Liverpool seriously contended for a quadruple last season, but now they’re in ninth place, and not looking very likely to win silverware this season.
With the January transfer window now closed, the squad you see now is who they will go to war with for the rest of the season. Up next is a trip to the Midlands, to take on Wolves in a league fixture, where both sides still have a lot to play for.
Liverpool FC at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Kick: Sat Feb 4, 3PM Molineux Stadium
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go here
PL Form: Liverpool DLLWW Wolves LWDLW
PL Standing: Liverpool 9th, 29 points Wolves 17th, 17 pts
Google Result Probability: Liverpool 51% Wolves 25% Draw 24%
The Reds may be ten points adrift of the top four, but they still have a fighter’s chance of getting into the Europa League qualification zone.
Meanwhile Wolves are only in the safety position due to point differential, so they have a lot of work to do left in order to truly escape relegation.
Team News for Both Sides
The Liverpool injured brigade rolls about eight deep these days, but two of the group are in contention to make this match day squad. Fabio Carvalho (undisclosed issue…how mysterious!) and Nathaniel Phillips (unspecified illness…mystery again!) could both still pass fit in time for this.
Meanwhile Virgil van Dijk (thigh), Roberto Firmino (calf), Ibrahima Konate (hamstring), Luis Diaz (knee), Diogo Jota (thigh) and Arthur Melo (thigh) all remain out for the foreseeable future.
Wolves have plenty of injury issues of their own, with Pedro Neto (ankle), Sasa Kalajdzic (torn ACL), Boubacar Traore (undisclosed) and Chiquinho (knee) all sidelined for the time being.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.