuit of a crucial three points. But their hosts will not be in a charitable mood after losing to these very opponents in the FA Cup just two weeks ago.

Premier League: Wolves vs Liverpool is a chance for the Midlanders to take revenge on an opponent which looks vulnerable and, sitting 17^th in the table and out of the bottom three on goal difference alone, Julen Lopetegui’s team needs the win just as badly. The hosts have had a week off after losing the third-round FA Cup tie, so while the Reds were going out to Brighton in the fourth round, Lopetegui was plotting another bad day for his opposite number Klopp.

Liverpool’s top four hopes are in danger of vanishing without trace as they sit ten points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. The Wolves vs Liverpool betting odds back a Reds win but can they cope with the mounting pressure?

Talking Points

Wolves searching for a cutting edge

While Lopetegui has breathed new life into Wolves’ campaign since his arrival in November he still has a great deal of work to do to lift a team with one win in seven matches, in all competitions, and without back-to-back league wins since November 2021. And while Molineux is an imposing place to visit Wolves’ strikers have been misfiring badly, scoring just six goals on home ground, including a Daniel Podence strike in their last home game, a 1-0 win over West Ham United.

The arrival of striker Matheus Cunha from Atletico Madrid has given the hosts another goal threat, and he is sure to make a start after frontmen Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, and Hwang Hee-chan were all hooked at halftime in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City last time out. And another new arrival, Pablo Sarabia will also be pushing for a start against the Reds.

With Wolves struggling to score freely and the Reds coming into the game on the back of a listless 0-0 draw with Chelsea maybe we shouldn’t expect a glittering array of Wolves vs Liverpool highlights …but hope is always with us!

Is Nunez ready to fire?

Klopp’s mood was not cheerful after his side went out of the FA Cup to Brighton, Lewis Dunk and Karou Mitoma canceling out Harvey Elliot’s early strike. Liverpool’s problems this season don’t fall at just one door and there have been injuries to key players; but desperate times often need a moment of inspiration from an emerging hero. This is a great opportunity for summer signing Darwin Nunez.

Last season the Uruguayan hitman scored 26 goals in 28 appearances for Benfica and won the Portuguese league’s Player of the Year award, prompting Liverpool to splash out £64m on the 23 year old. In terms of attributes Nunez has power and pace and a lethal finish when he’s on his game, but that hasn’t always been the case in a season interrupted by an early red card. He has scored five goals in 14 appearances, not a bad return for a new entrant into the Premier League, but there is much more to come. Liverpool can’t just rely on Mo Salah and, though he scored a wonder goal in the Reds FA Cup win over Wolves, Harvey Elliott is still only 19. Meanwhile January recruit Cody Gakpo is still finding his feet though he started up front for the Reds against Brighton.

Liverpool’s injury situation is going from bad to worse as centre back Ibramima Konate has just joined Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz in the treatment room. At least, as far as Liverpool fans are concerned, Everton are in a bigger mess, stranded in the relegation zone, new manager Sean Dyche unable to bring any new players in and, with Arsenal to face in his opener, the former Burnley boss has a mountain to climb.

So it could be worse!

History

Liverpool have won 14 of the head to head meetings with Wolves over the past 20 meetings, drawing three and losing three and, last season, the Reds did the double over Wolves winning 3-1 at home and 1-0 away.

Incredible though it is, these two teams have identical records over the past six games, winning just one game each over that period. Both have drawn two and lost three and that is a trend each are desperate to change.

Betting Tip

Our SBOTOP stats and odds team have priced Liverpool at 1.87 to win this game and Wolves at 3.64, and I can make a case for both, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they canceled each other out.

1-1 is the most likely score line at a price of 5.99, and that might be very close to the mark.

 

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