Liverpool will be out for revenge when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday.
The Reds suffered a shock defeat against Wolves in the Premier League just a few days ago, a big blow in their hopes for a top-four finish.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Wolves
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Ekitike.
The defeat ended a run of six straight wins for Liverpool in this fixture, going back to 2023. Liverpool also beat Wolves when these sides last met in the FA Cup, though they needed a replay in the third round 2023.
Liverpool have beaten Barnsley and Brighton and Hove Albion to reach this stage. Wolves, meanwhile, have knocked out Shrewsbury Town and Grimsby Town.
Liverpool team news vs Wolves
Given the short number of days between games, Arne Slot is expected to rotate for this trip to Molineux. Especially with a trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray next week.
One of the questions surrounding the Liverpool team will be who starts in goal. Giorgi Mamardashvili has started two of Liverpool’s four domestic cup games this season, but he has been dropped for Alisson when facing Premier League sides. That will likely be the case again here.
But we could see changes in defence. Joe Gomez may get a start at right-back to rest Jeremie Frimpong, with the same happening on the left with Andrew Robertson coming in for Milos Kerkez. Liverpool don’t have any other defensive options, so the centre-backs should remain the same.
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Moving up the pitch, Curtis Jones replaced Ryan Gravenberch at half-time with the Dutchman on a booking. Gravenberch has come under fire for recent performances and may drop to the bench here.
Alexis Mac Allister is expected to keep his place, again with options limited. Wataru Endo is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a foot injury.
It’s a similar story in the attack. Florian Wirtz isn’t expected to be out for much longer, but this game will be too soon. So Dominik Szoboszlai is expected to play as the No.10. But he could be flanked by Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha to offer Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah a break. Hugo Ekitike should lead the line.
Liverpool hoping to be on the right side of history
It’s always fun when the fixture list and cup draws throw up two games between sides back-to-back. It happened for Southampton and Leicester City in the Championship and FA Cup fourth round. Southampton won both of those games, so Liverpool will be hoping to avoid being the Leicester of their matchup with Wolves.
Although they weren’t back-to-back, Liverpool and Wolves did face off twice in quick succession in the FA Cup and Premier League in 2023.
Liverpool won the FA Cup tie after a replay, thanks to a 1-0 win at Molineux. But they returned less than three weeks later and were handed a 3-0 defeat in the league. Defeats to Wolves have been rare for Liverpool in recent times. But two of the past four victories for Wolves have come in the FA Cup.