Wolves vs. Liverpool Preview

Mick McCarthy’s Wolves host Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League on January 31 in what will be a must win game for the Reds if they are to keep their faint Champions League qualification hopes alive.

With just one win from their last six top flight outings, Liverpool sit towards the bottom of the league’s form table and have subsequently been cut adrift from the top four, meaning that they will require a near perfect season run in if they are to overhaul the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal to finish best of the rest behind Spurs and the Manchester clubs.

It is perhaps unsurprising that Kenny Dalglish’s men have suffered such a slump considering that the club has been hounded and held down by an on-going racism row involving star striker Luis Suarez and Manchester United full back Patrice Evra.

With a crucial F.A Cup fourth round tie against the Red Devils directly preceding this fixture, Liverpool will, regardless of that particular result, have to fully refocus on their Premier League exploits if they are to successfully complete a quick turnaround and see off struggling Wolves who are themselves in dire need of a win.

Indeed, with only four points from their last six Premier League matches, Wolves really are becoming a team in crisis and there have even been calls for the axe of Mick McCarthy in order to try and preserve their Premiership status.

After a dismal F.A Cup third round replay exit at home to Championship side Birmingham City, Wolves followed up at Molineux by blowing a half time lead against Midlands rivals Aston Villa who claimed a 2-3 success courtesy of a superb performance and brace from Robbie Keane.

Lying in 19th place heading into this fixture, Wolves fans must be wondering how their team are going to accrue the points needed to survive.

And even in spite of Liverpool’s own poor form of late, it is highly unlikely that McCarthy will experience any kind of reprieve against the Reds who should have too much class and creativity for the hosts.

Liverpool’s overall away form in the league so far this season has seen glimpses of magic and as long as they can come out of their cup clash with United unscathed, a quick and easy three points to get back on track should be on the cards.

Pool claimed a comfortable 0-3 success at Molineux last season and with relatively little change to both squads since that encounter in January 2011, a similar story on this occasion seems likely.

It certainly would not take much from Liverpool to expose Wolves’ frail defence which has conceded 40 goals in total thus far in the 2011-2012 campaign, but considering the fact that Liverpool have themselves only netted eleven times on the road, backing a large score line would probably be ill advised.

Nevertheless, the one goal should be enough for the visitors even if they fail to bank a hat full, so the 4/5 on offer for a Liverpool riposte looks an extremely decent bet.

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02/02/2012     © Frixo 2024