WOLVES VS LIVERPOOL: MATCH PREVIEW

Liverpool will this evening travel to Molineux Stadium for face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 23^rd League fixture just in a wake of back to back victories against the two Manchester teams in both the Carling Cup semi-finals and FA cup 4^th round.

Liverpool must try and replicate that form on a more consistent level in the Premier League if they are to try and make their target of a top-four finish a more realistic one. A run of just one win in six league games has increased that challenge for the months ahead. This match is just as crucial to Wolves in their battle for survival. Eight Premier League games without a win has left them looking over their shoulder and they will have been using their empty weekend to analyse defensive matters. Its 19 games since they kept a clean sheet and the fact that they have conceded two or more goals in each of their last four matches at home will be an obvious concern to the manager whiles it will be a good run for the visiting team.

Liverpool has been really impressive on the road having won 5 as against 4 at home this season and with Wolves having lost two consecutive midlands derbies in front of their own fans, making it three straight home defeats, the fans could turn on the manager if Liverpool take the upper hand early on. A win for Liverpool this evening will put them back on track for the top 4 finish that means no room for complacency after 2 important wins in a wake of 3 day. The boost of their cup successes should see Liverpool back on form against Wolves. With the home side’s injuries, the visitors will have few excuses for not controlling proceedings in midfield. Having Spearing in the team will give them a stronger base from which to construct attacks and will also free Gerrard to spend more time attacking and less time covering in the midfield. Even without young Jay this is a game Liverpool should win and one they need to win after three winless league games. Getting in to the Champions League is still very much on the cards but only if they start winning games like this. Kenny Dalglish will be fully aware of this and he’ll send his player out to attack from the start. If they can score early and turn the home crowd against their own team, there is the possibility that this could turn in to the rout which the reds have often threatened but failed to deliver this season.

TEAM NEWS

Steven Gerrard is one who could be held to have found the demands placed on his boody worthy of a rest so soon after making a comeback from injury.

Jay Spearing could come in if fit. However the midfielder is still rated as a doubt and Kenny has other options should his skipper be offered a break.

Luis Suarez serves the final game of his eight match ban handed him by the FA.

Craig Ballamy could be considered for a start having sat on the bench for most of the match against United.

Dirk Kuyt and Charlie Adam also deployed as replacements at the weekend could be considered and might return to the starting lineup.

Disciplinary reasons deprive McCarthy of karl Henry whiles Frimpong is able to participate despite suffering a facial injury against Aston Villa ten days ago but could make a surprise comeback.

Jamie O’Hara and Jody Craddock have hit the comeback trail after recent injuries though this game has come too early in the recuperation, manager could make good use of them for the game.

McCarthy revealed that Liverpool had attempted to delay the game by 24 hours; though not as a result of their schedule over the past week. The Wolves boss suggested that potential transfer activity was the reason given.

Head-to-head

·         Wolves have not beaten Liverpool in their last four home meetings (D3, L1). Wolves' last home victory over Liverpool was back in 1981.

·         Liverpool's 3-0 win at Wolves in this fixture last season was Kenny Dalglish's first triumph since his return as their manager.

·         The Reds beat Wolves earlier this season but haven't done the double over them since Dalglish was a player. They last achieved it in the 1978/79 season, when Alan Hansen's goal at Molineux secured a 1-0 victory after Liverpool had won 2-0 at Anfield.

Wolves

·         Wolves have lost three of their last four home matches in the league (D1, L3).

·         They have not won any of their last eight league games. They had a similar run of eight without a victory earlier in the season but ended that with a win at home to Wigan.

·         Mick McCarthy's men have picked up 10 points from losing positions this term - the equal-most with Aston Villa.

·         Wolves are in the relegation zone but have scored the same number of league goals (25) as seventh-placed Liverpool.

Liverpool

·         Liverpool have lost their last two away league matches and have failed to win any of their last three in the league - their longest run without a victory so far this season. They have won just one of their last six matches.

·         The Reds have won more league matches away from home than at Anfield this season - although have earned fewer points on their travels.

·         Only leaders Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool in this season's Premier League.

·         Craig Bellamy has scored four of Liverpool's last seven league goals and both of the Reds' most recent league wins have included goals from the Welshman.

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Kick-off is at 7:45pm

(Credit: www.bbc.com, thisisanfield)

INTRIGUING WEEKEND FOR LIVERPOOL

A highly charged afternoon at Anfield and one which ultimately ended with a Dirk Kuyt late strike beating United’s De Gea to secure Liverpool a place in the 5th round of the FA Cup. A goal which emphatically rounded off a memorable week in the club’s season after eliminating the other Manchester from the Carling Cup semi-finals to book their place in the finals at Wembley after 16 years.

It has been a week which began in disappointment and despondency with defeat at the Reebok Stadium but one which has bared the fruits of two victories over Manchester’s best, a place in one domestic cup final and sound progress towards another. Liverpool’s league form may be somewhat erratic at times but there can be on questioning their pedigree when it comes to a knock out competition and playing the so called big teams in the league.

With pre-match attention predictably focused on the fall out of the Suarez/Evra racism row both Kenny Dalglish and his counterpart, Alex Ferguson, had attempted to calm the tensions and deflect attention towards matters on the field. Though tensions remained highly-strung and – in a fixture which is emotionally charged at the best of times – it made for a terrific atmosphere throughout. Luis Suarez’s continued absence meant that he had to content himself with watching from the stands. But Patrice Evra was named in the visitor’s starting XI. Evra was roundly jeered throughout. Although anyone who expected anything else, considering what has passed and Liverpool’s lingering feelings towards the decision, was being rather naïve.

Jamie Carragher was a surprise inclusion in Liverpool’s midfield. In the continued absence of both Lucas and Jay Spearing, Dalglish responded to the defensive debacle against Bolton the previous week and brought in Carragher as a makeshift holding midfielder.

It was a move which may, or may not, have been judged as a success – Carragher was eventually withdrawn midway through the second half. But the Reds needed some extra protection in midfield without compromising the influence of Steven Gerrard. At the opposite end of the pitch, Andy Carroll returned, as Craig Bellamy’s knees meant that he returned to the bench, despite a dazzling display in midweek. Whilst Maxi Rodriguez was also drafted into the starting line-up in place of Kuyt. Perhaps as a result of the changes, Liverpool were considerably less potent as an attacking force for the most part. In fact it was only when Liverpool replaced Carragher with Kuyt and United subsequently withdrew the influential, Paul Scholes, in favour of an additional forward, that the Reds began to gain an edge in midfield and looked capable of winning the game. Dalglish’s team appeared content to surrender territory and possession of their rivals for much of the game, with Carroll too often lacking support at the top end of the pitch. Yet, despite their dominance of possession, Man United rarely worried Pepe Reina. And it was the hosts who took the lead after 21 minutes. Maxi had already tested De Gea early on, with a low drive which the visiting ‘keeper turned away. Whilst United responded when Antonio Valencia was afforded the time of cut in from the right and strike Reina’s right-hand post.

But Daniel Agger rose highest to head Steven Gerrard’s dangerous corner-kick beyond De Gea for the opening goal – the Dane’s first in quite some time.

However, Liverpool failed to make their advantage count and it was United who took the initiative thereafter. And the game was ultimately level before half-time.

Jose Enrique has rarely put a foot wrong in an impressive debut season at the club but he should have done more to prevent Rafael Da Silva’s cross from the right. The Brazilian found Park Ji-sung, who powerfully finished first time from inside the box.

Man United threatened to take the lead after the break, when Danny Welbeck out-paced the home defence and played the ball around Reina, only for Skrtel to come to the rescue with a goal-line clearance. But the game was tepid and lacking in the required quality and for long periods the tie seemed destined for a replay. Though, the uncertainty of the much-maligned De Gea continued to offer Liverpool reason for optimism. The Spaniard looked uncomfortable under-pressure with balls into the box and also gifted a clearance straight to the feet of Stewart Downing – of which the winger should have made more.

But it required the intervention of substitute, Kuyt, combined with some hesitant United defending, to win the game with only 2 minutes of normal time remaining. A long punt forward by Reina was flicked on by Carroll. Kuyt ghosted beyond Evra and, with the Kop goal-mouth at his mercy, he beat De Gea with a low shot to send Liverpool into the 5th round. This has been arguably Kuyt’s most difficult season in a red shirt to date. Not helped by a lack of consecutive games. This was only the Dutchman’s second goal since May last year but he should have had another before full-time.

Carroll – who was a handful for the United defense in a far more encouraging display – sent a far post header against the frame of the goal whilst Kuyt contrived to stab the rebound wide for what at a moment seemed to be a more difficult in missing than scoring.

A DRAW LFC DESERVED FOR BEATING MANCHESTER

Liverpool on Sunday afternoon were drawn against a championship side as a thank you for seeing off United from the competition. The two sides have already faced each other in cup competition this season, when Liverpool won 2-1 at the Amex Stadium in the League Cup third round courtesy of goals from Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt. The match will take place on February 18th or 19th. Gus Poyet’s side are currently 10th in the Championship, just four points adrift of the play-offs. They booked their place in the fifth round with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday evening. The last time Liverpool faced Brighton in the FA Cup was 1991. After a 2-2 draw at Anfield, the Reds won the replay 3-2.

FA Cup Fifth Round Draw:

Liverpool v Brighton
Everton v Blackpool or Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea v Birmingham
Crawley Town v Stoke
Stevenage v Tottenham
Norwich v Leicester
Sunderland or Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Millwall or Southampton v Bolton

(Credit: liverpoolfc.tv,thisisanfield, supersports, bbc and goal.com)