Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers | Premier League | Pre Match

With or without Arne Slot on the touchline, Liverpool's pursuit of Premier League stardom continues when Wolverhampton Wanderers stop over at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds extended their lead at the summit of the table despite dropping two points in gut-wrenching fashion against Everton in midweek, a few days after Vitor Pereira's side eased past Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup. While the draw at Goodison Park was a bitter pill to swallow, the bigger picture remains promising for Liverpool, who continue to set the pace in their quest for league glory. The team’s resilience has been evident throughout the campaign, but there are concerns over their ability to close out crucial fixtures, especially given the unpredictable nature of this season’s title race.

You would be hard-pressed to conjure up a more fitting end to the Goodison Park Merseyside derby era; from David Moyes manning the Toffees' touchline, a glut of goals and a furious post-match brawl, the final Everton-Liverpool encounter at the Toffees' historic home had it all. The drama and intensity of the fixture encapsulated the long-standing rivalry between the two Merseyside clubs, ensuring that its final chapter at Goodison was nothing short of memorable. Such high-stakes clashes often serve as turning points in a season, and Liverpool will hope that their heartbreak in stoppage time will fuel their determination moving forward.

Slot's crop were a matter of seconds away from going nine points clear at the top of the Premier League rankings, only for centre-back James Tarkowski to spark Merseyside mayhem with an incredible 98th-minute volley, one that survived VAR checks for both offside and a possible foul. The chaotic ending not only denied Liverpool a crucial win but also reignited the competitive spirit among their title rivals. Despite the setback, the Reds maintain control of their destiny, and the squad will look to channel their frustration into a strong response against Wolves.

The emotion of such a volatile occasion became too much for Curtis Jones and Slot at the end as both men saw red - the former for squaring up to Abdoulaye Doucoure after his away-end celebrations and the latter for something he said to Michael Oliver - but as things stand, Slot will still be barking orders from the dugout on Sunday as he awaits a ban verdict. The potential absence of Slot in future matches could pose a challenge for Liverpool’s tactical cohesion, but the experienced squad remains equipped to navigate such hurdles.

While the Reds missed the chance to more or less put the title race to bed, a seven-point buffer over Arsenal - who can cut the gap down to four by beating Leicester City on Saturday - is still of the healthy kind, and the walls of the Anfield fortress are standing as strong as ever. Liverpool’s home form has been instrumental in their campaign, and they will look to maintain their dominance at Anfield, where they have made it incredibly difficult for visiting teams to snatch points.

Liverpool might only have two wins from their last five matches in all competitions, also suffering a shock FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle this month, but they have prevailed in each of their last four at home, appropriately netting four goals in all but one of those victories. The Anfield crowd continues to play a crucial role in energizing the squad, and against Wolves, their unwavering support could be the catalyst for another important win.

Speaking of teams finding the back of the net four times, Pereira's resurgent Wolves have done exactly that over their last 180 minutes of football, putting both Aston Villa and Blackburn to the sword by two goals to nil since the beginning of the month. Wolves’ newfound attacking fluidity has been a welcome development, particularly as they battle to distance themselves from the relegation scrap. If they can sustain this level of efficiency, they might just be able to pull off a surprise against their formidable hosts.

After controversially getting the better of their West Midlands rivals at Molineux, Wolves punched their ticket to the fifth round of the FA Cup courtesy of two quickfire strikes at Ewood Park, where Joao Gomes's opener preceded a Matheus Cunha clincher just one minute later. The quick succession of goals showcased their growing confidence in front of goal, something they will desperately need as they attempt to breach one of the league’s most disciplined defensive setups.

Now on the hunt for three successive wins in all competitions for the first time since February 2024, Wolves still remain dangerously close to the demotion zone in 17th position and will fall into the bottom three before Sunday if Leicester stun Arsenal. The precarious nature of their situation means every point is invaluable, and a disciplined performance against Liverpool could boost their chances of avoiding the drop. However, their inconsistency away from home continues to be a significant obstacle.

Finding their bite on the road remains a tough ask for Wolves, though, as the Old Gold have only taken one point from their last three Premier League away matches and have kept just two top-flight clean sheets on the road since the start of 2024. Their defensive vulnerabilities away from Molineux could prove costly at Anfield, where Liverpool’s relentless attacking force is bound to exploit any lapses in concentration.

The visitors did give the leaders a good run for their money when Liverpool visited Molineux in September, but Slot's men still ran out 2-1 winners, and not since Mick McCarthy masterminded a 1-0 triumph in 2010 have Wolves come up trumps in a Premier League fixture at Anfield. History is not on their side, and they will need a near-perfect performance to break their long-standing Anfield curse.

While Slot will not incur a possible suspension or fine just yet given that he has until next Wednesday to respond to his FA charge, Jones is definitely suspended on account of his post-match red card in the Goodison Park scuffles. Jones’ absence further depletes Liverpool’s midfield options, but with the squad depth at their disposal, they should be able to cope effectively.

The midfielder could be one of four Liverpool absentees when Wolves pay a visit, as Tyler Morton (shoulder) and Joe Gomez (hamstring) are still sidelined, and Slot also revealed on Friday that Cody Gakpo is uncertain, having picked up a knock in the derby. Injuries have tested Liverpool’s squad strength throughout the season, and managing these setbacks will be key as they push towards the finish line.

Should Gakpo not be risked for the showdown with Wolves, either Darwin Nunez or former Old Gold attacker Diogo Jota ought to spearhead the charge; the latter netted 44 times for Sunday's visitors but has since struck just once against his old team. Jota’s familiarity with Wolves’ defensive tendencies could be an advantage, though Nunez’s unpredictability and dynamism might also present a valuable option for Slot.

As for visitors Wolves, their FA Cup triumph over Blackburn came at the cost of losing Hwang Hee-chan to a hamstring injury at half time, and the South Korea international is now expected to be absent for the next two to three games. Losing Hwang is a major blow given his attacking contributions, and Wolves will need other players to step up in his absence.

Fellow attacker Jorgen Strand Larsen only has a slim chance of coming back from a muscular problem in time too, so Matheus Cunha should act as the focal point with support from Goncalo Guedes and Pablo Sarabia at Anfield. The trio will be tasked with breaking down Liverpool’s sturdy backline, but they must also be wary of leaving gaps for Liverpool’s counterattacks.

Whether Boubacar Traore is back from illness also remains to be seen, but long-term knee victims Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Yerson Mosquera and Leon Chiwome remain sidelined. Wolves’ injury concerns add another layer of difficulty to their already daunting trip to Anfield, but their recent resurgence suggests they will not go down without a fight.