Follow every kick as Liverpool take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in the Premier League
on 26-Dec-2009, kick off time 17:30
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers Live
Match Preview
Liverpool entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day after yet another demoralising Premier League setback at basement boys Portsmouth last Saturday. The Reds lost 2-0 at Fratton Park and to make matter worse, Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano was shown a straight red card for a crude lunge on Tal Ben-Haim and he will now miss the next four games.
Manager Rafael Benitez will be eager for 2009 to come to a close as soon as possible as his side sit in eighth place and well off the pace at both the top of the table and the Champions League places. They are also out of the Champions League after a disastrous group campaign and they will need to rally and come out fighting in order to rectify their current situation.
Just two wins in their last eight league games is simply not good enough for the five-time European champions and with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard back in first-team contention, they need to get back to winning ways. On the injury front, Albert Riera faces a race against time to feature following a hamstring injury. Mick McCarthy's Wolves will have no reason to fear their more illustrious opponents.
They have won three of their last four Premier League outings, including a heroic 1-0 success at Tottenham Hotspur, and they have been invigorated by their recent form. Big-money summer signing Kevin Doyle has been amongst the goals and he will relish playing on the big stage at Anfield. Only a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United has blemished their recent results, but this is no disgrace losing to the current holders. Long-term injury victims David Edwards, Andy Keogh and Michael Kightly (all ankle) and Matt Murray (knee) are all expected to remain on the sidelines for a considerable amount of time.
Source: DSG
