Wolves travel to league leaders Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday with a bit of a spring in their step.
Despite sitting in 17th position in the table, Wolves secured a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the top flight before booking their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a win against Blackburn Rovers.
Vitor Pereira’s side will now head to Anfield, a place they’ve not won in the league since December 2010 when Stephen Ward scored the winner.
It’s arguably one of the most difficult places to go in the league and Wolves have found that out on multiple occasions however, they have to believe clinching a positive result is possible.
Interestingly, one of Pereira’s most important players currently almost sealed a transfer to Liverpool in 2022 before moving to Molineux.
Joao Gomes wanted to join Liverpool in 2022
Joao Gomes sealed a £15m transfer to Wolves from Flamengo in January 2023. However, only five months earlier in August 2022, the Brazilian midfielder was open about how he wanted to join Liverpool.
“Liverpool is a team I would play for,” said Gomes via ESPN Brazil. “I have the greatest desire to play. Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream and my family’s, my biggest dream in football.”
The 24-year-old outlined his ambition of playing in the Champions League with the Reds, something he could have achieved years ago, but Wolves sold him the dream instead.
The ball-winning machine has since transformed into a quality Premier League star, with Manchester United and Liverpool since showing an interest in Gomes.
That being said, he remains a vital part of Pereira’s system and this weekend, Wolves No.8 will want to demonstrate what the red corner of Merseyside have missed out on.
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Gomes is fourth in the Premier League for key statistic
Gomes scored in Wolves’ 2-0 win over Blackburn on Sunday, prodding home the ball inside the box and booking his side’s place in the fifth round against Bournemouth.
It was the midfielder’s third goal of the season after netting against Crystal Palace and Fulham but he’s more known for his combative presence in the middle of the park.
Across the past few campaigns, Gomes has ranked high for most tackles in the competitions, and it’s no different this term.
According to the Premier League’s website, the Wolves star is fourth on the list with 71 – joint with Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo – and only trailing Everton’s Idrissa Gueye (78) and Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz (86).
Whoever wins the engine room battle at Anfield should come out on top in the contest and Gomes will be eager to give his side the upper hand.