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Liverpool look to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign against Wolves on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side can restore their lead at the top of the table to 33 points with victory over Nuno Espirito Santo ‘side at Molineux.
Meanwhile, seventh-placed Wolves can move into fifth and just three points behind Chelsea with victory against the league leaders.
Willy Boly and Diogo Jota make an instant ret urn to the squad after injuries kept them out of the 3-2 win at Southampton over the weekend.
Boly has been out since October with a fractured ankle, while Jota has been sidelined since the start of the month with a dead leg, and have both been named on the bench with the hosts unchanged.
Liverpool have also fielded the same starting XI as in their 2-0 win over Manchester United, with Fabinho on the bench alongside Takumi Minamino.
Wolves: Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Traore, Jimenez, Neto
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Salah, Firmino
Wolves is really growing in confidence here as Traore is released down the right.
He knocks the ball past Robertson and is brought down the left-back on the edge of the box.
Shouts of a penalty, but it’s a free-kick.
It is the first league goal Liverpool have conceded since they beat Everton.
That was on December 4!
KEY EVENT GOAL !!! Wolves 1-1 Liverpool (Jimenez)
Wolves survive a Liverpool attack before starting one of their own .
Jimenez skips past Robertson too easily before sliding it to Traore on the right.
The striker continues his run and heads Traore’s flighted cross into the far corner.
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Wolves go straight down the pitch on the right and nice cross-field pass finds Neto in space.
His shot is blocked by Gomez, though.
Liverpool make a bright start to the second. half.
Traore wants too much time in his own half and Salah picks his pocket.
The Egyptian takes a couple of touches before firing at goal – but Patricio gets a strong hand to it.
Corner for Liverpool.
PEEEEP
Second-half
We’re back underway!
As things stand, Liverpool will be points clear at the top of the table.
: (The story of the half () (Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Liverpool lead but Wolves have had plenty of good chances
A Firmino header sends Salah free and he beats a couple of players as he cuts inside.
He takes maybe one touch too many before shooting and Doherty comes in to make a brilliant block.
He had Minamino screaming for it!
The referee ends the half soon after.
More concerns for Liverpool as Van Dijk. stays down after an aerial challenge with Traore.
He gets up quickly, though, and play restarts.
Liverpool have already lost Mane, they won’t want to lose him too.
Liverpool try to slow things down again but give the ball away in midfield.
Wolves move towards the Liverpool area but Doherty can’t find a teammate with his cross.
Moments later, the ball deflects of Gomez and breaks for Jimenez on the left channel and he tries to drift inside.
He creates space for a shot, but Van Dijk gets across in a flash to make the block.
Neves finds Jimenez at the back post with a cross from the right.
The Mexican brings it down nicely and drifts inside before firing wide of the near post.
Good play from Wolves!
His only other appearance has come against Everton in the FA Cup
One of his first touches is a nice one to flick the ball over an on-rushing Doherty around the half-way line.
If he carries on doing things like that he will become a very popular man among fans.
Mane is struggling and eventually drops to the ground, prompting boos from the home fans.
(He signals to the bench that he won’t be able to continue.
He walks off, but is limping heavily – That’s a worry for the leaders!
Neves wasn’t off the pitch and looks to be fine.
Meanwhile, Liverpool look happy to try and keep possession and move the ball around midfield.
Wolves try to mount an attack through Jonny but Van Dijk gets across and shows great strength to force him off the ball and win a goal kick.
38:
Ruben Neves loses possession to Mane in midfield and stays down before Firmino puts the ball out.
There’s a break in play while the Portuguese midfielder receives treatment.
He’s walking off, so that’s a good sign.
Oxlade-Chamberlain finds Mane with a nice lofted ball, but Dendoncker gets across to clear it.
Moments later, Firmino is almost found with a through ball, but there’s too much on it
There’s a great tempo to this game!
:
Wolves almost find an opening once again!
The ball almost breaks for Neto in the box after some good build-up on the right.
However, Liverpool get it away and come down the pitch before Mane picks out Salah in the box with an excellent ball.
The Egyptian cuts inside and drifts across goal before his shot is blocked by Saiss.
Liverpool have the lead but this game looks evenly-matched at the moment.
Wolves win another free-kick on the left after Firmino clatters into Traore.
Another good delivery goes into the box, but Van Dijk boots in the air and Alisson comes out to claim but drops it.
He gathers on the second attempt, though.
Wolves are certainly dangerous from set-pieces.
What a chance for an equaliser!
Wolves respond quickly and win a corner on the left
Moutinho takes it short to Neves, who whips an in-swinging ball to the back post.
Doherty loses his marker and is in oceans of space, but heads wide across goal.
BIG miss!
KEY EVENT
The leaders have the lead!
Alexander-Arnold goes for goal from the free-kick, but it hits the wall and goes behind.
The resulting corner is a brilliant one from the right-back and Henderson heads it into the top corner.
There’s a VAR check for handball but the goal stands.
Wolves get a free-kick in a left after Alexander-Arnold fouls Jonny.
Neto sends an excellent low ball into the middle, but it just misses all the Wolves players and Van Dijk gets it away
Liverpool soon go down the other end and get a free kick in a dangerous are after Salah goes down
Plenty of possession for Liverpool in the early stages.
The visitors look to find Salah with a long ball down the right, but there’s too much on on it.
No surprise in how both sides have set up.
PEEEEP
And we’re off!
A misty night in the midlands and a brilliant atmosphere at Molineux.
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There’s an impressive lights show at Molineux as we approach kick-off.
Both teams are heading out of the tunnel, with the home side led by Conor Coady.
It’s a big night for the Wolves’ captain, who started his career with Liverpool.
Victory tonight would see Wolves move into fifth and just three points behind Chelsea.
However, Nuno Espirito Santo knows that won’t be easy, with Liverpool dropping just two points all season.
He told BT Sport before the game: “We have to play. It’s a fantastic team. The idea is what we have been building since the beginning when we were in the Championship – develop and keep going.
“For sure, Molineux will be behind us. ”
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image Action Images via Reuters) ) (Image: REUTERS) (
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