Wolves haven’t had much to shout about at the start of this season following four defeats from their first five games.
It’s a return that places Wolves rock bottom of the Premier League at this early stage while problems off the pitch have since compounded their misery.
Gary O’Neil was dealt the devastating news that Yerson Mosquera would be sidelined for the season after injuring his MCL and ACL in the defeat to Aston Villa.
The Wolves boss is also in an injury crisis ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Molineux, as a virus has swept the squad and left some players in doubt, including Toti Gomes.
With the Old Gold suffering injury troubles and struggling in the league, it’s no surprise that Liverpool are predicted to walk all over Wolves, although manager Arne Slot did praise his opponents.
Arne Slot thinks Wolves have deserved better this season
Wolves can have no excuses about being sat bottom of the table but there have at least been some positives to take from their opening games.
The Wanderers were great in the first half against Chelsea before falling to pieces in the second half and that pattern has followed them in defeats to Newcastle and most recently, Aston Villa.
O’Neil has been criticised for his substitutions and the timing of them this term, with Wolves performance levels dropping significantly after the break.
Last season, Wolves took an early lead against Liverpool before goals from Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson and a Hugo Bueno own goal handed the visitors all three points.
After rewatching that game from 2023/24 and looking at O’Neil’s men this term, Arne Slot doesn’t believe the Wanderers deserve to be in the position they’re in.
“If you look at our games, it’s always first 15-20 both teams have energy and the games are hard,” Slot said as pair the Liverpool Echo.
“Then the games settle down and then the team who plays the best gets the ball and starts to play. When it comes to Wolves, it is no surprise because they play good football and maybe they haven’t got the results they deserved.
“Last season Wolves were ahead and it took Robbo in the 85th minute to get the lead, I think. He doesn’t score a lot. We need to be ready for every game at the beginning, two teams full of energy.”
Wolves vs Liverpool prediction
Wolves supporters only have Fosun to blame for being in their current position, with youngster Alfie Pond in line for his Premier League debut.
The odds were already stacked against the hosts to cause an upset, and now that a virus has hit the squad, their chances are ten times harder.
Liverpool have started the season under Slot in excellent form, scoring 10 and conceding just once; the sort of statistics that Wolves will fear.
And that is why the Reds will believe they can secure a comfortable victory at Molineux, further plunging O’Neil’s side into trouble.