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Liverpool FC – Wolverhampton Wanderers
While the 19th matchday is still in progress in the Premier League, we are already looking ahead to the upcoming cup weekend in English football. The 3rd round of the FA Cup holds some exciting matches in store, between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers a first division duel will be the highlight on Saturday. Both teams can hardly be satisfied with their season so far and now hope for a sense of achievement in the cup. The match kicks off at Anfield Road on Saturday at 21:00 and you can find our prediction in the following Liverpool vs Wolverhampton tip.
In the Premier League, Liverpool are currently running behind their own expectations. The Reds have lacked consistency so far, so that after 28 points from 17 games they are only in sixth place. The Champions League is now a full seven points away. Wolverhampton, on the other hand, have completely different worries and are stuck deep in the relegation battle. Only 14 points from 18 games mean they are in penultimate place, but they are still only one point away from safety.
Liverpool – Wolverhampton Info:
– Date & Time: 07/01/2023, at 21:00.
– Venue: Liverpool, Anfield Road
– Competition: FA Cup, 3rd round
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Liverpool Form & Balance Check
The Reds can’t really get going this season. Every better period is always followed by a setback, so far this season Liverpool have never won more than two league games in a row. Injury woes have once again played a part, casting doubt on their squad depth. The start of the new year will now be the weeks of truth. In the league, LFC must close the gap to fourth place as quickly as possible, while in the top flight, they face a rematch of last year’s final against defending champions Real Madrid in the last 16.
Next setback against Brentford
By then, Liverpool are desperate to be back in better form. The Reds were convincing before the World Cup, winning four competitive games in a row, but things are not going so well after the break. In the League Cup, LFC went out in the last 16 against Manchester City. Jürgen Klopp’s team responded with two league trebles against Aston Villa and Leicester, but then conceded the next on the last matchday. At Brentford FC, Liverpool were sloppy and deservedly lost 3-1
Liverpool facts & analysis
– 6th place in the Premier League, 28 points from 17 games.
– Last lost 1:3 against Brentford
– 2 wins and 2 defeats after the World Cup
Wolverhampton form & balance check
For Wolves, the current season is going even worse than for the Reds. After promotion in 2018, the Wanderers finished seventh twice in a row and even made it to the Europa League once, followed by two seasons in mid-table. This season, however, Wolverhampton have slipped into the relegation battle and are still stuck deep in the basement halfway through the season. As a result, Julen Lopetegui was brought in as the third coach in two years, who is now expected to lead the team to a relegation place.
Lopetegui as saviour?
Under the Spaniard, the form curve has shown at least a slight upward trend. The former successful coach of Sevilla FC played his first competitive match with Wolves at the start of the season after the World Cup. He scored his first win in the last 16 of the League Cup against fourth division Gillingham, and his team also made their league debut with a 2-1 win at Everton. However, they then suffered their first defeat in a clash with the in-form Red Devils from Manchester and drew with Aston Villa on the last matchday. Daniel Podence and Danny Ings scored the goals in the 1-1 draw.
Wolverhampton facts & analysis
– 19th in the Premier League, 14 points from 18 games.
– Last played 1:1 against Aston Villa
– 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat under Lopetegui
Predicted line-up – last updated on 5 January 2023
Both teams are likely to be without much rotation in this cup tie given the class of the opposition. Liverpool will still be hoping for the injured Henderson, van Dijk, Milner and Firmino. Luis Diaz, Arthur and Diogo Jota are definitely out. It is possible that newcomer and hopeful Cody Gakpo could be in the squad for the first time.
On the other hand, Lopetegui has not changed his starting eleven in the last two games. Ahead of the game against Liverpool, Wolves are still jittery for the Podence, while Oliveira, Neto, Kalajdzic and Traore are out injured.
Liverpool – Wolverhampton direct comparison & stats
The direct comparison includes 104 duels, of which the Reds won 55. Wolves won 32 times, 17 other games ended in draws. LFC have also won 11 league games against Wolverhampton in a row, conceding just two goals.
– The most common result between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers is 1-0. 4 games ended like this.
– Wolverhampton Wanderers’ last away win at Liverpool FC was in 2017.
– Average goals scored in a Liverpool FC vs Wolverhampton Wanderers clash is 2.6.
– The average number of goals scored in the first half in matches between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers is 1.
