The Liverpool Offside - Premier League 2021-22 Match Coverage: Wolves vs. Liverpool Zeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2021-12-04T19:30:00+00:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/225812652021-12-04T19:30:00+00:002021-12-04T19:30:00+00:00Digging Deeper Into Liverpool’s Last Minute Win Over Wolves
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<img alt="Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lvOY7RV_KqxZET9eZLDFhAlfjmU=/0x0:4181x2787/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70228765/1357157186.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After Liverpool found a goal in extra time from Divock Origi to take the points, we take a closer look at what it all means for the Reds.</p> <p id="7HvIhg"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> controlled much of the ball, but struggled early to find space against a well organized Wolves side. When the Reds finally found some cracks and started to break through, they spurned several clear cut chances. Thankfully, the Reds had Divock Origi to come to the rescue with a late, late winner. Let’s take a look at some of the hows and whys of the game.</p>
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<h2 id="sXLY7C"><strong>Winners</strong></h2>
<p id="Ovn7Li"><strong>Divock Origi</strong><br>Divock Origi certainly has a penchant for scoring big goals, doesn’t he? Or at least, he never seems to score a boring goal. Brought in as Liverpool were chasing the win, Origi popped up a couple of times in good spots before making a calm turn under pressure in the 94th minute before slotting the ball home. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That's Divock Origi's 10th Premier League goal scored as a substitute for Liverpool.<br><br>No player has scored more league goals as a sub in the club's history. <br><br>Hero! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WOLLIV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WOLLIV</a></p>— Michael Reid (@michael_reid11) <a href="https://twitter.com/michael_reid11/status/1467175627648344066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a>
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<p id="MMPUeP"><strong>Fabinho and Thiago</strong><br>Liverpool’s dynamic midfield duo were everywhere today, vacuuming up seemingly every loose ball in midfield and then getting the attack started again. When the two have played together, Liverpool have won 14 games and drawn 1. Seems good.</p>
<p id="h1X5Kh">For this game, Fabinho was at his lanky best, making 3 interceptions and 2 tackles, and recovered seemingly every ball that popped loose within a 15 yard radius around him. Thiago was arguably Liverpool’s best player on the day, showing his excellent passing range and vision. He completed 7 of 10 long balls, including several perfectly weighted balls. He also put in his usual defensive shift, making a couple of interceptions and tackles himself.</p>
<p id="wVzt3S"><strong>Joël Matip</strong><br>The meme-able defender has been splitting minutes recently with Ibrahima Konaté, but he put in a classy and assured performance today. Matip had 3 tackles and 2 clearances in addition to winning 4 headers. He showed off his trademark dribbling, carrying the ball to the top of the Wolves box a couple of times.</p>
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<h2 id="h.cx6ijpcl12xk"><strong>Losers</strong></h2>
<p id="QdZcf1"><strong>Diogo Jota</strong><br>The Portuguese attacker has been in excellent form recently, and seemed primed for a big game on his birthday against his former club. Instead, Jota, who has been so efficient with his finishing, missed on two of the biggest chances of the game. In the first half, he rose to meet a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but put his header inches wide of the post. In the second half he failed to convert with the keeper out of his goal, instead drilling the ball right at Connor Coady who had hustled back to get on the goal line, in the center of the goal.</p>
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<h2 id="29eMji"><strong>From The Manager</strong></h2>
<p id="Pje8Kd">“It is a perfect result for this game because it was a very tricky game for plenty of reasons. The opponent defended well, lucky in moments, threw their body between us and the goal. These are the days where it very often happens where you can just go home with 1pt or nothing.”</p>
<p id="Sc9qXe">-Jurgen Klopp</p>
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<h2 id="n36grf"><strong>What Happens Next</strong></h2>
<p id="fTZjR0">Fixtures are coming thick and fast now. Liverpool have their third away game in a week span (I know, <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com">Everton</a> was technically one of those “away” games) as they head to Italy to take on <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com">AC Milan</a> in the last <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> group stage match. With Liverpool having clinched the top spot in their group already, expect wholesale changes in the line up to get key players rest before the Reds return home to take on <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com">Aston Villa</a> in Stevie G’s return to Anfield.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/4/22817456/digging-deeper-into-liverpools-last-minute-win-over-wolves-pl-21-divock-origi-thiago-diogo-jotaCruyff Turns Anonymous2021-12-04T17:01:23+00:002021-12-04T17:01:23+00:00Wolves 0, Liverpool 1 - Match Recap: Origi Magic Earns Liverpool Three Points Against Wolves
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<img alt="Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZHW-dQn9Evm2tdD9YCQQdU4c4Z0=/0x0:3622x2415/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70228460/1357143942.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We react to Liverpool’s Premier League victory against Wolves and give you a chance to vote for your Man of the Match.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="h.cy9vu8hi9cop">
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<strong>Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 - 1 </strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><strong>Liverpool</strong></a>
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<h5 id="mk16eS">Liverpool: Origi 90+4’</h5>
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<h3 id="Ph7Trp"><strong>Pre-Match </strong></h3>
<p id="NLdnn2">Klopp had no surprises in the line-up. He put out his best fit XI to try and continue their huge run of form against Wolves.</p>
<h3 id="pGVJjh"><strong>First Half</strong></h3>
<p id="h.lzrl1j2nf8ks">The match began without either team gaining much ground. Liverpool had the majority of the possession without looking dangerous in the first 10 minutes. Most of the early portions of this match took place batting the ball around the midfield.</p>
<p id="jtsq9x">17 minutes in, Liverpool finally managed to force a couple quick corners that ultimately came to nothing, but that seemed to be the impetus for the Reds to kick into the next gear. They pushed forward, playing higher up the pitch and creating more opportunities in front of the goal.</p>
<p id="c9tTCT">Trent Alexander-Arnold came close, but couldn’t get the ball down to feed it into one of his teammates in the box. Instead, it went flying over the goal for a goal kick. In the 31st minute, Diogo Jota placed a free header just wide of the post in Liverpool’s best move of the match so far.</p>
<p id="T6f62Q">The last quarter of the first half was all Liverpool as they trapped Wolves in their box and relentlessly pursued that first goal. Again they almost had it when Jota played in Andrew Robertson, who squared the ball across the face of goal for Mohamed Salah. However, a late challenge from Saiss prevented Salah from a simple tap-in.</p>
<p id="eLapGx">After an injury time surge from Wolves, both teams enter the tunnel at halftime scoreless.</p>
<h3 id="jhgKKT"><strong>Second Half</strong></h3>
<p id="4rkzyC">The second half began with Liverpool attacking once again attacking. In the 50th minute, a ricochet from Alexander-Arnold to the Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa around the front of the goal until Thiago Alcantara got a foot on it. Unfortunately, Sa managed an instinctive save to keep the ball out, and so Liverpool continued to search for that first goal.</p>
<p id="h.c35minu2dufu">As the match wore on with nothing to show for it, Liverpool began to get sloppy, with Fabinho and Robertson being shown yellow cards. Klopp made his first change to liven things up in the 67th minute, adding in Divock Origi as another attacking option and removing captain Jordan Henderson. </p>
<p id="Tk6QrZ">It took almost 30 long minutes of frustration, but finally his gamble paid off. 90+4’ minutes into the match, it’s Origi who saves Liverpool, grabbing the three points with nearly the final touch of the match. </p>
<h3 id="a1BkQh"><strong>Final Thoughts and Man of the Match</strong></h3>
<p id="6f5BiK">It was a hard one to watch, but Liverpool did the business thanks to some Origi magic. They managed to take advantage of Chelsea’s slip up against <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham</a> to regain the top spot, at least for a little while.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/4/22817310/wolves-0-liverpool-1-match-recap-epl-2021-man-of-the-matchepicskyline2021-12-04T12:00:00+00:002021-12-04T12:00:00+00:00Wolves vs Liverpool How to Watch and Liveblog
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<img alt="Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7zl1PXsxhXFz6fX6qRTyjlBGxIk=/0x0:4323x2882/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70227632/1229993395.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Live coverage of Liverpool’s Premier League match at Wolves with team news, television and streaming options, and an updated liveblog throughout the match.</p> <h2 id="h.xqab99p4bm2r">
<strong>WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS. </strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></a>
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<strong>| Saturday, December 4th |</strong><br><strong>Premier League | Molineux</strong><br><strong>3PM GMT/10AM EST</strong>
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<h2 id="3qJ0yM"><strong>PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH</strong></h2>
<p id="0emDuo"><strong>Preview: </strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/3/22">Wolves vs. Liverpool</a></p>
<p id="UtiLog"><strong>Television:</strong> no listing (UK); USA Network (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fprf.hn%2Fclick%2Fcamref%3A1100l4uLf%2Fcreativeref%3A1011l39034%2Fadref%3ALO&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHXA1GpbllI6ebg3zdww_P1MkZr2g">DAZN</a> (Canada); Star Sports Select 1 (India); Astro SuperSport (Malaysia); SuperSport Premier League Nigeria (Nigeria); 102 mio Stadium (Singapore); SuperSport 3 (South Africa); other listings at<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livesoccertv.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFDsBNye7lSS1YKUruzH_77Ci3V6A"> LiveSoccerTV</a></p>
<p id="rNwZW3"><strong>Streaming:</strong><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fubo.tv%2Flp%2Fsoccer%2F%3Firad%3D343747%26irmp%3D482924%26sharedid%3DTheLiverpoolOffside&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFTBepV5o0rAm2ZCvlDqS2pc76fAw"> NBC via FuboTV</a> (USA) | Online Radio:<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fvideo&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGuwj23dDrwRR1FqF-FaJA0JInvBg"> LFCTV GO</a></p>
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<h2 id="027kX4"><strong>WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS</strong></h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's how we line-up to face <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LFC</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WOLLIV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WOLLIV</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/oFCc1SW64q">pic.twitter.com/oFCc1SW64q</a></p>— Wolves (@Wolves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wolves/status/1467131582561595393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a>
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<h2 id="sEnzUY"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WOLLIV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WOLLIV</a> TEAM NEWS <br><br>This is how we line up today against <a href="https://twitter.com/Wolves?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wolves</a> </p>— Liverpool FC (@LFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1467131594876071939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a>
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<h2 id="dtLufS"><strong>THE LIVERPOOL OFFSIDE MATCHDAY LIVEBLOG</strong></h2>
<p id="YaFk2T"><em>Liveblog will begin shortly before kickoff</em></p>
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<h2 id="NYRWno"><strong>JOIN THE TLO COMMUNITY</strong></h2>
<p id="txjVTb">If you haven’t done so already, take a moment to sign up for an SB Nation account and<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Faccount%2Fsetup%3Fcommunity_id%3D373&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE7cBLPRQkRWsQ4SPrE-2Un1a_7Vg"> join the community on The Liverpool Offside,</a> where we’ll bring you and your fellow Reds fans from around the world full coverage of every Liverpool match in the 2021-22 season in the Premier League, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>, and domestic cups along with breaking news, insight and opinion, and tactical discussion.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/4/22817056/wolves-vs-liverpool-epl-2021-liveblog-team-news-lineups-tv-channels-online-streamingepicskylineCruyff Turns Anonymous2021-12-03T22:30:00+00:002021-12-03T22:30:00+00:00Klopp Not Planning Heavy Rotation Against Wolverhampton
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<img alt="Jurgen Klopp all smiles during a training session at AXA Training Centre on December 02, 2021" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UYqZAfsZV4robEuXqE7KGobBTSU=/8x0:4783x3183/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70226416/1356807229.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Despite playing Wednesday night, Liverpool’s manager is likely to field a strong starting lineup against Wolves tomorrow.</p> <p id="FFF4EO">Now that the calendar has flipped to December, the Premier League’s busy season has officially begun. <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, fresh off of a 4-1 victory over <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com">Everton</a> at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening, are heading to Molineux Stadium for a bout with Wolverhampton tomorrow afternoon.</p>
<p id="bXdiU1">Despite the upcoming fixture congestion and the short break between matches, manager Jürgen Klopp does not plan to sit many of the starters from the Merseyside Derby win.</p>
<p id="O7PxFe">“Players’ welfare is of course very important but we are used to a tough schedule, the boys are used to a tough schedule obviously. I don’t think we have to make now plenty of changes between the games now, at least not at the start of December,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.</p>
<p id="bIdSGK">The German manager feels confident his players will be ready for Wolves despite a quick turnaround, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see more rotation as the busy festive period progresses.</p>
<p id="Zn4QTN">“We have to see how it will be in the middle or the end of December. We will see. It’s a constant conversation with the medical department, the fitness department. We have pretty much all data we can have and use them.” </p>
<p id="Wyd9dd">One of the silver linings of the many injuries so far this season is that there has been a good deal of forced rotation as players have gone down and then returned to the squad. This has helped ensure that not many players have played the full slate of matches over the first leg of the campaign, so match fitness should be relatively high throughout the squad.</p>
<p id="49j6PN">“Looking at that, then making a line-up which gives you a big chance to win the next football game. This week it’s the same. We changed quite a lot in the last few weeks,” said Klopp.</p>
<p id="Td2fm9">“This week we play Wolves. Wolves played Wednesday as well, so the same for both teams. So we will see what we do exactly, I didn’t make the line-up yet, but I wouldn’t expect now seven or eight changes.”</p>
<p id="z9fYXI">While there are likely to be at least a few changes, Klopp’s men also have the benefit of their midweek match against <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com">AC Milan</a> being meaningless as the Reds have already locked up their Champion’s League group. </p>
<p id="nICYLp">This means they can play most of their first choice 11 against Wolves, rest many of them for the dead-rubber in Italy, and then field a strong, rested starting lineup when Steven Gerrard makes his Anfield return as <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com">Aston Villa</a> manager next Saturday.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/12/3/22816572/jurgen-klopp-not-planning-heavy-rotation-against-wolverhampton-wanderers-liverpool-molineuxWaterWorldIsMyNightmare2021-12-03T19:00:00+00:002021-12-03T19:00:00+00:00Mo Salah in the Spotlight Ahead of Busy December
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<img alt="Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after scoring his second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 01, 2021 in Liverpool, England." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/O7So0wXXNY5geLD_dBxuERRQGJ4=/39x0:2613x1716/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70225239/1356770800.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after scoring his second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 01, 2021 in Liverpool, England. | Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Egyptian can’t stop scoring at the minute, and Wolves’ stingy back line is his newest test</p> <p id="tQ71Ik">In his pre-match press conference, Wolves manager Bruno Lage <a href="https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20211203-lage-on-clean-sheets-going-under-the-radar-and-liverpool-test/">was asked </a>about one specific <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> player, and one specific player alone: the man who no one can stop talking about. </p>
<p id="DVfiIu">Mohamed Salah.</p>
<p id="Wiv8fz">In the Premier League, Salah has scored 13 (9.53 xG) goals in 14 games, while also lodging eight assists (9.32 xA); he’s on 19 goals in all competitions. At a rate of 0.93 goals per 90 in the league (he’s on one every 87 minutes in all competitions), the Liverpool winger is something of a phenomenon this season, having scored four more league goals than <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com">Leicester</a>’s Jamie Vardy (also on 14 appearances) and recorded one more assist than Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold (7). </p>
<p id="XEXHBa">The Egyptian’s goal involvements and overall impact on team play have led to a Twitter trending hashtag of “#OnlySalah,” a cheeky response to the sheer amount of statistics for other players that must be caveated with “Only Salah has more.”</p>
<p id="yDBW2O">When asked about Salah’s form ahead of Saturday’s match, Lage did not limit his praise to Salah’s current lethal form, however:</p>
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<p id="A65bMY">Whether he’s the most in-form or not, he’s a top player. Not just what he’s doing this year, but across all of the years, it’s very hard to play against him.</p>
<p id="ri7xGs">He’s very fast, he’s very smart, he finds the right spaces, so we need to pay attention to him. </p>
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<p id="Bd9Bsj">While Lage will hope his Wolves side will keep Salah quiet, the Liverpool winger certainly must be reckoned with. </p>
<p id="WFzIuc">Liverpool’s own statistician, Ged Rea (@ged0407 — well worth a Twitter follow if you’re into that sort of thing), has himself highlighted Salah’s form in a recent piece for <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Fbirthday-boy-returns-salahs-scoring-rate-and-wolves-record&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2021%2F12%2F3%2F22816185%2Fmohamed-salah-liverpool-goal-spotlight-wolves-premier-league-ballon-dor" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Liverpoolfc.com</a>. </p>
<p id="RewY1P">While Mo Salah is due a rest — at 2020 minutes, he has played more than any other outfield player on the squad this season, despite being substituted in six of his 23 starts — he is nearing a fun new record <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Fbirthday-boy-returns-salahs-scoring-rate-and-wolves-record&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2021%2F12%2F3%2F22816185%2Fmohamed-salah-liverpool-goal-spotlight-wolves-premier-league-ballon-dor" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">per Rea</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="g4NJH2">Salah needs one goal to reach 20 for the season in all competitions. If he scores it before December 15 he will reach the landmark for the club in the third-fastest time by date – behind only Ian Rush (November 6, 1986) and Roger Hunt (November 25, 1961).</p></blockquote>
<p id="YuxJt1">Salah might also be interested to know that no Liverpool player has ever scored a hat trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers in any competition, and though it will be Diogo Jota’s birthday tomorrow, you wouldn’t bet against Salah making that history himself. </p>
<p id="0PVja9">A lot of the buzz around the Egyptian stems from his production as well as his consistency: currently on 19 goals in all competitions, he is on form for a 35-goal-plus league season, and looks frankly frightening to play against.</p>
<p id="leN9hA">While he came in seventh in last year’s Ballon d’Or race, there’s already been chatter about what he might achieve this season (presumably given Liverpool and/or Egypt secure some silverware), and even those without red-tinted glasses are willing to acknowledge that his present form has been something else (see Alex Stewart of <em>The Athletic</em>’s <em>TiFO </em>podcast, below, responding to a question from Maram AlBaharna of <em>Maram per 90</em>; the two support <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com">Southampton</a> and <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com">Manchester United</a>, respectively).</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">Yes. <a href="https://t.co/KftEjjyRdM">https://t.co/KftEjjyRdM</a></p>— Alex Stewart (@AFHStewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFHStewart/status/1466435695971639311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2021</a>
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<p id="UjctP4">It has been suggested that this uptick in form (which, it should be said, has been echoed in the better form of Sadio Mané as well) might be tied to the level of rest he was able to have over the summer break — something he’d been unable to have previously. </p>
<p id="s4Bwfo">If this is the case, Salah’s glittering form thus far this season is as good an argument as any that the powers that be might consider prioritizing player well-being over maximizing the schedule of matches, something his manager would certainly approve of.</p>
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<p id="NAkhji"><small>xG and xA data used in this article courtesy of Instat. </small></p>
<p id="Ml70Ov"><small>My apologies if this write-up causes Klopp to rest Salah for Wolves. It does certainly feel inevitable...</small></p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/3/22816185/mohamed-salah-liverpool-goal-spotlight-wolves-premier-league-ballon-dorMari Murphy2021-12-03T16:00:00+00:002021-12-03T16:00:00+00:00Preview: Wolves vs. Liverpool
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<img alt="Jurgen Klopp all smiles during a training session at AXA Training Centre on December 02, 2021" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J7abi8BHhsQ6R2J-QjIxRUVDwoU=/14x0:4789x3183/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70224141/1356807229.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jurgen Klopp all smiles during a training session at AXA Training Centre on December 02, 2021 | Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>December is here and Liverpool are once again playing every five minutes. </p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="h.pjc3l4663stt">
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<strong>WOLVES VS. </strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></a>
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<h5 id="h.lazk37c6ugo4"><strong>| Saturday, December 4th |</strong></h5>
<h5 id="6C1XRs"><strong>Premier League | Molineux</strong></h5>
<h5 id="FtzoZk"><strong>3PM GMT/10AM EST</strong></h5>
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<p id="NefxiP">In his pre-match press conference, Wolves manager Bruno Lage was asked to comment on Wolves “going under the radar”: the side have put up three clean sheets on the bounce, having last dropped points in a loss at home to Crystal Palace in early November.</p>
<p id="NWiEZn">Though they have recorded an impressive (though narrow) win over <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham</a> United at the end of November and currently sit eighth on the league table, their schedule thus far this season has not been the toughest test: Liverpool is the first side of this season’s top three Wolves will face, and though they have beaten West Ham United in fourth, they’ve managed a loss and a draw against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com">Tottenham</a>, and lost at home to <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com">Manchester United</a>.</p>
<p id="hQC55B">Lage was appointed as manager in June and has Wolves playing cohesively, though they can struggle against high intensity sides. Both Wolves and Liverpool played on Wednesday, with Wolves managing a 0-0 draw at home to Burnley, and the constricted schedule may influence both line-ups and energy available for both sides.</p>
<p id="qf8Jto">As a further challenge, there’s a hint of a COVID-19 concern in the Wolves camp, with Lage confirming that Marcal and Daniel Podence have both tested positive for the virus. In addition to these two, Willy Boly, Jonny Castro Otto, Pedro Neto and Yerson Mosquera are all out for Wolves, though Ruben Neves returns from suspension — Neves managed to pick up five yellow cards in 14 matches. </p>
<p id="rT4dCq">While their opposition hasn’t been the toughest over the spell of the season, Wolves have conceded just 12 league goals, putting them level with Liverpool behind just <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com">Manchester City</a> (8 goals conceded) and Chelsea (6 goals conceded). They will face a tough test against a Liverpool side who have scored the most in the league — 43, 10 more than second-placed Chelsea. </p>
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<h5 id="h.8y1ddc6lu7ub"><strong>Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)</strong></h5>
<p id="68Ywph">Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Jota, Mané</p>
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<p id="l75B56">While Saturday’s match is a bit too soon for Naby Keïta and Joe Gomez, who both took part in partial team training on Thursday, the two should be back in contention as early as Sunday — great news ahead of the December fixture congestion, if not soon enough for the trip to Wolves.</p>
<p id="JCHNNH">Given the schedule, we might see some changes to Liverpool’s line-up, though given the form Mohamed Salah is in the manager might find it difficult to contain the Egyptian on the bench for his standard winter game off. Bobby Firmino would be a useful addition to the side, but with him sidelined Klopp may stick with his current first choice front three for at least 60 minutes in Wolverhampton. </p>
<p id="FkJMp8">Given the necessity for game management, however, it would not be out of the question for the likes of any of the front three to be rested in favor of Taki Minamino or Divock Origi, both of whom had a small runout in the dismantling of <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com">Everton</a> at Goodison midweek.</p>
<p id="qqdF1g">The midfield and defense might be similarly rotated, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner ready and able to deputize in the middle of the park, and Ibrahima Konaté able to give Joël Matip some rest. While it would be harsh to drop Andy Robertson after his performance at Goodison, having a capable deputy in Kostas Tsimikas certainly eases the manager’s stress.</p>
<p id="qT8ecI">With player slowly returning from injury, Klopp will be pleased to have decisions to make ahead of his least favorite stretch of the season. And though Klopp has yet to face Wolves under Bruno Lage, he will hope to maintain his incredible record against Wolves: Klopp has won all six games against the West Midlands outfit, his best record against any one side in his top-division managerial career.</p>
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<h5 id="h.rk2313z4jjtm"><strong>What the Managers Had to Say</strong></h5>
<p id="jdWTeO"><strong>Jurgen Klopp</strong>: “Wolves had a clear way of playing and Lage changed it in a good direction. A real football side with a good idea. Similar system defending, everyone is involved. When we had a closer look at Jota, the running numbers were incredible, so the offensive players do the same. They have a proper midfield, Jimenez up front and I am really happy he overcome the misery of the awful [skull fracture]. Hopefully he will score lots of goals, apart from Saturday. They’re a really good team. They don’t concede shots on goal. We need to bee creative” </p>
<p id="iUZuJT"><strong>Bruno Lage</strong>: “I don’t know if they’re the best [team in the world], but they’re among the best three or five, for sure. The manager is there, they know the system, the players are there, they know how to play, they play every time with high intensity. It’s very hard to play against them, but I think we have our chances and that’s why I’m proud, especially for my players, with how we have gone to these 14 games so far. This is what makes me happy and confident for tomorrow.”</p>
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<h5 id="h.nz6w2xtc9f2q"><strong>The Officials</strong></h5>
<p id="2ffOBk"><strong>Referee: </strong>Chris Kavanagh<strong> Assistants:</strong> Dan Cook, Dan Robathan <strong>Fourth Official:</strong> David Coote <strong>VAR:</strong> Jonathan Moss <strong>Assistant VAR:</strong> Timothy Wood</p>
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<p id="ipAwye">Kickoff is set for 3PM GMT/10AM EST tomorrow. In the meantime, The Liverpool Offside team will keep you updated with all of the team news and match buildup as it becomes available, along with providing a matchday liveblog and post-match recaps and reaction. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account and have your say on the action as it happens.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/3/22815822/wolves-liverpool-epl-2021-match-preview-team-news-injuries-predicted-lineupsMari Murphy2021-11-30T14:00:00+00:002021-11-30T14:00:00+00:00Jürgen Klopp Believes Injured Liverpool Players are Nearing Return
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<img alt="FC Porto v Liverpool FC: Group B - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BcwIB93aSO5se4i8rKNAS2Bwoyk=/0x115:1634x1204/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70209025/1343629139.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Reds boss updated the status of Joe Gomez, Naby Keïta, Curtis Jones, and Roberto Firmino today.</p> <p id="0XtlKU">With the weather growing colder and the new year drawing near, the fixtures are beginning to pile up and <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> will play their first mid-week Premier League match of the season against <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com">Everton</a> on Wednesday evening.</p>
<p id="sO0XMr">While Reds manager Jürgen Klopp says there will be no new players returning from injury available to him in that match, those currently sidelined are mostly close to returning and there are at least no new issues to worry about.</p>
<p id="IaL1XD">“Everybody came through well from Saturday,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference. “The other boys are getting closer. Joe [Gomez] is in a really good moment. He is doing really well and doing stuff outside.</p>
<p id="LGaYpK">“Hopefully next week he can train. I hope the same for Naby [Keïta], pretty much, that he will be training next week, but there’s no news—and on Curtis [Jones] we have to wait and Bobby [Firmino] is a couple of weeks away.”</p>
<p id="a3hHgE">Everton and Wolves on the weekend, then, are likely to come too soon for the injured players but all but Firmino could conceivably be back in action in time for Steven Gerrard and <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com">Aston Villa</a>’s visit to Anfield on the 11th.</p>
<p id="HViH27">Before then there is also the final group stage game in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> against <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com">AC Milan</a>, but Liverpool having secured first place in their group after just four games means there will be little urgency surrounding it.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/11/30/22807503/jurgen-klopp-injured-liverpool-players-close-return-firmino-keita-jones-gomez-everton-epl-2021Noel Chomyn