Wolverhampton Wanderers VS Liverpool Match Prediction
2019-01-07
19:45:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers
VS
Liverpool
Our Prediction Tip
Liverpool will win this match.
2019-01-0719:45:00 Liverpool will win this match.
Liverpool’s win when these two teams met in the league at Molineux a fortnight ago was their 50th in 102 previous matches against Wolves. The Reds have drawn this fixture 17 times, while Wolves have claimed 35 wins. Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk scored in the 2-0 win before Christmas, the first meeting between the sides since Wolves’ shock FA Cup win in 2017. On that occasion, Richard Stearman and Andi Weimann scored for the visitors at Anfield before they held on, despite struggling in the league that season, after Divock Origi had pulled one back for Liverpool.
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After seeing Manchester City draw with Wolves and Chelsea lose, Liverpool went to Molineux just before Christmas and did what their title rivals had failed to do – beat the newly-promoted side.
Now, in this FA Cup third round tie, they can go to Wolves and repeat the trick with the hosts inconsistent at best at home – they have lost five of their last seven at Molineux, despite beating Chelsea in that period.
Squad selection will be interesting, with neither side likely to diminish their chances of progressing in the competition given both are on track in the league.
That said, Liverpool will need fresh legs after a difficult evening at the Etihad on Thursday – meaning their fabled front three might all be rested.
If so, it gives Wolves a sniff of a chance but the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho, who are both in line for recalls, have played well enough of late to prove Liverpool’s strength in depth.
Wolves beat Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2017, as a struggling Championship side, thanks to an early goal but they are more patient in their build-up and happy to play on the counter-attack now.
An early goal could be crucial but Liverpool have enough quality – however they approach this fixture – to get back to winning ways and enjoy success at Molineux for the second time in little more than two weeks.
Liverpool are favourites to beat Wolves at Molineux but they can still be backed at a best price of 10/11 with Betway and Betfair.
Even if they look to rotate their squad players, they have been impenetrable at the back on so many occasions this season – Wolves among the myriad of teams who have failed to score against them. A Liverpool win to nil is 21/10 with Betway, Bet365 and Ladbrokes.
You can also back against both teams to score at a best price of 11/10 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
While the composition of Liverpool’s front three for the game could be tricky to predict, there will be players keen to impress if they are selected. One of those, Xherdan Shaqiri, has been in goalscoring form of late and he is 13/5 with Betway to score at any time.
Wolves’ inconsistent home form makes it hard to back them against a Liverpool team who shone in December and can get back to winning ways after their defeat at the Etihad.
Diogo Jota could return from injury to face Liverpool after missing the Christmas period with a hamstring/thigh injury. That could see Ivan Cavaleiro drop back to the bench. After being so consistent with their line-up in the first half of the season, there has been some rotation of late – Ruben Neves replaced by Romain Saiss last time out, and Adama Traore making way to accommodate Helder Costa’s return. Leander Dendoncker could be another in contention after making his first league start last weekend.
Raul Jimenez – The Mexican striker has six goals and five assists so far this season, having netted most recently in the Wembley win against Spurs.
Diogo Jota – A star player in the promotion campaign last season and now back from injury and keen to make up for lost time.
Matt Doherty – Three goals and four assists from right wing-back so far this season for the Irish international, who is one of three possible survivors from Wolves’ FA Cup defeat of Liverpool in 2017.
Since their 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool before Christmas, Wolves have won one, drawn one and lost one. The win was at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur, coming from behind to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Raul Jimenez, Willy Boly and Helder Costa on the back of a 1-1 draw with Fulham. They lost last time out, however – a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Liverpool could rotate a few players for this game to keep things fresh after the defeat to Manchester City. Options include starting Xherdan Shaqiri, after he dropped to the bench to face the champions and a return to the starting line-up for Danny Sturridge. Naby Keita and Fabinho could start in midfield too, but there is likely to be less rotation at the back given the injuries to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
Xherdan Shaqiri – Scored six times since signing from Stoke in the summer and will be keen to return to the starting XI after only featuring off the bench against City.
Fabinho – Another to drop to the bench against City despite impressing in recent weeks, who will want to prove himself on his return.
Daniel Sturridge – In all likeliness, the front three will be rotated and that will mean a big chance to prove himself for Sturridge after four goals so far this season.
After winning eight from eight in December, including a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United on Boxing Day and 5-1 pasting of Arsenal the following weekend, Liverpool lost their first league game of the season on Thursday night when they went down 2-1 away to defending Premier League champions, Manchester City. Roberto Firmino scored in that defeat at the Etihad, having previously netted a hat-trick against Arsenal, while Mo Salah scored in the two preceding wins to continue his good goalscoring form too.
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