Liverpool will host Wolves at Anfield on Saturday, aiming to continue their recent unbeaten run and hoping to return to the top four.
Liverpool are coming into this game vs Wolves on the back of three consecutive victories in all competitions. They will be reasonably confident heading into this game. The Reds are up against the worst team in the division.
Wolves are without a win in the last 17 Premier League matches, and they are the favourites to go down this season. Liverpool will look to beat them and push for a place in the top four. The visitors have a dreadful record against Liverpool, and they are completely lacking in form and confidence right now.
This will be a difficult challenge for the away side, and they are likely to end up on the losing side. It remains to be seen whether they can erase their performance levels and make it difficult for the home team. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Arne Slot will be without Giovanni Leoni (knee), Wataru Endo (ankle), Joe Gomez (hamstring), and Alexander Isak (leg) this week. Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, there is some positive news, as Florian Wirtz (hamstring) is fit and available. Meanwhile, Conor Bradley (muscular) and Cody Gakpo (knock) face late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Wolves, with Alisson Becker in goal. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to control the game from the deep and add defensive cover to the side.
Alexis Mac Allister will start as the attacking midfielder here. He will look to add goals and creativity to the side. Finally, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo (if fit) will start on the flanks, with Hugo Ekitike leading the line for Liverpool vs Wolves on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike
Wolves
Wolves will be without Dan Bentley (ankle), Rodrigo Gomes (groin), Toti Gomes (thigh), Marshall Munetsi (calf), and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (hamstring). Meanwhile, Tawanda Chirewa and Emmanuel Agbadou are away at AFCON.
However, there is some positive news, as Yerson Mosquera has served a suspension. Additionally, Hugo Bueno faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. Wolves are likely to shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Sam Johnstone in goal.
In the back three, Yerson Mosquera will start alongside Ki-Jana Hoever and Santiago Bueno. Jackson Tchatchoua and David Moller Wolfe will start as the wing-backs here. They will look to keep things tight at the back and hit Liverpool on the break.
As for the midfield unit, Joao Gomes and Andre will add defensive cover and control to the side from the middle of the park. Jhon Arias and Hwang Hee-chan will start as the attacking midfielders here. They will look to link the midfield with the attack and help create opportunities for their teammates. Finally, Jorgen Strand Larsen will lead the line for Wolves vs Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Johnstone; Hoever, Mosquera, Bueno; Tchatchoua, Joao Gomes, Andre, Wolfe; Arias, Hwang; Strand Larsen
Key Stats
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.
- Liverpool have won 16 of their last 17 Premier League games against Wolves, with the exception being a 3-0 loss at Molineux in February 2023. 17 goals have been scored in their last six matches between these two teams.
- Wolves have lost 24 of their last 27 away league games against the reigning top-flight champions, with the exceptions being victories at Everton in April 1971 (2-1), Liverpool in January 1984 (1-0) and Manchester City in October 2019 (2-0).
- Wolves are winless in each of their last 21 Premier League games (D3 L18), with only Derby (32, Sep 07-May 08), Sunderland (26, Dec 02-Sep 05) and Southampton (22, Mar 23-Oct 24) ever going longer without victory in the competition. Wanderers have lost 24 league matches in 2025 and only Ipswich Town (26 in 1994), Aston Villa (25 in 2015), Bolton Wanderers (25 in 2011), and Southampton (25 in 1993) have suffered more defeats in a calendar year in the Premier League.
- Jorgen Strand Larsen has failed to score in his last eight Premier League appearances, his outright longest goal drought in the competition.
Player to Watch
Hugo Ekitike
The French international has been outstanding since joining Liverpool, and he is our key player to watch out for. Ekitike has been scoring important goals for the team, and in the absence of Alexander Isak, he will once again be the focal point of the Liverpool attack.
The 23-year-old has scored in his last three league appearances (5 goals), and he will aim to become the first Liverpool player other than Mohamed Salah to score in four consecutive outings in the Premier League since Sadio Mane in February 2019. With Ekitike in such form, it is hardly surprising that he is one of our candidates for the captain’s armband in FPL for Gameweek 18.
Liverpool will depend on him to create opportunities in the final third and find the back of the net. Mohamed Salah has not been at his best this season, and he is away for AFCON. Ekitike will have to step up and deliver in the final third if Liverpool want to win the game.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-0 Wolves
Liverpool are the better team, and they have done reasonably well in recent weeks. The Reds have shown improvement, and they are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions. They should be able to pick up all three points here.
Wolves have been quite disappointing, and they will find it difficult to contain the opposition here. The home team should be able to pick up a comfortable victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Arne Slot and his charges.
