2-0 | Liverpool vs Wolves

[NJKris]

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Anfield Date: Saturday, 26 December 2009 Kick-off: 1730 GMT

Links MyP2P.eu :: English Premier League - Liverpool FC vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers


TEAM NEWS
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano begins a four-match suspension so Alberto Aquilani could make his first Premier League start.

Fernando Torres should be passed fit as Liverpool continue to assess his groin problem on a game-by-game basis.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has no fresh injury concerns and is poised to name an unchanged side.

Kevin Foley is set to continue in midfield with Dave Edwards sidelined by an ankle injury.



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Liverpool

Suspended: Mascherano (four matches) Doubtful: None

Injured: El Zhar (ankle), Riera (hamstring)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Edwards, Keogh & Kightly (all ankle), Murray (knee)


MATCH PREVIEW
Last Christmas was a merry one for Liverpool fans; their side was top of the Premier League and a 3-0 win over Bolton on Boxing Day strengthened their belief that the title would be heading to Anfield.

I don't know whether there's ever a good time to go to Anfield - they are still a very good team who have just had a couple of bad results

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy
Twelve months on and the picture is a lot more bleak, with no league title and no prospect of one in 2010. Last week's defeat at bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth has left the Reds 14 points behind leaders Chelsea and eight points shy of a Champions League place.

Beleaguered manager Rafa Benitez received some public backing from Fernando Torres this week, with the Liverpool striker insisting that the players should shoulder most of the blame. "Sacking the manager is not a solution," the Reds' top scorer said.

Liverpool will need to find some solutions against in-form Wolves, who have won three of their last four games - including a 1-0 victory at Tottenham - to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

Their one loss this month came at Manchester United, where Mick McCarthy controversially fielded a reserve team. McCarthy admitted that having his honesty and integrity questioned afterwards was tough to take, but he finds himself under a lot less pressure than the manager in the opposing dugout.


MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• This is the 95th meeting between these sides. Liverpool have won 45, Wolves 33 and there have been 16 draws.

• It is nearly 26 years since Wolves last beat Liverpool, although they have only met twice in that time.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have already dropped 27 points this season, compared to 28 in the whole of last season.

• The Reds have won two of their last eight league games.

• Javier Mascherano's red card last week was Liverpool's fourth of the season - the most in the Premier League along with Sunderland.

• Fernando Torres has scored 49 goals in 70 Premier League games and will become the fastest player ever to reach 50 league goals for Liverpool if he scores.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Wolves have won three of their last four matches, climbing from 18th to 12th.

• Wolves have won five top-flight fixtures by Christmas for the first time since 1981.

• Only Stoke (15) have scored fewer goals than Wolves (17) this season.


LEADING GOALSCORERS


Liverpool

Torres: 11 goals (11 league)



Wolverhampton

Doyle: 5 goals (5 league)


MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner

Assistant referees: Mo Matadar & Scott Ledger

Fourth official: Phil Dowd


LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Liverpool (L0-2 v Portsmouth, a): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua (Aurelio 68), Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas (Spearing 88), Dossena (Benayoun 53), Gerrard, Torres. Subs not used: Cavalieri, Babel, Ngog, Skrtel.

Wolves (W2-0 v Burnley, h): Hahnemann; Stearman, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley, Henry, Milijas (Mancienne 68), Jarvis (Iwelumo 87), Ebanks-Blake, Doyle (Elokobi 90). Subs not used: Hennessey, Surman, Maierhofer, Castillo.


MOST RECENT MEETING

Liverpool 1-0 Wolves (March 20, 2004)

Liverpool scorer: Hyypia 90

[uggla]

Great looks like a pub game.

Liverpool win.

[NJKris]

Liverpool return to action with an Anfield clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day.

Related Links
The Reds will be determined to secure three points in front of the Kop following last weekend's Portsmouth disappointment.

The two sides have not met since a dramatic encounter in front of the Kop in March 2004 when Liverpool required a stoppage-time Sami Hyypia header to secure a 1-0 win.

However, Wolves claimed a 1-0 triumph of their own in L4 in January 1984 and will be hoping to gain some ground as they attempt to consolidate their position in the Barclays Premier League.

The opposition

Following their promotion from the Championship, Wolves arrive at Anfield in 12th position in the Barclays Premier League.

The Midlanders were bolstered by a 2-0 victory over fellow top-flight new boys Burnley last time out, meaning they have won three of their last four matches.

Though they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United last time on the road, Wolves proved they are a dangerous proposition by clinching a 1-0 triumph at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

The danger man

Kevin Doyle is Wolves' top scorer so far this term with five goals to his name - all of which have come in the Barclays Premier League.

The 26-year-old became the Wanderers' record signing when he moved to Molineux from Reading in the summer.

The Irish international had spent four years at the Madejski Stadium, having been plucked from Cork City.

He helped the Royals into the Premier League in 2006 and notched 13 goals in the top flight that season.

A clinical poacher and powerful in the air, Doyle will have to be closely monitored by the Reds' rearguard.

Match stats

A victory will give Liverpool 400 points won in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez.

Fernando Torres needs one goal in next ten games to reach 50 in league faster than any other player in Liverpool's history.

Steven Gerrard could captain Liverpool for the 200th time in the Premier League.

Liverpool have had as many players sent off in the last 13 matches (4) as in the previous 187 games.

If Liverpool score it will be the first time since February 1992 that they have found the net in 20 successive league games at home.

The Reds have lost just twice on Boxing Day in the last 22 years. The last time they were beaten at Anfield was in 1986 when Manchester United won 1-0.

The recent record between the sides here has seen Liverpool win 18 and draw three of the 22 meetings.

From the last meeting here in March 2004 only Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard remain at the club.

No Liverpool player has ever scored a hat-trick against Wolves.

Home and away, Wolves have scored more than once against Liverpool in just one of the last 20 games

[Tony07]

Shaky times for the Pool however, I think they will win this 2-0...

[Hukido]

Wolves with an upset?

[scouseman]

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas day. Today is a great chance for Liverpool to close the gap on those currently in the top four. With Spurs having a tough game at Fulham and Arsenal playing Villa this is the chance for Liverpool to put a strong run of games together over the holiday period starting with the wolves game. Lets hope the Pool come out with all guns blazing and put on a show and win the game in style. I will go for a 3-0 win for Liverpool today. Enjoy the game guys and thanks to the streamers in advance.

[kournikova]

Wolves to win.

[Tony07]

I am gonna watch this game, I can't see an upset here, like I said Pool will win this 2-0..

[kournikova]

Hi guys, I bought a handbag yesterday, its beautiful, wasnt it? So I will have a hat trick today. Lol

[HammerTime]

After doing us no favours last week by losing to Pompey, Can you please do us a favour today and beat this lot.

[Ben2710]

Can Wolves do us a favor in beating these lot again so we can take the mick again

[RiggsYid]

If Liverpool lose this, surely Grumpy Rafa will get the boot! Where's the confidence gone??

[Tony07]

If Liverpool lose this, surely Grumpy Rafa will get the boot! Where's the confidence gone??

If the Pool loose this the scallies will swing for him....

[marknow]

@ kournikova

That pic of Torres is a piece of art, I lol'd.

In fairness Pool should get all 3 points today, If they don't Rafa is surley F***ed.

[euqiddis]

News from Anfield: Alberto Aquilani starts for Liverpool. He must be a new signing or something. Dirk Kuyt dropped to the bench.

[NJKris]

Alberto Aquilani starts for Liverpool against Wolves this evening

The Italian begins his first league game in the absence of Javier Mascherano.

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Lucas, Aquilani, Benayoun, Gerrard, Aurelio, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Pacheco, Darby, Kuyt, Spearing, Ngog, Skrtel.

[Tony07]

Alberto Aquilani starts for Liverpool against Wolves this evening

The Italian begins his first league game in the absence of Javier Mascherano.

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Lucas, Aquilani, Benayoun, Gerrard, Aurelio, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Pacheco, Darby, Kuyt, Spearing, Ngog, Skrtel.

Could be a good sign, could this be the big turn arround???

[kournikova]

Wolverhampton

13 Hahnemann
05 Stearman
06 Craddock
11 Ward
16 Berra
32 Foley
08 Henry
17 Jarvis
20 Milijas
09 Ebanks-Blake
29 Doyle

Substitutes
01 Hennessey, 03 Elokobi, 27 Mancienne, 12 Surman, 35 Castillo, 19 Iwelumo, 33 Maierhofer

[Fasteddie_EFC]

Rafa IS shit.

Lucky cup wins of 4 years ago are keeping him in a job. Well that and a stupid contract.

Hopefully the Yanks will give him a few more games to cock up before getting rid, ensuring Villa or Spurs make the top 4...

[Dr. House]

Dirk Kuyt on the bench?! Is this a joke, or W.T.F.!!!?? He's the only one running in 90 Minutes!!! Oh boy Rafa is desperate!!!