Liverpool travel to Wolverhampton for a massive Friday evening game of football.
Liverpool have a chance to move four points ahead of Manchester City and create some doubt in Pep’s side, but Wolves have shown they’re unafraid of top six clubs especially at home.
GK – Alisson Becker
Plenty has been made of the error Alisson made on Sunday to give United a chance to get something from the game.
I don’t think it was the most egregious mistake and was incredibly impressed by his ability to put it behind him and remain focused and confident afterwards.
He’s automatic to start every time Liverpool take the field unless he picks up any sort of injury where Simon Mignolet gets called upon to deputise.
LB – Andy Robertson
Jurgen Klopp will need to utilise his full squad over the next two weeks and the chances for Alberto Moreno to get a start are high on Boxing Day against Newcastle.
Robertson and most of the first-choice defenders will play this match and the Arsenal fixture next Saturday.
Liverpool will rely on Robertson like they usually do to force Wolves’ forwards and fullbacks back and use his endless energy to create chance after chance in the final third.
CB – Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool’s thinnest area in terms of depth with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip out. Klopp doesn’t have many options to turn to beyond van Dijk and Lovren unless he decides to give one of the academy players an opportunity.
Wolves have a strong attacking core, so Klopp needs to go with his best available players. That makes Virgil a lock.
CB – Dejan Lovren
Just like what I said for van Dijk starting, the same goes for Dejan in the centre of defence.
He looked strong and confident against Manchester United (most people do when paired with van Dijk) and is showing he’s among the elite defenders in the world when in top form.
RB – Nathaniel Clyne
Nathaniel Clyne made his first Premier League start of the season against United and looked sound given the magnitude of the rivalry and the atmosphere inside Anfield.
He doesn’t offer the same qualities going forward compared to Trent or Gomez but has proven he’s adept on the defensive end which is what will be needed in this game that has the potential to be a “banana peel” game for the Reds.
MF – Georginio Wijnaldum
There’s no reason for Jurgen Klopp to change his midfield partnership that was on display Sunday which absolutely bossed the game from United’s outmatched group.
I think Klopp will stick with the majority of those who played on Sunday for continuity and to reward them for their effort.
Wijnaldum has hit the point where it’s nigh impossible to claim he’s anything but world class.
He works his socks off from the first minute, defends resolutely and has a grace and smoothness about his movement on and off the ball in attack.
MF – Fabinho
Fabinho had his official coming out party on Sunday in front of a rabid Anfield. He was an absolute destroyer with his tackling and used his underrated vision and touch to set Sadio Mane up brilliantly for Liverpool’s first goal.
By the time the season ends, he’ll be in the conversation for best holding midfielders in the League and silence any critics who pegged him as a bust.
FW – Xherdan Shaqiri
After stealing headlines with two goals off the bench against United, Shaqiri is in line to play from the start here.
He’s made an impact every time he’s stepped on the pitch for Liverpool this season and will be vital to creating scoring chances for others in attack thanks to his unselfish attitude and ability to find pockets of space to operate.
FW – Roberto Firmino
Jurgen Klopp has shown a tendency as of late to play the 4-2-3-1 system against lesser opposition and then his more comfortable 4-3-3 in games against sides that are less prone to sit back and defend.
Wolves fall between those two because they’re a team Liverpool should beat but are also unafraid to go out and play fearlessly regardless of their opponent.
I think Klopp will opt for the 4-2-3-1 and tuck Firmino in behind Salah giving Bobby the ability to find space and drop deeper when needed to press and win the ball back for quick counters.
FW – Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane was left disappointed in the recent match against Napoli where he could have easily walked away scoring three or four.
He didn’t let them get him down though and came out determined and ready against United.
Lining up on the right-hand side was a new tactic for Klopp this season and seemed to stun United’s back line.
I see Mane shifting back to the left-hand side where he’s primarily played since Salah’s arrival and he’ll be important in his link up play with Andy Robertson in terrifying that side of Wolves’ defence.
ST – Mohamed Salah
Mo Salah enters the weekend with the chance to move clear as the League’s top scorer with a goal against Wolves.
He’ll be determined to grab at least one and end any lingering debate over whether his season has been lacklustre.
Starting off slowly (much like last season), his form has improved each week and he seems primed and ready to set the League on fire at the start of the new year.