Premiership: Wolves V Liverpool – Saturday, 22nd January (LIVE on SKY SPORTS HD2)

Wolves V Liverpool

Saturday, 22nd January – 12:45 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD2

 

Wolves

Despite their uninspiring league position, with the Midlands club occupying 19th in the table but only a win away from leaping out of the bottom three, Wolves fans have plenty to be cheery about. Their team has been the king of upsets of late having watched Mick McCarthy’s charges seal stunning wins over Chelsea and Liverpool within the last three weeks alone, and after thrashing Doncaster Rovers 5-0 in the FA Cup during the week to record what was their most emphatic victory in over eight years, will come face-to-face with the Reds once again aiming to complete what would be an historic set of back-to-back league wins over Liverpool for the very first time since 1950, incidentially the last occasion Wolves had won on Merseyside before this very season – A sign perhaps?

29th December, 2010 – A night Wolves supporters won’t forget in a hurry, in particular the small contingent which actually went to Anfield to watch their team comprehensively beat a former powerhouse of the English game. And, to prove that it wasn’t just a flash in the pan, the same team went out and did the deed over Chelsea the following week. A touch of irony in that despite all the plaudits and praise Wolves received for those two quite magnificent results/displays, those pair of victories were only worth three-points-a-piece and weren’t enough to keep Wolves out of the relegation zone for long.

Are we mad to think that Wolves could do it all over again? Do Mick McCarthy’s fired up charges have it in them to produce another workmanlike performance against the second poorest travelers in the top-flight, second only to Wolves incidentially? I don’t see why not.

There will be no shortage of confidence following their drubbing of Doncaster in the FA Cup on Tuesday, while it’s now eight goals in their last two competitive games. Last Saturday, when handed the unenviable task of trying to keep over £150million of footballing talent at arms length for 90 minutes, Wolves almost produced one of the greatest comebacks in Premiership history, coming from 4-1 down to lose the contest 4-3. It was yet another spirited effort from Mick McCarthy’s side, something we’ve all gotten used to this season, though for once their valiant efforts are being rewarded with goals, just on this occasion there luck wasn’t quite in.

If Wolves replicate any of their three performances talked about in the above preview, during their victories over Liverpool and Chelsea or even in defeat to Man City last weekend, then it’s difficult to envisage anything other than a home win for Wolves, what with their opponents, Liverpool, having won just once away from home all season and just twice in the last twelve months.

Karl Henry and Jody Craddock both started in Wolves’ romp Doncaster romp in midweek, the pair now set to hand Mick McCarthy a massive boost ahead of the arrival of Liverpool. Kevin Foley should also return after sitting out the defeat to Man City last Saturday with an ankle injury, though Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is out with a hamstring problem while centre-half Elokobi is still suspended.

Wolves Fact: Since November 27th, Wolves have alternated between wins and losses (Eight games: four wins and four defeats – and should the pattern continue, Wolves would now be due a win following their 4-3 defeat away at Man City last weekend.

 

Liverpool

The fact they play for a prestigious club, or that they are being played handsomely to play a sport billions across the world adore has been enough to motivate Liverpool’s squad of underachievers this season. Kenny Dalglish was brought in to calm the storm and steady the ship following Hodgson’s drab six-month spell but even the great man himself has found rallying the Liverpool troops almost a mission impossible, so now it would appear the club’s owners are willing to pin their hopes on luring a superstar to the club in a desperate bid to resolve Liverpool’s ailing fortunes on the pitch.

I was left stunned on the spot when I heard that Liverpool were rumoured to be interested in Ajax striker Luis Suarez, a Uruguayan with a prolific scoring record wherever he’s plied his trade but a striker isn’t what Liverpool are in urgent need of.

Fernando Torres hasn’t suddenly become a poor striker overnight, which is basically what Dalglish buying Suarez is suggesting. The Spaniard is a proven goalscorer, one of the most clinical finishers in the game, yet he’s had miniscule service this season because of the lack of creativity and flair in the midfield. Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Joe Cole aren’t going to win you games of football in this day and age I’m afraid. All three have absolutely no pace and can’t beat a man. There is literally no width whatsoever in this Liverpool team bar the odd marauding run from full-back from Glen Johnson. You could stick Carlos Tevez, David Villa and Torres up front and Liverpool still wouldn’t score as they simply don’t get the ball to their forwards regularly enough.

The point we’re trying to make becomes more emphasised when you see the meagre tally of goals Liverpool have plundered on their travels this season. In eleven Premier League away encounters thus far, Torres & Co have found the back of the net on just eight occasions. As a result, Liverpool now post the shoddiest away record (W1 D2 L8) in the entire top-flight bar Wolves, while a sixth successive away defeat on Saturday would be the club’s worst ever away run in their Premier League history.

I feel for Liverpool supporters as just when they think it can’t get any worse, the following match-day it does. Recently, Blackpool completed back-to-back league wins over the Reds and now Wolves are set to achieve the same feat. Dalglish’s presence alone hasn’t been able to life the doom and gloom around Anfield, at least not on the pitch, and without their suspended talisman, Steven Gerrard, you’re struggling to find anything positive as to why Liverpool might win on Saturday in a fixture they SHOULD be winning.

Liverpool Fact: Have lost their last five away games in the Premier League to an aggregate score of 12-4.
 

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Last 5 Results

Wolves

FA Cup (Replay): Wolves – Doncaster
Premiership: Manchester City 4-3 Wolves
FA Cup: Doncaster 2-2 Wolves
Premiership: Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
Premiership: West Ham 2-0 Wolves

Liverpool

Premiership: Liverpool 2-2 Everton
FA Cup: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
Premiership: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Liverpool
Premiership: Liverpool 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Premiership: Liverpool 0-1 Wolves

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Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Liverpool 0-1 Wolves

2009/2010: Wolves 0-0 Liverpool
2009/2010: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

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2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Wolves

League Position: 19th
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-3-13 (Home: 5-2-4)
Goal Difference: 24-38 (Home: 15-15)
Form: LWLWL (Home: LWWLW)
Top Scorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (4)

Liverpool

League Position: 13th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-5-10 (Away: 1-2-8)
Goal Difference: 27-31 (Away: 8-2-1)
Form: LWLLD (Away: LLLLL)
Top Scorer: Fernando Torres (7)

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.30 Bet Fred

Liverpool at odds just shy of odds-on is outrageous, while Wolves at over 2/1 is value, although far less than I was expecting.

These two clashed at Molineux last season, a match Liverpool were also in urgent need of a winning result but could only muster a 0-0 draw. With their away form in dire straights but in such a state that the players simply have to up their game in order to avoid being branded one of the worst away outfits the Premier League has ever seen, the club a defeat away from making their own piece of Premier League history – losing five away games on the spin.

You’ll struggle to find a team who shed more blood than Wolves, who give their all for Mick McCarthy. The straight-talking, although irritating Wolves chief is without a number of key players though, center-half Elokobi and striker Ebanks-Blake among them, however will welcome back Karl Henry, who will add some vital steel to the midfield, and Jody Craddock, a player with plenty of experience in the top-flight.

I generally believe Wolves aren’t big enough to be backing, though they remain a slice of value still. After all, this is Liverpool they’re up against. A team they put to the sword at Anfield three weeks ago when winning 1-0, and also a team who have lost their last five away matches in the Premier League. Still, there have been enough glimpses of encouragement from Liverpool’s recent displays, albeit without winning, to suggest they’re capable of at least taking a point from this fixture. Although this is a match they ought to be winning, though the fact everyone is now speaking of a point instead of points in such fixtures speaks volumes for how little faith the punters have in the Reds nowadays.

Value Bet: Stephen Ward to Score – 18.00 Unibet

According to Oddschecker, Unibet have Ward, scorer of Wolves’ famous winner at Anfield just three weeks ago, at around 17/1. If that’s true than I’m sure there will be more than the odd few willing to have a punt on lightening striking twice.

 

Match Odds:

Wolves – 3.40 Stan James
Draw – 3.30 BetFred
Liverpool – 2.32 Betsson