The Breakdown | Wolves vs Liverpool

#1 Inside both camps

With the transfer window having closed just before the last round of Premier League fixtures, only Enzo Gonzalez was included in the Wolves squad for the loss to Crystal Palace last time out, with the Paraguayan winger not featuring in the contest as he remained on the bench. But with only new centre back Santi Bueno being the only new signing away on international duty during the 10 days and having had two weeks to work his players who were back at Compton, it will be interesting to see how Gary O’Neil lines his side up for the visit to Liverpool. Will the additions of Gonzalez, Tommy Doyle and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde be entrusted from the off against the Reds or will O’Neil stick to a similar side which took on the Eagles?

Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch arrived at Liverpool from the Bundesliga on deadline day so is yet to appear in a red shirt, so could be another option for Jurgen Klopp to add to his already reinforced central positions following the signings of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo. With Virgil van Dijk seeing his one-game ban extended to a second, meaning he will miss Saturday’s fixture, one of the biggest question marks over Klopp’s selection will be around Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool’s right-back spot. However, the full-back is expected to pass a late fitness test following a hamstring injury sustained against Aston Villa. If he was to miss out, Joe Gomez could be moved across from centre-back, but that would also rely on Ibrahima Konate being back fit after being missing from the squad last time out.

#2 Coming into it

Wolves will be looking at bouncing back following their first defeat in three when O’Neil’s side fell to Crystal Palace ahead of the international break. The hosts were more clinical than the Old Gold, despite Wolves having more possession and chances in front of the Palace goal. The head coach will hope his players can find the scoring form which saw the players put in five against Blackpool last time out at Molineux which secured a spot in the Carabao Cup third round.

Wolves’ last three | L 2-3 Crystal Palace (A) – W 5-0 Blackpool (H) – W 1-0 Everton (A)

Liverpool have had an almost perfect start to their 2023/24 season, wining all of their last three outings, while scoring eight goals in the process, but it was the opening day draw with Chelsea which is the only blot on the Reds’ copybook. However, Klopp’s side have also been racking up the red cards, and although Mac Allister’s sending off against Bournemouth was overturned on an appeal, van Dijk’s 28^th minute dismissal in the win over Newcastle was increased to a two-game ban.

Liverpool’s last three | W 3-0 Aston Villa (H) – W 2-1 Newcastle United (A) – W 3-1 AFC Bournemouth (H)

#3 Since last time

Wolves 3 Liverpool 0 | 4^th February 2023

Wolves’ last meeting with Liverpool at Molineux was one of the Old Gold’s most impressive performances of the 2022/23 season. At a boisterous golden palace, Wolves were ruthless from the first five minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon, as Hee Chan Hwang’s shot was deflected into his own net by Joel Matip to open the scoring. Craig Dawson netted just 12 minutes into his Wolves debut to make it 2-0, before a brilliant Ruben Neves finish wrapped up the three points and lifted the lid off the South Bank.

Wolves’ XI | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Lemina, Nunes, Sarabia, Hwang, Cunha.

Only Neves and Matheus Nunes are no longer at the club from those who started for Wolves against Liverpool during the dominant win in February, while against Aston Villa two weekends ago, Klopp opted for the same back five which conceded three against the Old Gold. Cody Gakpo was the only part of the front three that missed out, but the Reds’ midfield has been completely revamped this summer with new arrivals Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai starting alongside Curtis Jones, who was on the bench for the Reds last time at Molineux.

Liverpool’s XI | Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Keita, Bajcetic, Thiago, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.

Relive the last time we hosted Liverpool 🙌#WOLLIV | @MNEGlobal pic.twitter.com/rKjK2jDwV5

— Wolves (@Wolves) September 14, 2023

#4 In the media

In his Express & Star column, former Wolves and Wales man Dave Edwards has done a deep dive into new signing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and believes the midfielder could be a ‘superb piece of business’.

“I’m really excited about Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and what he could bring to Wolves. Having watched some footage of him, he could add to an area in which Wolves have been weak. Last season, he scored a couple goals but he got nine assists – which shows he can consistently provide. What I like most about him is he’s very different to what Wolves have in the squad. Whether he plays in central midfield or as a wide midfielder, in the mould of Matheus Nunes, I think he’s very different to what they have. His main attribute is his raw pace and ability to shift the ball and move quickly over the first three or four yards, to take himself away from defenders. That is such an asset to have when you play as a midfielder because of the way he can turn defence into attack. To have that powerful runner is really exciting.”

Due to the Reds’ defensive woes heading into Saturday’s match, Liverpool Echo writer Theo Squires believes Jurgen Klopp could consider a formation switch.

“With Virgil van Dijk suspended and both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate injury doubts, Joe Gomez could well retain his starting place for Liverpool’s trip to Wolves. Impressing off the bench in the Reds’ 2-1 victory over Newcastle United, having come on in the 33rd minute after Van Dijk’s red card, he helped Jurgen Klopp’s side keep their first clean sheet of the season when starting in place of the Dutchman in the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. While the 26-year-old will be hopeful of starting at Molineux, the position he could be selected in remains a mystery given the potential defensive absentees. But following Liverpool’s change of formation to a 3-2-2-3 system when on the ball, there could be another opening for Gomez in Klopp’s starting XI.”