Match Preview: Arne Slot Set to Make Big Changes as Liverpool Face Wolves

Could Federico Chiesa finally be given a start in the Premier League?

Liverpool find themselves in an intriguing moment of their season. After a turbulent autumn that saw form fluctuate and confidence waver, Arne Slot’s side are now undefeated in five games and slowly rebuilding their title credentials. Amongst those five games, there are crucial wins against Inter Milan, Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur, but it hasn’t been smoth sailing.

Injuries, suspensions and player absences due to AFCON are stretching the squad thin. Yet the fixtures have smiled kindly. Next up: bottom-of-the-league Wolves at Anfield, a side in complete disarray. On paper, this looks like a straightforward opportunity for Liverpool to maintain momentum. But this is the Premier League. And Wolves, despite their shambolic form, have all the ingredients to play the role of unwanted party crashers against a Liverpool side that haven’t really earned the right to underestimate anyone.

Wolves are Historically Bad – But Dangerous

Wolves are on course to become the worst team in Premier League history. Seventeen games played, zero wins, two draws and fifteen defeats. A staggering -28 goal difference and just nine goals scored in total. They’re 14 points adrift of safety at Christmas. The statistics are humiliating and the performances have been even worse. Their board has admitted they overplayed their hand in the summer, offloading their best talent and replacing them with inadequate depth. Molineux is half-empty and fan protests have begun. By every measurable metric, this team is falling apart.

And yet, that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. There’s no pressure. Every game is a free hit. These are the banana skin fixtures that often trip up injury-hit sides like Liverpool.

Liverpool Cannot Afford to Be Casual

Arne Slot knows better than to take anything for granted. Despite recent wins, Liverpool are still very much in recovery mode. The Reds are without several key players. Giovanni Leoni is out for the season. Joe Gomez, Cody Gakpo, Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak are also sidelined. Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended. Mohamed Salah is away with Egypt, and Wataru Endo is unavailable until mid-January. That’s an entire spine missing from the squad.

With so many absentees, this is no time for complacency. A threadbare midfield has been grinding through the festive period, and overreliance on the same names risks another injury crisis. Liverpool have to manage minutes carefully and ideally, they’d be two goals up after 20 minutes, but Wolves are likely to dig in, set up deep and play for pride. That’s a scenario Liverpool have historically struggled with.

Despite the improved results, we are still waiting for a really impressive performance and there’s no reason why it cannot be today.

Mentality Will Define This Match

The mentality of both teams heading into this fixture will be crucial. Liverpool should be emboldened by recent form but must remember that momentum is fragile. Wolves, on the other hand, are in a strange psychological place. Their players know relegation is a near-certainty. Some, no doubt, are looking for a January exit.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t try. Wolves showed flashes of fight against Arsenal and were unlucky not to get more out of their draw with Aston Villa. Even in defeat, they occasionally manage to unsettle their opponents. Rob Edwards has tried to tighten up the defence by switching to a back five, sacrificing attacking threat for stability. So far, it hasn’t worked. They concede far too easily and score far too rarely.

Still, all it takes is one moment, one lapse from Liverpool, and Wolves could nick something. That’s why Arne Slot must demand focus from the first whistle to the last, because we have seen far too many of those lapses this season.

Squad Players Must Step Up

With Szoboszlai suspended and Salah unavailable, there is a chance for others to step up. Curtis Jones has quietly become one of the most consistent midfielders in the squad and will likely be asked to lead by example again. Frimpong could be deployed as a high-flying full-back to inject much-needed pace into the side, something Liverpool have lacked all season. If used properly, his direct running could be key to unlocking Wolves’ fragile defence.

His performance against Tottenham showed flashes of quality and urgency that Liverpool have sorely missed. A traditional winger, his ability to go outside defenders and hit the byline could give Wolves a nightmare, especially if he’s allowed to attack with freedom rather than carry defensive responsibilities.

Whether Chiesa, Wirtz, or Ekitike starts in attack, the onus will be on the supporting cast to produce. Liverpool are the walking wounded right now, and this is precisely the sort of fixture where unsung heroes need to emerge.

Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Wirtz, Ekitike, Chiesa

Get the Job Done and Move On

With the ongoing squad issues, Liverpool simply need to get this one done. Get the points, rotate if possible, and prepare for the next test. If they can take six points from the next two games, with Leeds United coming to Anfield next, then their position in the league table will look much better.

However, those injuries and suspensions cannot become excuses. Liverpool must treat this match with the same intensity they showed against the likes of Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur. Wolves might be the worst team in the Premier League on paper, but this is a league that punishes arrogance. Arsenal nearly paid the price for switching off against them. Liverpool cannot afford to risk the same here.

This festive double-header, with Wolves and Leeds at home, is an opportunity to put real pressure on the teams above. Win both, and Liverpool can head into two away games at Fulham and Arsenal with confidence. Drop points, and the top four race becomes a scrap once more.

Score Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves