LIVERPOOL VS. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

| Saturday, December 27th |
Premier League | Anfield
3PM BST/10AM EST

The table says that Wolves are dire and Liverpool shouldn’t worry about this one, but this really is one of those where the results don’t tell the full story. Yes, Wolves have just two draws and a goal difference of -28, and yes they are firmly at the foot of the table, with nine points separating them from Burnley in 19th.

But Wolves really are better than their points suggest, and failing to take them seriously could result in embarrassment. The game to focus on here is their game against league-leaders Arsenal, who beat them from two own goals and very limited Arsenal chances: this was luck more than creation on Arsenal’s part. Though all three of Wolves’ centerbacks and their goalkeeper do have a mistake in them, they’re also a side that will set up to frustrate, and who have quite a few narrow losses to show it almost working. Liverpool should expect a 5-3-2 aimed at smothering out any chances, and will likely have to graft for what they get, while Wolves will look to take advantage of any lapses — especially those that stem from failing to take them seriously as a threat.

Wolves captain Toti is confirmed out for Wolves for a long period with a hamstring issue, and Rodrigo Gomes, Marshall Munetsi and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde remain sidelined. Emmanuel Agbadou and Tawanda Chirewa are away at AFCON, but Hugo Bueno now back in training and eyeing a possible return. The fitness levels in the camp are a challenge, with a couple of players nursing muscle concerns.

On the positive side for Wolves, Mateus Mane, their 18-year-old forward, is coming into his own and playing with a confidence that suggests he’s ready to perform on the top level.

Tolu Arokodare has three goals this season, the most for this Wolves side, while David Moller Wolfe leads the group with assists on two.

The danger here is in part complacency: it’s easy to look at Wolves’ record on paper and dismiss them as a given three points. The actual performances make it clear that such an approach would be a mistake, however, and a very injury-thinned Liverpool side will have to keep their wits about them if they want to come out of this unscathed.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)

Alisson; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ekitike, Witz, Gakpo

Alexander Isak is absent long-term with the fibula fracture he suffered when fouled while scoring against Tottenham, and  Joe Gomez and Wataru Endō are both also absent. Crucially, Dominik Szoboszlai is unavailable due to yellow card accumulation suspension, so Liverpool have just a returning Jeremie Frimpong fully fit to play right back, as Conor Bradley’s fitness was rated 50-50 by Slot ahead of this one. Cody Gakpo, too, will be a late fitness call, and the winger will likely not be fit for a full 90 given the late call and his time out. Mohamed Salah is, of course, away at AFCON.

Florian Wirtz should be good to go as he was taken off last match with cramp rather than anything serious, and he and Hugo Ekitiké form Liverpool’s fully-fit attack. Liverpool are thin on the ground for players Slot prefers, though we could see the likes of Federico Chiesa or Rio Ngumoha make a surprise start; given the patten thus far, however, we’re perhaps more likely to see either of them from the bench.

Slot has a relatively fit midfield, with all his first choices available other than Szoboszlai — though the thinning of numbers means there’s not a long list of names to come in as reinforcements off the bench. In defense, too, Slot will have his choice of Andy Robertson or Miloš Kerkez out at left back alongside Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, with the two right backs possibly not up to a full 90 sharing time — or supplemented with an out-of-position job by Curtis Jones.

This is another important one for the table. Manchester United travel to Newcastle for their boxing day match, and all outcomes there would be good for Liverpool: United are currently seventh in the table on 26 points, and would go ahead of Liverpool with a win (on goal difference), but them losing or both sides dropping points would further build the gap between the top five and the challengers. Chelsea host Aston Villa, meaning that at least one team ahead of Liverpool in the top four positions are likely to drop points: Chelsea are in fourth on goal difference, sharing Liverpool’s 29 points. Villa are in third on 36 points, one point behind second-place Manchester City and three points behind first-place Arsenal. Finally, on Sunday sixth place Sunderland host Leeds, and should Leeds get anything the weekend could end with a little breathing room for the Reds.

The Managers Have Their Say

Arne Slot: “Every game in the Premier League is a dangerous game or a difficult game. But I see the same as what you were just saying that their results throughout the whole season haven’t been what they were hoping for but they come closer and closer to results – especially Arsenal away, of course, where they were very close to a result over there. As always, there’s a challenge in every Premier League game and that’s the same for this one.”

Rob Edwards: “Just thinking about the game itself. We’re looking forward to another really difficult game, but going to Anfield is always enjoyable; it’s a real challenge, it’s one of the most difficult ones, but one of the ones you look to. It’s always an incredible atmosphere there. It’s just another game, another opportunity for us.”

The Officials

Referee: Simon Hooper Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long Fourth Official: Adam Herczeg VAR: Michael Salisbury Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring

If you haven’t done so already, we’d love if you signed up for an SB Nation account and join the community at TLO. We’ll bring you and your fellow Liverpool fans from around the world full coverage of every match from the 2025-26 season in the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups along getting you breaking news, insight and opinion, tactical discussion, and post-match reactions as the new season plays out. Hopefully you’ll join us for it!