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Wolverhampton Wanderers
Anfield, Liverpool
1400 hours GMT, Live on Star Sports
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We are still at dawn in the Premier League season but we are already at a spot from where we see two teams who are desperate for a victory to get their respective campaigns back on track. While Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is looking for a victory within a loss, King Kenny has realized there is still more room for his squad to improve and the only the way this is going to happen is if his team starts winning consistently.
Liverpool shone right from the start but quickly found themselves in troubled waters following back to back losses to Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur. Away victories have become somewhat of a drought for the Reds in the recent past and are an issue they need to address soon. As of now, it is the home wins that hold the leverage for Liverpool to make strides and a game against Wolves couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Merseyside outfit is currently down on its knees at the eighth spot of the table behind – and to much amusement of – the local rivals Everton, Stoke, Newcastle and Aston Villa sans the Manchester clubs and Chelsea. Questions over the “actual” growth in strength with the new arrivals are now being raised by the media but Dalglish is the kind who loves silencing his critics through results. Bagging three points against Wolves at Anfield is not something that can even be embellished but it matters more in the bigger scheme of things.
One of the big factors that influence small clubs to put up eye-catching team performances in the top flight is the confidence that settles in through their participation in other domestic competitions where they, more often than not, stand up against a relatively weaker team. Wolves are not far behind Liverpool on the Premier League ladder, having also bagged seven points from five games but pundits, papers and betting experts would always go for a Liverpool victory in this fixture.
The truth is that, since last season, the Premier League has widened its horizons and it is never easy to get down to pinning a particular club to come out victorious. This is the pressure that is going to be off McCarthy’s shoulders when his side travels to Anfield. Wolves are coming off a 0-5 thumping of Milwall in the Carling Cup and have nothing to lose by thinking positively and going all out against the Reds. In such situations, no matter how hypnotic the home atmosphere is, no matter how quality-rich the opposition is, seeing a winner hands down is only going to be an illusion. It’s simple – Wolves will take anything they can get at Anfield this Saturday.
Team News & Tactical Brief
Liverpool FC
There is good and bad news coming from the physio’s room at Anfield. While club captain and Anfield local Steven Gerrard is close to his much-awaited return, Danish center back Daniel Agger is the new in-patient. Agger suffered a rib-injury in the game against Spurs last weekend and is expected to be out for a while. Also exiting the medical room are defenders Glen Johnson and Brazilian left-back Fabio Aurelio. The duo has been out for quite a while now but is back on the training grounds, although they are unlikely to start against Wolves. Another important entry into the squad is that of Martin Kelly. The young right-back has been out of action ever since his injury in the game against Arsenal but is expected to be in the starting line-up after being rested in the midweek Carling Cup fixture at Brighton.
Captain Fantastic Returns!
The game against Wolves also marks the return of Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel. Both players picked up red cards in Liverpool’s Premier League encounter against Tottenham last week. However, 19 year-old Sebastian Coates has a good chance to be handed a Liverpool debut over Skrtel. The Uruguayan enjoyed game time against Brighton but is yet to start in a Premier League game since his move from Nacional towards the end of the summer transfer window.
Liverpool need to step on the gas and regain their momentum after two consecutive defeats and ‘King’ Kenny could most likely put out a 4-4-2 without Carroll in it. Heavy domination and a fast-paced approach to the game right from the start will immediately put the pressure on Wolverhampton and for this to happen, chances of Bellamy starting over Carroll are quite strong. With Gerrard back in the side, more movement is expected all around as he is the kind of player who gets everybody involved. And having Bellamy’s presence alongside the fiery Suarez with Gerrard playing in the center supporting the two strikers, Liverpool have a higher chance of converting the chances.
Probable Starting Lineup (4-4-2): Reina, Kelly, Coates, Carragher, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Downing, Henderson, Bellamy, Suarez
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mick McCarthy has quite a few injury concerns ahead of his side’s game against the Reds but can also welcome skipper Roger Johnson and striker Steven Fletcher back to the squad. However, defenders Craddock, Foley and Ronald Zubar are sidelined due to injuries and will not play a part in the match at Anfield. Also joining this list is striker Sylvan Ebans-Blake who is ruled out due to a knee injury.
The Gaffer faces quite a dilemma in choosing his starting XI for the game against Liverpool. While the defensive line-up doesn’t really require much pondering, it is the midfield that poses a bigger problem for Mick McCarthy. Recent performances of Guediora, Milijas and Edwards in the Carling Cup match against Milwall were highly impressive and the boss has admitted that he now faces a problem of accommodating the midfielders in the midfield diaspora.
David Edwards made his return to the squad after a good part of eight months and played his first game against Milwall during midweek. However, if anyone would be taking the bench, it would most likely be Edwards because he still needs to regain his confidence before he features against any of the big guns. Wolves are likely to play in a 4-5-1 formation with striker Kevin Doyle – a man small in stature but more than a handful of trouble for defenders – starting as the lone man upfront. A five-man midfield gives puts them in a position to win and retain possession which is vital when you are traveling to a place like Anfield.
Probable Starting Lineup (4-5-1) : Hennessey, Johnson, Berra, Elokobi, Ward, Henry, Jarvis, O’Hara, Kightly, Guediora, Doyle
Key Facts:
1. So far, this season has been Wolves’ best start to a Premier League campaign.
2. Liverpool have only picked up fewer points after five games in two previous Premier League campaigns, 2010-11 and 1992-93 where they had earned five points.
3. Wolves have conceded 49 corners, more than any other team in this season’s Premier League.
4. No Liverpool player has ever been sent off against Wolves.
TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool FC)
The U-21 England international was brought to Anfield with a lot of hopes and although he has shown the potential, he hasn’t really taken advantage of the opportunities that have come his way.
After seeing a poor performance against Stoke and Tottenham, Henderson will be looking for a chance to set things right and silence his critics who have wasted little time in shooting doubts over his talent and the benefits that he can bring to Liverpool FC.
Will He Send Anfield in Raptures?
TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION:
Liverpool 2 – 0 Wolves
It is not the easiest thing in the world to come to Anfield, swallow the intimidating atmosphere, put out your best players and best performance and walk away with three points. Liverpool and Wolves have had a similar run of form but Dalglish realizes the importance of getting back on track and this game simply couldn’t have come at a better time for his side.
TheHardTackle’s BLAST FROM THE PAST:
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