MatchThe opposition lowdown: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Opposition view

Liam Keen, Wolves correspondent at the Express & Star

On Wolves' start to the season...

Wolves' summer business started superbly with three signings by July 1, including the much-needed No.9 signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen.

However, they then struggled to get other key positions over the line, while losing Max Kilman and Pedro Neto. Not signing a centre-back, and now losing Yerson Mosquera to a serious knee injury, has left Wolves short.

The late signing of midfielder Andre has eased some concerns, however, as he has started life at Wolves in fine form.

A run of tough fixtures leaves Wolves bottom of the table after five games, but some of their performances have warranted more, if not for some basic errors. This should be a team that improves on their current position.

On Wolves' key players...

Andre has been a good buffer in front of the back four as a tough-tackling midfielder with an eye for a pass.

But Wolves' biggest attacking threat, by some distance, has been Matheus Cunha. He carries the ball superbly, pops up in dangerous positions in between the lines and has an eye for goal.

His link-up with Larsen has been dangerous at times and shows promise.

On Gary O'Neil's preferred style of play...

Wolves started pre-season and the full season in an aggressive and high-pressing back four, often a 4-2-3-1, but changed that slightly when Craig Dawson was recalled to the team and the experienced defender has been incredibly important.

The injury to Mosquera means Wolves could switch to a back five this weekend to shore up a leaky defence, particularly with Wolves desperate for a result. But O'Neil will also want to find the balance between keeping Liverpool quiet and giving the home support something to cheer about at the other end.

Predicted line-up...

O'Neil may stick to his guns and keep a back four, but if I'm right with my prediction that he will switch to a back five, we may see Matt Doherty fill in as part of the centre-backs. It would be typical of Wolves to pick up a monumental win here, but with current results I have to go with a 2-0 Liverpool victory.

Wolves (5-3-2): Johnstone; Semedo, Doherty, Dawson, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Andre, Lemina, J. Gomes, Cunha, Larsen.

Team news

Wolves are contending with a virus within their squad, while defender Toti Gomes is being monitored ahead of the game.

Centre-back Mosquera will definitely be absent, as will Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Bastien Meupiyou and Boubacar Traore, who are all sidelined for the hosts.

Goalkeeper Dan Bentley, meanwhile, is set to be available again.

Previous meetings

The Reds secured a double over Wolves last season in the Premier League.

Last September, Liverpool claimed a 3-1 away win thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson and a Hugo Bueno own goal via a Harvey Elliott strike.

In the reverse Anfield fixture, Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah ensured the home side were victorious with two first-half goals on the final day of the season.

What they said

O'Neil, Wolves head coach

"It's a fantastic home game against Liverpool," O'Neil told his pre-match press conference.

"We've got a few issues going on at the moment but we're looking forward to getting back out there in front of the home fans and making it as difficult as possible for Liverpool, which is what we try to do every time we play one of the big sides. [We're] looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow."

He added: "He [Arne Slot] is excellent, coaching-wise and the way he sets his team up. It's not a surprise to me that he has started well.

"Liverpool is very well run and very well organised, there's no real mess there to go in and fix. He has gone into a well run football club with a good squad and he's a good coach."

Pre-match stats

Liverpool have won 14 of their last 15 league encounters with Wolves – a run that goes back to January 2011.

The Reds have completed a league double over Saturday's opposition in six of the last seven seasons.

Of the last 44 league goals scored in this fixture, Liverpool have produced 35 of them.

No Red has ever scored a hat-trick against Wolves.

Fifteen of Liverpool's 18 goals in 2024-25 have been scored by the forwards.