Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to prove their victory over Liverpool three days ago was no fluke, as they host the Reds once more in the FA Cup fifth round.
Friday night’s game will be the second time they have met at Molineux in the week, with Wolves beating the Reds 2-1 on Tuesday night thanks to a 94th-minute winner from Andre.
Wolves failed to register a single shot in the first half, and only had four after the break, but being clinical is what matters most, as the Old Gold proved.
Liverpool are looking to reach the sixth round after an embarrassing fourth round 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle last season at Home Park sealing an early exit for Arne Slot’s side.
Wolves’ dismal season has seen improvements of late, after overcoming Derby County’s record lowest-ever Premier League points record with back-to-back wins against Aston Villa and Liverpool.
The Old Gold have lost just one of their last five games, with a draw against top of the table Arsenal and a narrow FA Cup fourth round win over Grimsby Town being recorded in recent weeks.
Prior to the heart-breaking defeat to Wolves, Liverpool had won four straight matches, including a 3-0 demolishing of Brighton and Hove Albion in the previous round of the competition.
However, Tuesday’s defeat to the bottom-placed top-flight outfit, coupled with a host of injuries, means Slot may have little choice but to name a strong side to avoid the wastefulness that saw them fall to defeat three days ago.
Heavy pressure has come on the 47-year-old throughout the campaign, with Liverpool’s title defence going badly wrong as they linger in sixth place.
A win against Wolves could ease some of that pressure, as it would put the Reds one step closer to silverware once more.
Although Liverpool have been in good form of late, despite defeat on Tuesday, with the Black Country outfit’s recent upturn in form under Rob Edwards, Wolves could prove a tricky test once more for Slot’s men.
With a place in the FA Cup sixth round at stake, Liverpool will return to Molineux determined to ensure that lightning does not strike twice, while Wolves will want to continue their momentum and get one over on the Reds for the second time this week.
