It's the final FA Cup third round clash and one that hosts Wolves may just be taking a bit more seriously than visiting Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp will ring the changes for Liverpool in their return to Molineux so Wolves must fancy their chances if Nuno Espirito Santo decides to take the FA Cup a bit more seriously.
The Reds ran out 2-0 winners at Molineux just last month in a great game of football, but the teams are likely to be much changed this time around – especially Liverpool’s with Klopp basically saying that this competition plays second or third fiddle to the Premier League and Champions League this season.
Given the size and strength of Liverpool’s squad though, there will still be some big names involved – Sturridge, Shaqiri, Lallana and Keita are favourites to start, but the presence of Alberto Moreno and Simon Mignolet will only serve to make the 3/1 on a home win look even more appealing.
Defeat at Man City though means that going out of the Cup may attract a few more negative headlines than it would’ve previously and you never know how back-to-back defeats affects a team regardless of who plays and in what competition.
For Wolves, this is superb opportunity to take a big scalp and make progress in a competition Nuno should be zeroing in on – as they have enough ability to go deep in the FA Cup and will have no Premier League pressure this season.
Betting guide
Prediction: Wolves 2-1 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 12/1 )
This could change dramatically once the team sheets land but just going on all the noise from the respective managers you’d have to believe Wolves will have a more settled line-up and, regardless of the Liverpool team it’ll be new faces and combinations and it’s always tough to make that work, away from home in a cup tie.
Best bet: Wolves to win 33/10
It’s obviously not been profitable backing Liverpool to lose this season but if ever you’re going to roll the dice it’s here. Again the team sheets will tell the story but you get the impression Klopp would rather just get this game over with and get back to the Premier League. There’s no way he’d send a team out to lose a game but Wolves will be fired up and could be at full strength – that could be the difference in a tight game.
Cards: Liverpool 20+ booking points at 2/1
Simple thinking here – Wolves should have a decent amount of possession and in a raucous atmosphere Liverpool’s players looking to impress Klopp will be fired up, may have a lot of chasing to do and it’s easy enough to pick up two yellows under these circumstances.
RequestABet: Under 3.5 goals, 40+ match booking, under 10 corners
Wolves v Liverpool Opta stats
- This will be the seventh FA Cup meeting between Wolves and Liverpool – Wolves have won four of the previous six, including the last such meeting in January 2017 (2-1 at Anfield).
- Liverpool have been eliminated from five of their last seven FA Cup ties against fellow Premier League opponents.
- Wolves are winless in their last six home FA Cup games (D2 L4), since beating Doncaster in a replay in round three in 2010-11.
- Liverpool haven’t been knocked out at this stage of the FA Cup since the 2010-11 season, when they lost 0-1 against Man Utd.
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