The Premier League is back on Saturday after a two-week international break, with Wolves welcoming Liverpool to Molineux in an early lunchtime kick-off.
So far, Wolves have won just once and lost three in their opening four Premier League fixtures. Gary O’Neil’s side suffered a heartbreak at Selhurst Park when they lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace before the international break.
In contrast, Liverpool went into the international break off the back of a fantastic 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. Jurgen Klopp’s men have won three, drawn one and sit third in the table, level on points with Tottenham.
With an exciting game on offer at Molineux, here are the three key battles on the pitch that could define the outcome of this fixture.
#Diogo Jota vs Wolves centre-backs
Diogo Jota did get the nod in Liverpool’s first two games of the season — even finding the net against Bournemouth — but has been limited to a role off the bench since then. That’s proof to the testament of competition in the Reds’ attacking force.
But Jota certainly made his case during the international break, where he registered two goals and an assist in Portugal’s 9-0 rout of Luxembourg in a 2024 Euro Qualifiers. This should have done a world of good for his confidence, with the Portuguese’s display boosting his hopes of a start against Wolves.
Jota enjoyed three successful years at Wolves before joining Liverpool in 2020, so he knows the challenge of playing in front of a sold-out Molineux. Monitoring his movements in the final third is a tough task as he is always on the move, and the Wolves centre-backs—Craig Dawson and Max Kilman—will have to be defensively alert if they intend to keep the Liverpool forward at bay.
#Dominik Szoboszlai vs Mario Lemina
Dominik Szoboszlai has made an excellent start to life at Liverpool, quickly becoming a fan favourite within the Kopites. He produced an eye-catching display during this international break, leading Hungary to a 1-1 friendly draw against the Czech Republic.
The 22-year-old sprayed a fantastic long-range pass that caught the eye of many, following on from his exquisite free-kick against Serbia in a 2024 Euro Qualifiers last week. Szoboszlai is now a part of the Liverpool furniture, affecting the game in both boxes. He has an excellent passing range and an eye for goal, demonstrated by his goal in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Villa.
Mario Lemina, on the other hand, will be responsible for keeping things tidy and dictating the flow of the game for Wolves from the No.6 role. With Matheus Nunes joining Man City on deadline day, Lemina’s responsibility in the engine room has grown bigger.
Strong and tenacious, the Gabonese international must bring all his experience and qualities into play to stop Szoboszlai from creating opportunities in the final third and making late runs into the box.
#Hwang Hee-chan vs Andy Robertson
Hwang Hee-chan has started the new season well, scoring two goals in four appearances for Wolves. He made an immediate impact after coming off the bench at Selhurst Park, making it 1-1 against Palace with a fine header although Wolves ended up losing 3-2.
With his impactful display at Palace, the South Korean forward should’ve boosted his hopes of starting against Jurgen Klopp’s side on Saturday. With Pedro Neto a permanent fixture on the left, Hwang could come in for Pablo Sarabia on the right flank.
However, it would not be easy for Hwang as he will be up against one of the best left-backs in the Premier League in the form of Andy Robertson. Having helped Liverpool to an unbeaten start to the new season, Robertson should be confident heading into this fixture to face the tricky Hwang.
The Scottish left-back will look to stop the Wolves forward from scoring against Liverpool and add to his tally. It promises to be an exciting contest.
