watch our preview for wolves v liverpool
TEAM NEWS
Wolves could give a debut to new recruits Craig Dawson and Joao Gomes. However, Joao Gomes hasn’t played for a while as it is currently preseason in Brazil where he has been playing.
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate is out with a muscle injury, joining usual centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk on the sidelines. Diogo Jota is nearing a return to full training but remains out along with Roberto Firmino and Luis
predicted line up
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JULEN LOPETEGUI
- Lopetegui said Wolves needed to “improve” and assemble a “more balanced” squad in January and believes the club “has done good work” to bring in six new players during the transfer window.
- Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes is a “good choice for the present and the future”, according to Lopetegui, after he joined from Flamengo earlier this week. The Spaniard said Gomes is “ready” to play but would not confirm whether he would make his Wolves debut on Saturday.
- Another new addition in January was defender Craig Dawson from West Ham. “I hope he will be important for us, he’s an experienced player, an English player and he has the quality to be a leader,” said Lopetegui. “We need these kind of players, sometimes on the pitch and sometimes in the dressing room.”
- Pedro Neto is making good progress in his recovery from injury, with Lopetegui saying “in the last week he has made a big improvement”. Portugal winger Neto has been out of action since October because of an ankle injury.
- Lopetegui said when he was appointed in November that Wolves had 23 cup finals as they bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League – and he “will continue saying the same”.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Liverpool have won their last 11 Premier League matches against Wolves, conceding just three goals.
- The Reds can equal their longest top-flight winning streak versus another club: 12 games against Notts County from 1920-1983 and West Brom from 1985-2010. It is already Wolves’ longest top-flight losing run against another club.
- This is the third meeting between the clubs in 28 days, with Liverpool beating Wolves 1-0 in an FA Cup third-round replay in mid-January after the teams drew the original tie 2-2.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves ended a run of four straight home league defeats by beating West Ham in their most recent top-flight game at Molineux.
- They are aiming to win consecutive league fixtures at Molineux for the first time since a run of three in November 2021.
- Wolves have failed to score in half of their 20 Premier League matches this season. Only Bournemouth have a worse record.
- Portuguese players have scored 10 of Wolves’ 12 Premier League goals this season, including all six at Molineux.
- Only 20 Premier League goals have been scored at Molineux this season, a joint-low along with Stamford Bridge.
- Craig Dawson can become the first player to make a Premier League appearance for more than three clubs whose names begin with W, having already played for West Brom, Watford and West Ham.
Liverpool
- Liverpool are in danger of losing three consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since 2012 under Kenny Dalglish.
- The Reds have kept just one clean sheet in their nine away matches in this season’s Premier League.
- Liverpool have conceded 25 Premier League goals this campaign, only one fewer than in the whole of last season.
- Jurgen Klopp’s side are the only side yet to concede a goal from outside the penalty area in this season’s top flight.
- Mohamed Salah could make his 200th Premier League appearance for Liverpool.
- Salah has scored seven Premier League goals in 2022-23, his lowest tally at the halfway stage of a season as a Liverpool player. He had 15 at the halfway stage a year ago.
- Klopp has won all eight league fixtures as a manager against Wolves.
MATCH INFO
The match takes place on Saturday 4th February at Molineux and is a 3pm kick off. The match is not live on TV in the UK.