Premier League: Reds Set to Inflict More Pain on Wounded Wolves

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool

Arne Slot’s Liverpool head to Wolverhampton this weekend in search of three points, which could take the Reds atop, hoping they would at least keep up the pressure on leaders Manchester City. 

The Merseysiders are in second place after five games and they face the league’s bottom club when they rock up for Premier League: Wolves vs Liverpool at 5:30 pm on Saturday UK time.

Slot has made a big impression at Anfield, winning every game so far—aside from a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest—and their fans have high hopes the Reds can gatecrash the annual City and Arsenal title tussle.    

Down in the Midlands, Gary O’Neil did a terrific job at Wolves last season. But this time around he faces a real struggle; his team surrendered a lead lose 3-1 to Aston Villa last week and the Wolves vs Liverpool betting odds won’t give him much comfort.    

Talking Points

Mosquera adds to Wolves headache

Nothing is going right for O’Neil’s Wolves at the moment; rock bottom of the Premier League and last week’s Midlands Derby with Aston Villa was about as bad as it can get.

After Matheus Cunha had given them a first-half lead with his second goal of the season, Wolves held on for much of the second half but, as the tension rose in the Molineux crowd—so desperate for a first win of the league campaign—the players collapsed on the pitch. Goals from Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Jhon Duran made a happy afternoon thoroughly miserable and, to make matters worse, Wolves lost a key defender. 

The Old Golds are already without long-term absentees Boubacar Traore and Sasa Kalajdzic and now centre back Yerson Mosquera will join them on the sidelines having suffered a serious knee injury against the Villans.

He has started all five games for Wolves so far but the 23-year-old will now spend a long time away, with ACL damage which needs surgery.

O’Neil might need to dip into the market again with out of contract players his only chance, and one option may be Joel Matip who was released by Liverpool this summer.

But he will have to face the Reds with what he has in his squad already.

Is there any good news for Wolves?

Well, their only point in the league came in a 1-1 draw away to Nottingham Forest; the week before Nuno’s team went and plundered three points at Anfield.

Can lightning strike the Reds twice? I seriously doubt it. 

Forest loss was just a blip for Liverpool

It was probably the shock result of the Premier League so far; but Liverpool recovered from their defeat to Forest with an impressive Champions League victory over AC Milan and then, at home to Bournemouth, they picked up an impressive 3-0 victory as Luis Diaz scored a brace to make it five goals for the season, with Darwin Nunez adding a third.  

The Reds have a midweek date with West Ham United in a Carabao Cup third round clash and fans will be hoping to see summer signing Federico Chiesa again, after he made lively cameo appearances against both Milan and the Cherries.

And if he does impress in the cup, he will soon be pushing for a place in the Premier League. After joining the Reds from Juventus, Chiesa has been patient, but he is a real talent with an eye for goal and he will be another serious goal threat for Liverpool.

Things are looking bright for Slot, with his only concern being between the sticks, where Allison has suffered a muscle strain and is doubtful for the trip to Wolves; but he has a very capable deputy in Caoimhin Kelleher.

History

Over the past 20 years the Reds have won 17 of their meetings with Wolves—there have been three draws and four wins for the Old Golds. Last season Liverpool did the double with a 3-1 win at Molineux and a 2-0 victory at Anfield on the final day of the season.   

With five wins and one defeat from six games, the Reds are in fine form whilst Wolves are having a mighty struggle, winning just once—a Carabao Cup victory against Championship side Burnley, and losing four.

And I suspect the Wolves vs Liverpool highlights will be a difficult watch for the home fans.  

Betting Tip

Wolves are at SBOTOP odds of 5.99 to win this crucial clash with the draw at 4.76 and Liverpool at 1.37. I looked at Liverpool -1.50 at a price of 2.01, but I’m following my hunch of another 3-1 away win.

Wolves have scored in the last six games and I reckon the Reds will get three.

 

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