Our Liverpool writers have picked their starting XIs for the Reds' first trip to Molineux this week in the Premier League
Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez will both be vying for a start against Wolves (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez will both be vying for a start against Wolves (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
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Liverpool are chasing a fourth consecutive Premier League victory this evening (Tuesday) when they face bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The match is the first of two against the same opposition and in the same stadium this week, with Arne Slot's side set to return three days later for an FA Cup fifth-round clash on Friday evening.
A 5-2 victory over West Ham United at the weekend moved the defending Premier League champions up to fifth in the table. And, with Aston Villa and Manchester United not in action until Wednesday, victory over Wolves could see the Reds finish the night as high as third.
The game is the first of six in 19 days for Liverpool so Slot will be surely be thinking strategically about his selection choices over the coming weeks.
Our ECHO Liverpool FC writers have picked their own starting XIs for this important away fixture...
Ian Doyle
Lots and lots of Wolves and a bit of Brighton. It's like the start of 2023 all over again for Liverpool as they head to Molineux for the first time in a few days.
What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do? The likelihood is it will very much be same again.
Not at right-back, though. That can be Jeremie Frimpong who can rotate with Joe Gomez for a few weeks. Milos Kerkez remains the left-back with Ibrahima Konate and skipper Virgil van Dijk the centre-backs while Alisson Becker is in goal.
In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai continues as the number 10 with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister at the base. And up top, it's Hugo Ekitike down the middle with Cody Gakpo left and Mohamed Salah right.
My starting XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Mark Jones
Saturday was a nice reminder of just what Jeremie Frimpong brings to the side when he's available, with the Dutchman's brief cameo stretching West Ham, turning their dangerman Crysencio Summerville the other way and leading to the fifth goal.
Joe Gomez didn't really do anything wrong during his time on the pitch despite Summerville impressing, but Frimpong just gives you that extra outlet down the right, as well as the additional pace that is lacking from Mohamed Salah's game these days.
So I'd be bringing the former Bayer Leverkusen man in for Gomez, who might be needed from the bench if there is a lead to protect in the second half.
Other than that I think it is pretty much 'as you were', with options still limited and any potential rotation this week more likely to come when these two sides meet for round two in the FA Cup back at Molineux on Friday.
My starting XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Richard Garnett
Liverpool's 5-2 victory over West Ham was a strange match, in the sense that they never looked really comfortable but ultimately were never in any serious peril either. Nevertheless, I think there is room for a little bit of starting XI tweaking.
With Alisson Becker continuing in between the sticks, it's time to bring fit-again Jeremie Frimpong back into the team at right-back, replacing Joe Gomez. The flying Dutchman's pace is a huge asset and will provide much-needed width. He slots in alongside Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez.
Liverpool are effectively playing this fixture twice in a week, so I expect Slot to mix things up a bit for the FA Cup game on Friday, but for this encounter, I am sticking with a midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. Last week I had the Hungarian captain in the No. 10 role, but I have concerns about Mac Allister in the deeper role now, so instead he can play the more advanced position. Who knows, he might score for a third game on the run!
Up top, I'm sticking with Mohamed Salah on the right, Gakpo on the left and Hugo Ekitike leading through the middle.
Both Cody Gakpo and Ekitike answer their manager's call for more goals at the weekend. Is now the time for Salah to end his drought and get in on the act?
My starting XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Ekitike.
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