Liverpool fans will be back in attendance at Anfield as they prepare for the Wolves
After a splendid performance from the young lads Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, and Caoimhin Kelleher midweek against Ajax, Liverpool are through to the knockout rounds of Champions League with a match to spare.
They will need a repeat performance come Sunday as the Premier League returns to action with Wolverhampton coming to Anfield. The Reds will be looking to stay strong at the top of the table with three points here, and extending their record-setting pace of 65 matches at Anfield without a loss.
So there is plenty to play for in this one, as Jurgen Klopp seeks to wade through a ravaged and growing injury list and fixture pile-up to field the strongest side at his disposal. Nuno Espirito Santo has his Wolves playing good football currently sitting 7th in the table, here is their form guide from their last five Premier League ties:
10/25 h Newcastle United 1-1
10/30 h Crystal Palace 2-0
11/8 a Leicester City 0-1
11/23 h Southampton 1-1
11/29 a Arsenal 2-1
The Wolves will be coming to Anfield looking to end a home undefeated streak for the Reds, and keeping pace with the pack for European places, and challenging for top four in the league. Only four points separate the top spot and the 7th.
A victory here would vault them into the thick of it at the top of the table. So expect Nuno and Wolves to be hunting points and goals at Anfield against a severely depleted and wounded Liverpool side.
VVD, Joe Gomez are out long-term until summer; James Milner and Alisson Becker have hamstring issues and are not likely to feature. TAA and Naby Keita returned to full training today from hamstring knocks and are not likely to start. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is nursing a knee injury from pre-season. Thiago Alcantara is still not a match fit and is not likely to return to full training until after the new year.
Andrew Robertson has been nursing a hamstring and foot knock while continuing to play, expect to see him on Sunday as he brings maturity consistency and a calming presence in the backline that is necessary with Fabinho and Joel Matip enlisted to play in the central defensive line. This leaves Neco Williams as a probable for the fixture; and Klopp may give the starting nod to Neco after his brilliant performance midweek against Ajax. Xherdan Shaqiri remains out after a hamstring suffered on international duty during the last break.
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I expect Klopp will give the nod to Adrian in goal, but Kelleher could get the tap after his stellar outing against Ajax. Starting line-up for the Reds shapes up like this:
Adrian/Kelleher keeper, Robbo, Joel Matip, Fabinho, Neco Williams in defense. TAA could see second-half minutes if cleared to play tomorrow. Jordan Henderson– skipper, Gini Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones turn out the midfield. Keita should be available to sub on if needed.
Upfront we should see Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota; on fire thus far in the autumn campaign, should be interesting to see him against his old side and coach Nuno. Mo Salah finishes out the starting lineup with Bobby Firmino having done well coming on in the 60th minute or so recently, with fresh legs to lend to the second-half attack.
Takumi Minamino and Kostas Tsimikas will provide depth on the bench should Klopp need their services. Nate Phillips and Rhys Williams will provide defensive cover with Kostas. The Reds have played fairly well of late despite all the adversity and setbacks due to injury and other extemporaneous issues.
They are scoring goals and keeping clean sheets, the ill-begotten penalty at Amex stadium at Brighton a week ago notwithstanding. This will be another dogfight for Liverpool, and they will need all their horses dancing to the same sheet of music if they want to take all three points against a very solid Wolves side.