MatchThe opposition lowdown: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Recent form

Wolves have collected 10 points from their last eight games in the Premier League and sat 17th in the division ahead of the weekend, with 19 overall from 24 fixtures.

Their last league outing was back on February 1, when they claimed a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Molineux courtesy of goals from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Matheus Cunha.

Prior to that, they had lost four in a row in the top flight – though those defeats all came against teams in the top six (Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Arsenal).

In the Emirates FA Cup, meanwhile, Vitor Pereira’s team booked a place in round five by winning 2-0 away at Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

Key men

Cunha has been Wolves’ chief goalscorer in the Premier League this season, netting 11 times to date.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is next-best with seven strikes and Rayan Ait-Nouri has chipped in with three.

Ait-Nouri has been their most consistent creator by tallying five assists, while Cunha and Goncalo Guedes have provided four apiece.

Team news

Pereira reported at his pre-match press conference that he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Anfield.

Hwang Hee-chan had to go off at half-time in the cup success at Rovers, while recent absentees include Leon Chiwome, Strand Larsen and Boubacar Traore.

Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Yerson Mosquera are sidelined with long-term issues.

Previous meeting

The Reds ground out a 2-1 win at Molineux when the sides contested the reverse fixture in September.

Ibrahima Konate’s opener in first-half added time was equalised by Ait-Nouri but Mohamed Salah converted a penalty to secure three points.

Wolves’ last visit to Anfield was in May 2024 for what was Jürgen Klopp’s final match as Liverpool manager. The home team were victorious through goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah.

What they said

Head coach Pereira

On his team’s development since he took charge in December…

“I think we are better than when we started. I’m pleased with the work the players are doing. Inside, the competition is higher in this moment. Of course, we can increase our level week by week, but I am happy with the team.”

On trying to nullify Liverpool’s attacking talents…

“We must defend the Liverpool team, not only Salah. We must defend them with our tools, with our work. But I believe that we’ll play a good game, for sure, fighting for a good result.”

On dealing with the pressures of the Premier League…

“If you look at my career, I worked in clubs that the pressure is day by day. I need this pressure because without pressure I cannot be myself. This is what I’m looking [for] in the Premier League: the best teams, the best players, the best coaches, fantastic supporters. This is what was my target before, and now I must enjoy it.

“For me, this is the main thing: to build something, to create something. And we are creating something in Wolverhampton. I’m not thinking about to go there and to defend [for] 90 minutes to take a point from the game. I’m thinking to prepare the team to go there and to play in our way, or to try to play in our way, with our tools, with our skills, with our qualities and to get the best possible result.”

Pre-match stats

• After avoiding defeat in both of their first two Premier League away games under Pereira (one win, one draw), Wolves have since lost each of their last two on the road.
• Wolves have lost eight of their last nine Premier League games against teams starting the day top of the table, although they did beat Manchester City 2-1 in September 2023.
• Cunha has scored 16 of his 25 Premier League goals in away matches (64 per cent).
• Wolves have lost more games against Liverpool (17) than they have against any other side in the Premier League.