Liverpool will take on Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, looking to continue their impressive run of form with a victory away from home.
Liverpool are currently third in the league table ahead of their clash with Wolves, having picked up three wins and a draw from their first four league matches of the season. They will be hoping to close the gap with league leaders Manchester City with a victory on Saturday. A win over Wolves could send them to the top of the table tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers are 15th in the league table, having lost three of their four league matches this season. Wolvevswill be hoping to bounce back strongly, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off a morale-boosting victory against Liverpool. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News and Tactics
Wolverhampton Wanderers
The home side will be without the services of Joseph Hodge, who is ruled out with a thigh injury. Other than that, Wolves have a fully fit squad to choose from. Wolves are likely to shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation against Liverpool, with Jose Sa in goal.
Matt Doherty will start as the right-back along with Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left flank. In the heart of the Wolverhampton Wanderers defence, Craig Dawson will likely start alongside captain Max Kilman.
Pedro Neto and Pablo Sarabia will be deployed as the wingers here, and they will look to add width and creativity to the side. Joao Gomes should start alongside Mario Lemina in the middle of the park. The two players will look to add physicality and defensive cover to the side. Finally, Fabio Silva will lead the line, with Matheus Cunha operating behind him as the second striker.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Sa; Doherty, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Neto, Gomes, Lemina, Sarabia; Cunha; ilva
Liverpool
The Reds have a number of injury problems ahead of this game. Thiago Alcantara has returned from his groin injury, but he is yet to return to full fitness. Trent Alexander-Arnold is sidelined with a thigh injury, and he is expected to return later this month. Virgil van Dijk remains suspended after picking up the red card against Newcastle United.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss #WOLLIV due to injury. ⤵️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 15, 2023
Darwin Nunez is expected to be a part of the squad despite picking up a muscle problem. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate has returned from his thigh injury, and the Frenchman is expected to play here.
Liverpool will start in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal. Joe Gomez is likely to start as the right-back in the absence of Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson will continue on the left. So, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip will be the central defenders here.
In the middle of the park, Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister adding creativity and control to the side alongside him. Finally, Darwin Nunez is likely to lead the line for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Key Stats
- Liverpool have won 9 of their last 11 matches against Wolves in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 15 matches (Premier League).
- Wolves have won just one of their last 11 meetings with Liverpool in all competitions.
- 15 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
Key Player
Mohamed Salah
💪 @MoSalah 😁 pic.twitter.com/f9W7LrIh2q
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 14, 2023
The Egyptian international is undoubtedly Liverpool’s best attacking threat, and he has picked up two goals and two assists in his first four league matches of the season. Salah has contributed to a goal or an assist in six of his last seven matches for club and country, and he is likely to make a defining impact here as well.
The 31-year-old will look to get on the scoresheet here and punish a vulnerable Wolverhampton Wanderers defence. Heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the last few weeks, Salah will be eager to get his head back into the game and deliver the goods for Liverpool against Wolves.
Prediction
Wolves 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool are firm favourites heading into this contest, and they should be able to pick up all three points here. Wolves will look to put on an improved display in front of their own fans here but the gulf in class between the two sides is immense.
The home side are likely to fall short once again and their miserable start to the season is likely to continue. A 3-1 victory for the away side is on the cards here, with Liverpool continuing their unbeaten run.
