LIVERPOOL VS WOLVES: PREVIEW

Sunday sees the conclusion of the Premier League season, with Liverpool hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jürgen Klopp’s men are still in with a chance of clinching the title but will need results elsewhere to go their way. Here’s a preview of the game.

It has been another incredible league campaign, with the Reds sitting on 89 points and seeking to add to what is already their third highest ever points tally since the inception of the Premier League. That all three tallies have been accumulated under Klopp speaks to the transformational job he’s done.

In the twenty three seasons before the German’s arrival, Liverpool accrued 80+ points in a season on just four occasions. The highest ever tally was the 86 points garnered in 2008/09, with Rafa Benitez’s charges running Sir Alex Ferguson’s United close in the title race.

Avoid defeat on Sunday and it’ll be three 90+ points campaigns in six full seasons under the affable German. 97 points in 2018/19 where we agonisingly finished a point behind City, 99 points in the title winning season and potentially 92 points this season which could again see us finish a point behind first place.

It is incredible what we’re witnessing. It can be celebrated even if City get the job done against Villa. ‘First is first, second is nothing’; that’s how the maxim goes. Not in this present dispensation however. Not when we have two of the greatest Premier League sides of all time going head to head in the same era.

Second is not ‘nothing’ when you fall just short after going toe to toe with an oil rich club whilst going the distance in every other competition. The Reds can be proud of what they’ve managed this season, and who’s to say Villa won’t pull an upset to hand Klopp’s side a richly deserved second title?

With the League and FA Cup in the bag, all Liverpool can do is win their game to end the season on a good note whilst they prepare for the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid. The parade has been booked for the 29th, and you can be sure this squad will do all it can to add more trophies to the haul before then.

Anfield will be bouncing in Sunday as the Kop serenades it’s heroes. Wolves meanwhile have nothing to play for. Since the winter break in January, they’ve almost checked out for the season. They enjoyed an excellent first half of the campaign and even threatened to challenge for a European place.

9 defeats in their last 16 league games has seen them fall off the pace, with their current position (8th place) being the highest they can finish. They’ve conceded 24 goals in that run, at a rate of 2 per game. Compare that to the 16 matches before the winter break and they only let in 13 goals.

In the reverse fixture at Molineux, they proved a hard nut to crack, with a late Origi strike finally breaking their resolve. Bruno Lage will want his side to end the season on a high by getting something at Anfield, it’ll be up to the Reds to take the game to them and put them to the sword.

Jürgen Klopp has a 100% record against Wolves in the Premier League, presiding over 7 wins in 7 meetings. Wolves have only mustered a single goal in those meetings. Liverpool are rightly favourites to get the win they need on Sunday.

Wolves were the opponents on the final day of the 2018/19 league season. A Mané brace was enough to clinch the three points but not enough in the end as Manchester City defeated Brighton to win the title. It’s a similar scenario here with the Reds needing a favour from Aston Villa this time round.

Half an eye will be on events at the Etihad as Steven Gerrard attempts to win his first title for his boyhood club seven years after his departure. If Coutinho (a player who left under acrimonious circumstances in 2018) nets the crucial goal, it would be some story. Not even Hollywood have scripts like that. We live in hope.

Team News

For Liverpool, Van Dijk and Salah returned to training today after missing the victory at Southampton in midweek owing to knocks they picked up in the FA Cup final. Fabinho is also progressing well after his hamstring strain. Joe Gomez is unavailable but escaped serious damage after an ankle injury on Tuesday.

For Wolves, defenders Max Kilman (ankle) and Nelson Semedo (hamstring) are both out, whilst Roman Saiss remains a doubt after missing the last two games with a knock.

Key Players

Luis Diaz

The Colombian was handed a well earned breather at the St. Mary’s on Tuesday. He has been in devastating form and will be crucial in Paris next week. This Sunday is the final outing before that Madrid game and he will want to continue where he left off at Wembley after tormenting the Chelsea backline.

Joao Moutinho

The veteran is a conductor in the middle of the park for Wolves. Most of their buildup goes through him and he is lethal from the edge of the box when allowed to soot. His partnership with fellow countryman Ruben Neves is up there with the best in the league.

Sadio Mané

Sadio also got a rest in midweek and will be raring to go. He’s the side’s topscorer this calendar year (13 goals) and is revelling in his new striking role. He has enjoyed a much better campaign than he managed last season and will want to sign out in style. Another who will be absolutely crucial in Paris.