One of the biggest fixtures in the Premier League tonight is Liverpool vs Wolves game which is scheduled to take place at 20:15 at the prestigious Anfield Stadium. One thing that will make the fixture so unique is the fact that Liverpool will have the opportunity to play the match in front of some of their fans for the first time in 9 months.
Recall that from mid-March when the coronavirus pandemic forced football to a halt in the United Kingdom until June 2020, when the Premier League resumed, clubs did not have the opportunity to play in front of spectators.
Also, at the start of the 2020-2021 season, clubs were not allowed to play in front of spectators as they were forced to play behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus. However, recently, the United Kingdom permitted clubs that their stadiums fell under tier one and two to host fans.
Fortunately for Liverpool, the Anfield Stadium fell under tier two which means that the stadium will host a maximum of 2000 fans during the Liverpool vs Wolves fixture tonight. So, the reigning Premier League champions will play against Wolves in front of Liverpool’s fans for the first time since the club won the league. The fans only had the opportunity to watch from home when coach Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to win the club’s first Premier League title in 30 years.
Liverpool vs Wolves: current form
This season has not been easy for any club in the Premier League as the struggle for the first spot has been intense and unpredictable.
So far, at least four different clubs have tested the top spot including Liverpool. Currently, the reigning Premier League champions are third with 21 points which means that if they win over Wolves tonight, they might return to the top of the league table.
Liverpool have been so consistent this season despite a series of injuries the club’s first eleven players have been battling with. They have recorded 6 victories, three draws, and just a defeat.
So far this season, Liverpool are yet to suffer any defeat at Anfield Stadium as they are currently enjoying 64 games unbeaten run at home which is the second-longest of such a run in English football history.
In their last 30 games at Anfield, Liverpool have only failed to win one and they have garnered 88 points from a possible 90 points in those games which means that they are almost unstoppable based on current form.
On the other hand, the only thing Wolves have in common with Liverpool is an injury to their star player. Besides that, the club have not been enjoying a lot of consistency.
So far this season, Wolves have recorded 5 wins, two draws, and three defeats in 10 games which have left the club in the 10th spot on the league table with 17 points.
The only way they can get closer to Liverpool is to win the reigning Premier League champions tonight. If they do, they will have 20 points, a point behind Liverpool.
Liverpool Premier League form: DWWDWD
Liverpool form (all competitions): WDWLDW
Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form: WDWLDW
Team News
Coach Jurgen Klopp is going into tonight’s game with at least 11 injury worries. Most of the players that are out injured are part of the club’s first eleven.
Klopp will go into tonight’s game without Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The German tactician could also be without Andrew Robertson and Jordan Henderson who are suffering minor injuries after the club’s midweek UEFA Champions League match against Ajax.
Alisson Becker, Naby Keita, and Trent Alexander-Arnold might not be available for the game as they are still battling different degrees of injuries.
As for Wolves, the club’s biggest injury worry involves Raul Jimenez. The Mexican striker got a fractured skull during the Wolves league match against Arsenal last weekend.
Wolves coach Nuno Espirito has not been able to determine when the Mexican striker will return to football but he confirmed that the striker is responding to treatment.
Besides Raul Jimenez, another injury worry for Wolves is Jonny, he is still struggling for match fitness and it is unlikely for him to play for Wolves tonight.
Liverpool probable starting lineup:
Kelleher; N Williams, Fabinho, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane; Jota
Wolverhampton Wanderer’s probable starting lineup:
Patricio; Semedo, Boly, Coady, Marcal; Dendoncker, Moutinho; Traore, Podence, Neto; Silva