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A busy Saturday of FA Cup third round action tonight concludes at Anfield as the Reds begin the defence of their FA Cup crown against Premier League opposition. Liverpool have started the new year in dismal fashion with a comprehensive defeat at Brentford, but can right those wrongs with victory tonight in front of a home crowd.
January signing Cody Gakpo will be making his debut, having arrived from PSV just over a week ago, and is in the starting line-up, though Virgil van Dijk is missing having been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury. The centre-back joins Roberto Firmino on the sidelines.
These two teams met in the same stage of the FA Cup four years ago – four years to the day in fact – as Wolves ran out 2-1 winners at Molineux. Two years prior to that, in the fourth round, Wolves also beat Liverpool by the same scoreline. Will history repeat once again? Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Live updates
Wolves have three times faced Liverpool in the FA Cup and won each time, which is a good omen for the visitors.
Liverpool have won their last seven meetings on the trot against Wolves, which is a good omen for the hosts.
Which record will continue tonight?
Wolves, who have a Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday followed by a relegation six-pointer against West Ham at the weekend, made nine changes from the draw with Aston Villa.
Only Nathan Collins and Ruben Neves retained their places, with 19-year-old right-back Dexter Lembikisa making his first start.
Liverpool handed a debut to new signing Cody Gakpo as manager Jurgen Klopp named his strongest side for the start of their FA Cup defence at home to Premier League opponents Wolves.
The Netherlands international, a £38million arrival from PSV Eindhoven, was one of four changes from Monday’s defeat at Brentford.
Joel Matip replaced the injured Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, Andy Robertson returned at left-back and Jordan Henderson came in for Harvey Elliott in midfield.
Wolves XI
Here are the visitors.
Liverpool XI
Cody Gakpo starts!
Team news to be confirmed imminently.
Lopetegui hits out at schedule
Julen Lopetegui insists Wolves have no excuses at Liverpool – despite his frustration at the schedule.
The manager is unhappy the hosts have had two more days to prepare for Saturday’s FA Cup third round clash at Anfield. Wolves drew 1-1 at Aston Villa on Wednesday after Liverpool lost 3-1 at Brentford 48 hours earlier.
“They have had five days, I prefer not to repeat it. We have to be ready. Despite the situation we have to prepare for the Cup in the best way we can,” he said.
“It’s very important but Liverpool have had two days more to prepare and rest. We have another match in three days (after) with the Carabao Cup (at Nottingham Forest). We have to be able to do a good match against one of the best teams in the world.
“It’s not our responsibility, we have to play, I have commented it is different in the league. In the cup you don’t have a second chance, it’s not balanced but it’s not our responsibility.
“Maybe we can work normally because a lot of players have to recuperate but tomorrow we will be ready to try to beat one of the best teams in the world. They have an incredible squad. It’ll be a good challenge for us. “
Van Dijk backs Gakpo to hit ground running
Virgil Van Dijk has backed Cody Gakpo to handle the pressure at Liverpool.
While manager Jurgen Klopp will give Gakpo plenty of time to acclimatise, the expectation realistically – considering his form this season and the impact Luis Diaz had arriving last January – will be for him to contribute significantly and provide the spark Liverpool need up front as Darwin Nunez continues to miss chances.
“I think he will handle it fine but you have no idea what it is like until you are under this sort of pressure,” said Van Dijk, who is set to miss the next month after a hamstring injury at Brentford on Tuesday proved to be more serious than first thought.
“He will have to keep his head down and look at what we are doing as a group and listen to the manager, listen to the players around you and don’t listen too much to the outside world because you can be one of the best in the world one day and one of the worst the next. It is never something in the middle.
“He has to stay calm and I think he will do that. He is that type of person.”
Score prediction
Liverpool have had a very inconsistent season but, as the holders, it would not be a surprise if they nonetheless managed a very solid defence of their trophy.
A 2-0 Liverpool win.
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