Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool: Match Review
Liverpool team predicted to faces Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League at Anfield.
Liverpool look to bring the curtain down on 2025 with a victory when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Anfield.
It has been a year of incredible highs and lows that no-one could even imagine. The Reds celebrated winning the Premier League title in April, with celebrations lasting weeks on end.
However, the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva devastated the club and fans alike. And on the pitch, despite Arne Slot’s side being favourites to retain the English championship, their defence is already over. A run of six league losses in seven games handed Arsenal the initiative and Liverpool are 10 points behind the leaders.
A significant summer squad overhaul has been the reason for the Reds’ issues on the pitch. Slot, who has been under pressure despite engineering the title success, believes that there are signs that his new players are acclimatising and performances will improve.
Certainly, Liverpool head into their clash against Wolves as heavy favourites. The Molineux outfit are rooted to the bottom of the table and yet to win a game.
However, the Reds have serious issues in terms of availability. Mo Salah (AFCON) and Dominik Szoboszlai (suspension) are out, while Alexander Isak, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni are on the treatment table. There is also doubts around the availability of Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo because of respective fitness issues.
It means that Slot may have depleted numbers to select from and will have to come up with a solution to ensure Liverpool sign off the year with a triumph. It will also be an emotional afternoon, with Jota’s sons set to be mascots.
With everything in mind, here’s the Liverpool team predicted.
GK - Alisson Becker
The Brazil international made a couple of huge saves to protect the win at Spurs. He’ll be hoping for a more routine afternoon.
RB - Curtis Jones
Bradley may not be risked and Frimpong may need to be deployed higher up the pitch given the lack of options so Jones might have to operate as a makeshift full-back again.
CB - Ibrahima Konate
The France international was not spotted in training earlier this week but Liverpool could well be protecting him given that Gomez is unavailable.
CB - Virgil van Dijk
The Liverpool captain must ensure that his team-mates do not underestimate Wolves despite their woes.
LB - Milos Kerkez
Made decent progress in recent weeks and there will be a responsibility on him to start contributing in the final third.
CM - Ryan Gravenberch
Very much first choice in the number-six role and he may have to be more disciplined if Jones is in defence and Szoboszlai being out.
CM - Alexis Mac Allister
The Argentine international’s form has not been of the standards he’s capable of. Liverpool will be hoping that Mac Allister can discover his best in the second half of the campaign.
RW - Jeremie Frimpong
The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen has had a frustrating start to his Liverpool career because of injury. But he made an impact off the bench at Spurs and while it’s not ideal, with Slot admitting it might be a risk, it might be needs must. If that is the case it will be Frimpong’s first league start since August.
AM - Florian Wirtz
With Liverpool missing a string of their key players, it is an opportunity for Wirtz to take up the mantle and deliver a big performance.
LW - Federico Chiesa
The fans’ favour has started just one Premier League game in his entire Liverpool career - and that was last season. Chiesa could have a big chance to show Slow why so many supporters feel he deserves more minutes.
ST - Hugo Ekitike
In flying form and is aiming to score for a fourth successive league game.
Mamardashvili, Woodman, Bradley, Robertson, Ramsay, Nyoni, Ngumoha, Gakpo, Morrison.
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