Old Gold scriptures written in vain for Reds?

Unbeaten in 22 games, Liverpool have prevailed over each and every opponent in their wake so far in 2019/20.

One of the toughest to manoeuvre though was Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In a backs to the wall, VAR-infused cocktail of confusion at the end of 2019, Liverpool scraped a 1-0 victory over tomorrow’s opponents with an excellent Sadio Mane finish.

Both have had seasons to remember thus far. Wolverhampton Wanderers’ debut in the modernised ‘Europa league’ has been nothing short of sensational – but what is even more remarkable is their upturn in league form alongside it.

They sit comfortably in the top half with the likelihood being that they will either usurp or better their seventh placed finish from last term.

I’ve already documented the form of Liverpool. The class of Liverpool.

What does concern me as a supporter though, alongside the toughness of this fixture, is the chanting of ‘We’re gonna win the league’.

Now I could perhaps scribe a piece in which I entail the utter pain and heartbreak these five solemn words have caused me. Certainty when in defeat or victory is no concept in football, let alone when you support Liverpool.

Vehemently believing in the outcome that, although likely, is not guaranteed, is a rookie mistake when it comes to the Anfield outfit.

However, the Reds will be looking for yet another victory against a Wolves side to maintain their 16 point gap to Manchester City, with a game in hand to boot.

Team news

Wolves will definitely be without Ruben Vinagre and potentially towering central defender Willy Boly, but we expect Diogo Jota to make a return at Molineux.

The Reds, according to the boss, will ‘for sure’ be without midfield trio Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner but they will return soon. Nathaniel Clyne remains injured for the foreseeable future.

From the Dugout

Nuno Espirito Santo speaks on scheduling:

“First, we play tomorrow, then we have a couple of days off, then we start the week preparing ourselves for the next one.

“Of course, it’s a moment in having an opportunity to have more time. It will allow better recovery, it will allow players to work harder on aspects that we consider, and we prepare the team for the next game.

“Having more days during the week allows you to have a different approach on your training sessions, of course.”

Jurgen Klopp on Wolves:

“Wolves are not only this year, but last year, really difficult to play. They play a similar system to other teams.”

It depends a little bit how they set up – three or five at the back. But they do it differently, Coady has a different role, they make the pitch really big and ask you for a lot of footwork. You have to run a lot. That’s normal and good, it’s their way to play.

“For us, there are solutions for that but not without working a lot. You cannot play on a 50 or 60 per cent basis against Wolves, then you have absolutely no chance. That’s the challenge for that game.”

Head-to-head

Wolves WINS – 36

Draws – 17

Liverpool WINS – 52