#1 First sighting of new signings
Wolves had an unprecedented January in the transfer market, with SIX new signings coming through the doors at Compton Park by the time the window slammed shut on Tuesday. Of those newbies, three have already made their gold and black debut, with Matheus Cunha having already accrued two assists in his six appearances having become the first of Lopetegui’s signings on New Year’s Day. Mario Lemina got his first taste of Molineux as a home player, having featured at the stadium for both Southampton and Fulham in previous seasons, in the win against West Ham United earlier in the month while Pablo Sarabia is still to experience a matchday at Molineux, having come off the bench at the Etihad last time out.
But there are still three incomings who have yet to pull on the shirt, with Craig Dawson, Dan Bentley and Joao Gomes all coming into the club after the deadline passed to be registered in time for the visit to Manchester City. Centre-back Dawson brings a wealth of Premier League experience to a young defensive line at Molineux, while goalkeeper Bentley will provide more competition for current number one Jose Sa. The Gomes saga ended up dragging almost all the way to deadline day, before the highly-rated Brazilian was finally announced on Monday, and with the six additions being included in Wolves’ squad list for the remainder of the season, could we get our first glimpse of them all this weekend?
#2 Plenty of options for Julen
Now the transfer window has closed until the summer, Wolves’ squad has been set for the rest of the season, and Lopetegui has already commented on how his group now feels balanced. One thing that all managers require is to have an option of at least two players in every position, and Wolves now have that – and even more – from their squad of 28 first-team players.
When the Spaniard arrived at Molineux late last year, he acknowledged the need to balancing out a group which looked very light in midfield, but with the arrival of Lemina and Gomes, as well as keeping hold of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Matheus Nunes and Joe Hodge, while Boubacar Traore – who has been confirmed as a permanent Wolves player from 1st July 2023 – continues his recovery from a groin injury, means there is a raft of options at Lopetegui’s hands in the centre of the park. Due to having options right across the squad, it will be a difficult task to predict what the starting line-up will look like when Liverpool come calling on Saturday afternoon.
New lads in action 🤝 pic.twitter.com/AsU2FIJg5N
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 1, 2023
#3 Familiar foes
If Wolves and Liverpool don’t know everything about each other by now then they never will, having faced off twice already in the past few weeks. The teams went head-to-head in the Emirates FA Cup third round at the start of January, with Wolves being unfortunate to not earn their place in the fourth round at the first time of asking after a controversial ending to the contest. But it was the Reds who eventually made it through to the next stage of the competition with a narrow 1-0 win at Molineux.
In both those matches, Wolves rotated their team quite heavily due to their Premier League and Carabao Cup outings which they were trying to balance, while Liverpool were as strong as possible for more than 120 minutes of their two matches, as Harvey Elliott’s long-range effort in front of the North Bank was the difference. With the only new addition to Jurgen Klopp’s side during the transfer window being Cody Gakpo – who featured in both previous matches with Wolves – the Reds will be unable to spring much of a surprise on the old gold, while the aforementioned options Lopetegui has currently could be the key to finally unlocking three points against Liverpool at home.
#4 Throwing out the form book
If you were to look closely at previous league results between Wolves and Liverpool and Molineux, it doesn’t make for happy reading for those of a gold and black persuasion. The Reds have tasted success in all of their last 11 Premier League meetings with the old gold, both at Molineux and at Anfield. To find the last time Wolves won at the golden palace against Liverpool you have to go all the way back to August 1981 when 20-year-old midfielder Mick Matthews – making just his second ever senior appearance – made it a debut to forget for Liverpool keeper Bruce Grobbelaar by netting the only goal of the game.
If Liverpool were to win their 12th successive Premier League match against the men from Molineux on Saturday, it would tie their longest ever record, which happens to be against Wolves’ Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion, who the Reds beat every time they met in the league between 1985 and 2010. However, with the last three top-flight meetings between the sides ending in just 1-0 wins for the opposition, Wolves will take solace in the fact that one goal can make all the difference and all records have to come to end one day – so why not now?!
