The ECHO’s Liverpool writers pick their teams for the visit of Wolves at Anfield
Liverpool will be looking to make it seven games unbeaten when they welcome struggling Wolves to Anfield on December 27. With the Reds not involved in Boxing Day action this year, Arne Slot had given his players Christmas Day off but it’s full steam ahead now for the final fixture of 2025.
It’s been a year that saw the Reds win their second title in five years to go level with Manchester United on a record of 20 but the calendar term will also be remembered for the tragic death of the much-loved Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.
With Wolves, Jota’s other former Premier League club, set to visit Anfield for the first time since his passing, it is expected to be an emotional afternoon on Merseyside, with the popular Portuguese’s family in attendance on the day.
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As ever, our reporters have picked their Liverpool teams for the final game of the year. Here’s what they think should be enough to get the job done against Rob Edwards’s side.
Paul Gorst
Liverpool are down to the bare bones in some areas of the pitch but the hope is that Conor Bradley will be cleared to feature having been withdrawn at half time of that bruising win at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Northern Ireland international starts if he is fit and I’m keeping Milos Kerkez in at left-back. Virgil van Dijk partners Ibrahima Konate in the centre as the Reds welcome the rock-bottom Wolves to Anfield.
In midfield, Curtis Jones keeps his place alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. Dominik Szoboszlai’s suspension is unfortunate but if there is a game the in-form Hungarian must miss then the division’s worst team at home is probably the one you can make peace with.
Up top, Slot sounded positive on Cody Gakpo recently but the Netherlands international has not had a vintage campaign so far, so even if he is cleared for a comeback, he starts on the bench for me. Florian Wirtz keeps his place on the left of the attack with Federico Chiesa given a rare start on the right side. Hugo Ekitike leads the line.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Chiesa, Ekitike, Wirtz.
Theo Squires
Arne Slot must have been left hoping to unwrap some more players under his Christmas tree, having seen his Liverpool squad pushed to its limits by enforced absentees ahead of Saturday’s clash with Wolves.
Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley could return to ease the strain, but with the Dutchman saying their chances were only 50/50 earlier in the week, it makes little sense to throw them in from the start even if passed fit. The Reds have to tread carefully to avoid falling into full blown injury crisis mode, after all.
Consequently, there is little to choose from for Saturday’s game. Jeremie Frimpong starts at right-back following his return from injury at Spurs while Milos Kerkez continues at left-back ahead of Andy Robertson. Ibrahima Konate wasn’t pictured in team training earlier in the week, but let’s just hope such an absence was precautionary given the lack of senior alternatives.
Federico Chiesa comes in on the right for only his second Premier League start in place of the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai, but the rest of the midfield remains unchanged despite mild temptation to turn to Rio Ngumoha or Trey Nyoni.
And with Alexander Isak now facing a lengthy lay-off, the in-form Hugo Ekitike inevitably leads the line.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Chiesa, MacAllister, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Mark Jones
Like what’s left of the turkey after you’re done with your Boxing Day sandwiches, Liverpool really are down to the bare bones here.
Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo are both on the comeback trail but with a hectic spell of games on the horizon I could see Arne Slot being cautious with them and not throwing them in from the start here, especially with Jeremie Frimpong now fit enough to play in the Northern Irishman’s absence.
Keeping Bradley and Gakpo in reserve would also give Slot some valuable options off the bench too, which could be needed in a game where Wolves are surely likely to sit deep and require some breaking down. If they can do that then it’d be nice to see Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha feature from the bench, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Chiesa, Ekitike, Wirtz.
