Liverpool return to action Saturday, continuing their FA Cup title defence vs Wolverhampton. Even though they are Premier League foes, this match will mark the first time this season the two clubs have met on the pitch. Their match originally scheduled for September 10th was postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
It's Official
Jürgen Klopp does not usually discuss lineup decisions ahead of matches, but he did acknowledge that Cody Gakpo will make his Liverpool debut in the match. Unfortunately with Virgil van Dijk suffering an injury in the loss to Brentford that will keep him out for weeks, it will be a while before the Dutch Internationals will be paired together in the Liverpool Starting XI. Even so, Klopp is excited to see Gakpo take the pitch for the Reds.
“It looks really good, it looks really promising. He looks fit. That's all good,” Klopp said. “We expect a positive impact, definitely.”
Staying On Course
In spite of the loss to Brentford, Klopp says the outlook and preparation for this match do not change. Fans can expect to see plenty of top players on the pitch.
“It was always clear we will line up as good and strong and experienced as we can,” he said. “If you play Wednesday-Saturday, Tuesday or whatever, these kinds of things, then you have to think about it. But we play Monday-Saturday so it (rotation) does not change.”
Hungry Like The Wolves?
Wolverhampton has not had the best of seasons so far. They sit 19th (out of 20) on the table with just 14 points in 18 League matches. With the club in danger of relegation, they will be looking to pull an upset in the FA Cup to give their supporters something to cheer about in the midst of a lacklustre campaign, Liverpool will have to match that energy and enthusiasm from the opening whistle, particularly after conceding first in each of the last two matches.
LFC Globe Verdict
This match comes at a perfect time for Liverpool. A tough loss against Brentford will have them refocused and not overlooking a struggling Wolves Club. Cody Gakpo also gets to make his much-anticipated debut in front of the home supporters at Anfield without being under the immediate pressure of playing in an EPL match.
This fixture is still important though as the FA CUP is a coveted trophy and the Reds hope to lift it for a second straight year. If they get off to a fast start, the Reds should breeze to victory. If not, the Wolves could very well huff and puff and blow Liverpool's Cup hopes away.
Prediction Liverpool 3 Wolverhampton 0.
Where To Watch
Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 GMT and can be seen on ITV4 while American audiences can stream the action on ESPN+. Canadian viewers can watch on Sportsnet.