Molineux hosts its second night game of the month tonight. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool face Nuno’s Wolves in what has all the ingredients to be a Christmas cracker. Both sides have their own style and neither Nuno or Klopp will sacrifice their principles, so expect plenty of action and a hatful of goals. Famous last words.
Wolves come into the game on a fantastic run. Wins against Newcastle, Chelsea and Bournemouth has seen Wolves propel to seventh in the Premier League. Those three wins came on the back of a somewhat worrying spell where losses against Huddersfield and Cardiff amongst others set a few alarms off. Nuno has tweaked the tactics ever so slightly and the difference has been there for all to see.
Furthermore, after taking points off Chelsea, United, Arsenal and City already this season, Wolves will be up for the game. Not just the team. The fans. The city. It will certainly be a night to remember, irrespective of the final score.
The Reds of Liverpool have been very, very impressive. Not only have they conceded the fewest goals (seven), they’ve also scored the joint-second highest (37). Oh yeah, they’re also the only unbeaten side in the Premier League. After finally getting one over United last weekend, the mood around the Liverpool camp couldn’t be better.
If Klopp’s side are actually going to win the Premier League this season, they will need to beat Wolves. Yes, a draw wouldn’t be the worst result in the world, but with City at home to Palace, it would mean that Liverpool would be second on Christmas Day, rather than first. Not the biggest point in the world, but could prove to be psychological, all the same.
Wolves need to keep Liverpool out of the box
Although Liverpool have got an abundance of talent going forward, there are some interesting statistics regarding their goals scored. They’ve only scored thrice from outside the area this season, so if and it’s a very big if, Wolves can keep the Reds out the box, they could have a chance.
Another thing worth bearing in mind is that Liverpool’s starting XI is also up for debate. This is the first of four games in 14 days and arguably one of the ‘easier’ ones. After playing Wolves, Liverpool host Rafa Benitez’ Newcastle on Boxing Day before a big two games against Arsenal and Man City. Klopp will obviously play to win all of them, but how will he line up? Time will tell.
While we’ve established that Wolves need to keep Liverpool out of the box, but what exactly do Wolves need to do to win?
Alisson must be pressurised
In the most comparable games that they’ve conceded in, Burnley and Leicester away, the goals have one thing in common. Alisson makes a mistake for both. Against Leicester, Alisson plays around with the ball too much, gets dispossessed and Leicester eventually score.
Hell, only last week against Manchester United, Alisson fumbled one and Lingard equalised. Rather than focus on that, we are going to look at how Jack Cork scored for Burnley.
Despite them not needing to, Liverpool bring everyone back to defend against this Burnley corner. I suppose, one thing they’ve got in their advantage is the pace to break. The circled Liverpool trio are going for the zonal approach whereas the majority of other players are marking. Sort of. There are two Burnley players goal side in the six-yard box, but rather than speculate, let’s see how the corner develops.
In essence, everyone moves to the near post. The corner taker hits it to the far post, clearing the majority of Liverpool’s defenders out the way. Tarkowski (Burnley #5) smartly heads it back across goal. That’s when the bedlam begins.
