Are Wolves capable of shocking Liverpool?

This season’s Premier League title race looks set to be far tighter than in recent campaigns, even if it only involves two teams in the shape of reigning champions Manchester City and Liverpool. Liverpool are starting to look like the real deal as challengers to City, who quite frankly blew every other team away last season in the top-flight.

On Friday night, Liverpool could extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, prior to City hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Liverpool in good form

Liverpool heads into Friday’s clash in good form, having won their last six matches in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s team have also managed to score at two goals in five of their last six league outings.

Not only are Liverpool scoring and looking back to close to their attacking best, but the Reds have also improved immensely in defence this season. In fact, the Merseysiders now have the best defensive record in the top-flight.

It seems that Klopp has found a good balance between the teams explosive front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane and a solid defensive set-up.

Wolves have been inconsistent this season

Wolves walked the Championship last season, topping the table with ease under highly-rated boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Much was expected of the Midlands outfit in the top-flight and they have experienced mixed results in the Premier League.

They do however currently sit seventh place in the table, just a point behind sixth-place Manchester United. I suppose for a newly promoted team that that is a good result at this stage of the campaign. The home side may just be building up some momentum too, as they have now won three straight league games.

Wolves were expected to be strong at Molineux this season. However, they have experienced mixed results on home soil. Consecutive home wins over Chelsea and Bournemouth suggests their home form is improving. Despite a mixed home record in the top-flight, Wolves have beaten Chelsea and also drew 1-1 with reigning champions Manchester City on home soil this season.

The draw against City may have been obtained by a dubious goal from Willy Boly, but as it stands those dropped points are keeping City off the top of the table. It seems that the team from the Midlands manage to lift their game when the big boys come to town. Maybe it will be the same case when Jurgen Klopp and his team visit on Friday night.

Liverpool need to avoid any slip-ups

If Liverpool are to win the Premier League title, then they have to maintain the positive momentum. In previous seasons, it is games like Friday’s that have proven banana skins for Liverpool. The Merseysiders more often than not have turned up in the big games, but then failed to record victories against opponents they are expected to defeat.

Liverpool heads into this clash at odds of 8/15 to beat Wolves. On paper, Klopp’s side are big favourites and form suggests that they should record a victory at Molineux.

However, recent history shows that Liverpool have a tendency to slip-up when they are least expected to. If the Reds win this game and move four points clear of City it will put big pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side to beat Palace on Saturday.

In all likelihood, both teams will record victories and little will change with the situation at the top. However, as we know anything can happen in football and maybe Wolves may just produce a major shock against the league leaders.

Are Wolves capable of shocking Liverpool?