Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Liverpoolvs.Wolves

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 May 2024, 12:39
For the final time as Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp will address the adoring Kop and listen to You'll Never Walk Alone inside the Anfield walls on Sunday, when Wolverhampton Wanderers bid to spoil his Premier League farewell parade.

In a match with nothing significant on the line for both clubs, all focus will be on the departing German as he oversees just 90 more minutes of football in a Liverpool tracksuit.

Match preview

One assumes that Klopp will not miss the English media too much, but during his closing pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, the German was presented with a beautiful canvas displaying some of his fondest Merseyside memories, ranging from Champions League stardom to long-awaited Premier League supremacy.

Four months on from shocking the European football landscape by announcing his resignation, the German's farewell is finally nigh - alongside that of his coaching team in Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos and Peter Krawietz, the former two of whom will continue in tandem at Red Bull Salzburg.

While Klopp will certainly not kick back and put his feet up at 4pm on Sunday, personal pride is all that is at stake for Liverpool, who are already guaranteed to finish third in the Premier League table after their title bid crashed and burned during a dismal Easter period.

Monday's six-goal spectacular with Aston Villa ended in a result that epitomised Klopp's final season, as despite leading 3-1 heading into the final 10 minutes, a late Jhon Duran brace pegged the Reds back to 3-3 at Villa Park; the Lions took a leaf out of Liverpool's book when it came to powers of recovery.

The West Midlands capitulation means that Liverpool boast a dissatisfactory record of just three wins from their last nine matches across all competitions, and not since December 17 have they kept a Premier League clean sheet at Anfield, but ending that barren defensive sequence would be another parting gift for their beloved coach.

From a departing Premier League coach to one in the embryonic stages of his managerial journey in English football, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil intends to play the role of party pooper on Sunday, where the visitors could still sneak into the top half of the standings if results go their way.

However, Wolves have well and truly lost their bite at this late stage, as after being hit for five at champions-elect Manchester City on May 4, O'Neil's men were brushed aside by Oliver Glasner's in-form Crystal Palace crop in the penultimate weekend.

The deadly trident of Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze rendered Matheus Cunha's strike inconsequential at Molineux, leaving Wolves in an unremarkable 13th place in the standings, albeit just two points worse off than Brighton & Hove Albion in 10th position.

In order to sneak into the top half, though, the Old Gold would have to rain on Klopp's parade - an unlikely scenario if one win from their last 10 in all tournaments is anything to go by - while also praying that Brighton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace all slip up, but O'Neil and co will not be hung up on failing to clamber out of the bottom 10.

September's Molineux meeting saw Liverpool pull off one of their quintessential comebacks in a 3-1 triumph over Wolves, who have not won a Premier League game at Anfield since 2010 and are not expected to provide a major threat to an ideal Klopp send-off.

Liverpool Premier League form:

L

W

L

D

W

D

Liverpool form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

W

D

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:

D

L

L

W

L

L

Team News

As well as the imminent exits of Klopp and his coaching team, Liverpool confirmed on Friday morning that Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip would be departing when their contracts expire at the end of the season, but the latter's ACL injury will deny him an on-field farewell.

However, Thiago was back in training earlier this week after a muscular problem and has a slim chance of making a final appearance, while Diogo Jota (hip) and Andy Robertson (knock) have rejoined the team and should be involved too.

Ben Doak (knee) and Bobby Clark (unspecified) must watch on from the sidelines on Sunday, where Klopp will surely not turn his nose up to minutes for Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic, albeit most likely from the substitutes' bench.

As far as Wolves are concerned, tricky Portuguese winger Pedro Neto is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from a thigh injury, but having not been risked against Crystal Palace, the 24-year-old's availability remains uncertain.

Craig Dawson (groin) and Leon Chiwone (ankle) are both guaranteed absentees for the visitors, who did not have Jose Sa in the ranks against Palace and also withdrew Boubacar Traore during the break last weekend, although that appeared to be a tactical switch from O'Neil.

Traore's early substitution offers Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Tommy Doyle hope of re-entering the engine room alongside Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes, whom Liverpool apparently plan to reignite their interest in this summer.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Bentley; S. Bueno, Toti, Kilman; Semedo, Doyle, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Hwang

We say: Liverpool 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Neither Liverpool nor Wolves have been ending the season as they mean to go on, but not since 1989 have the Reds lost at Anfield in their final game of the season, and that trend should not be bucked here.

Previews by email

Top News

15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane tore Andrew Robertson apart after Scotland began their Euro 2024 campaign with an embarrassing 5-1 loss at the hands of hosts Germany. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with the representatives of AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori to discuss a possible move to St James' Park during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54 following a short illness. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have apparently taken the first step towards bolstering their ranks for the 2024-25 season, as a report from the Liverpool Echo claims that contact has been made over a move for Everton's Amadou Onana. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Steve Clarke expects his Scotland side to show that they are "better than that" after losing 5-1 to Germany on Friday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Back at a major tournament after eight years of waiting, Romania get their Euro 2024 campaign under way on Monday afternoon, when they meet Ukraine in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Quarter-finalists three years ago, Ukraine kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday afternoon, when they meet Group E rivals Romania in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the waiting finally over, Group E rivals Romania and Ukraine will kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns on Monday afternoon in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Championship outfit Millwall have announced the tragic death of goalkeeper Matija Sarkic at the age of just 26. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France attacker Kylian Mbappe has seemingly emerged unscathed from an injury scare as Les Bleus prepare to tackle Austria in their Euro 2024 Group D opener in Dusseldorf on Monday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick must work around the absence of three serious knee victims for Das Team's Euro 2024 run, which begins on Monday against France in Group D. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf is the venue for Monday's closing Euro 2024 contest, as in-form Austria and title favourites France pit their wits against one another in Group D. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany began their quest to win an unprecedented fourth continental title in emphatic fashion as they put Scotland to the sword 5-1 in Friday's Euro 2024 opener at the Allianz Arena. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman has played down suggestions that he could make the move to Real Madrid during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has reportedly agreed personal terms with Juventus ahead of a potential move to the Italian giants during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Potential replacements for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United were allegedly 'surprised' by the low wages that were offered and also the club's transfer budget this summer. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dan Friedkin, the owner of Serie A giants Roma, has reportedly agreed a deal with Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri to buy the Premier League club. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chadi Riad is relishing the opportunity to face the Premier League's most formidable opponents after becoming Crystal Palace's first signing of the summer transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In football terms, a Group of Death refers to a group of teams in a competition that are similarly matched in terms of quality, and so it is hard to predict who will qualify from them. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk While the 24 squads are finalising their preparations for this summer's tournament in Germany, so too are the referees at Euro 2024. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta vs. Houston (Sunday, 12.30am) Atlanta United FC are set to host Houston Dynamo FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday in a cross-conference showdown that could prove pivotal in each sides' quest to qualify for the MLS Cup. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hungary vs. Switzerland (Saturday, 2.00pm) Hungary and Switzerland will kick-start their Euro 2024 campaigns with a Group A encounter at the RheinEnergieStadion in Koln on Saturday afternoon. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig have won the race to sign 18-year-old Schalke 04 wonderkid Assan Ouedraogo, who had been linked to a list of European Giants including Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United's move to purchase Palmeiras wonderkid Luis Guilherme has been tipped to be "more impressive" than the €72m (£60. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica midfielder Joao Neves has reportedly turned down his club's offer of a new contract amid interest from Premier League giants Manchester United. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk David Beckham's Inter Miami are 'in talks' to sign free agent Raphael Varane following his summer departure from Manchester United, according to a report. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to secure their maiden win of the 2024 Brasileiro campaign at the ninth attempt, bottom side Vitoria will welcome Internacional to Estadio Manoel Barradas on Sunday afternoon. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany glistened while Scotland crumbled in Friday's Euro 2024 Group A opener at the Allianz Arena, where the tournament hosts smashed Steve Clarke's men 5-1 in Munich. 14 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Euro 2024 hosts Germany made quite the statement of intent in the opening match of the tournament, destroying Group A rivals Scotland 5-1 at the Allianz Arena.