Premier League: When Stars Collide – And Both These Sides Are Stars!

Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

It’s been a very good 2018/19 for both these sides, regardless of how this final Premier League outing of the campaign pans out.

For Liverpool, to be potentially one match away from a first league title for 29 years, is a fine achievement, especially considering they go into this on 94 points which, in virtually every season in English football history, would be enough to have long since secured the top prize.

For Wolves, a first year back in the upper echelons since 2012 and one in which they have sealed seventh spot, highlights the impressive work carried out by Nuno Espirito Santo.

Both have produced Premier League highlights. The question now is: who can end the league on a high?

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Serie A

Talking Points

A shrewd summer in the transfer market has led to super campaigns for both teams.

The well-oiled Wolves machine was too hot to handle for Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal in the league – and Liverpool and United again in the FA Cup.

Among the star recruits, Rui Patricio in goal, Raul Jimenez – the heroic No.9 fans had craved for years – and Joao Moutinho.

Signed for £5million from Monaco, the Portuguese oozes class and runs himself into the ground, according to seasoned observers.

The fact they have finished in seventh place in their first year back in the Premier League, ahead of the likes of Everton and 2016 champions Leicester City, shows how, with a measured approach and smart financial backing, Wolves really could become an established top six force again.

Wolves have already amassed more points than any other Premier League newcomer since 2001. They will finish the season in the top half of the top flight for only the second time in 45 seasons too.

There’s no travelling to Anfield to make up the numbers for them.

This term they have accrued 16 points from 11 league games against the top-six sides, easily the best return among the 14 lower-ranked clubs, and are also vying to register four successive top-flight wins for the first time since December 1971 to January 1972.

Indeed, Wolves could become only the third side finishing lower than sixth to beat as many as five teams from that elite group in a Premier League season.

Southampton did so in 1997-98, as did West Ham in 2015-16.

One the league season finishes, all Wolves eyes will turn to next weekend’s FA Cup Final. If Manchester City beat Watford, Wolves will qualify for the Europa League.

What a story that would be.

What a story it would be for the red half of Merseyside if Liverpool can end their title drought.

Like Wolves, they recruited well last summer with the likes of Fabinho and, at last, a reliable goalkeeper in Allison – six months after the capture of Virgil van Dijk made them a different proposition at the back.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has cleverly assembled a squad with style and genuine talent and victory in this would equal the club top-flight record of 30 in a season, set over 42 matches in 1978-79.

Liverpool return to Premier League action as they welcome Wolves to Anfield on Sunday — Jurgen Klopp celebrates with his men after beating Barcelona in Champions League

Avoid defeat and they will be unbeaten at home in consecutive top-flight seasons for the first time in 39 years.

Klopp’s side, which has scored an unrivalled 22 league goals from set-pieces, excluding penalties, have actually met Wolves five times before in the final game of a top-flight season, with Liverpool winning the previous five by an aggregate score of 12-4.

That all counts for nothing on Sunday of course but, whatever happens, both clubs can be justifiably proud of 2018/19.

History

The meeting at Molineux earlier in the season meant Liverpool were top of the table at Christmas.

It was a different story in the FA Cup a few weeks’ later amidst much changed sides when the hosts emerged victorious, thanks to a Ruben Neves wonder strike.

Overall, Liverpool have 50 victories against Wolves who hold 36 triumphs to their name while a further 17 meetings have ended all square.

Their last meeting at Anfield came in 2017 when Wolves, then of the Championship, secured a famous 2-1 FA Cup victory, courtesy of goals from Richard Stearman and Andi Weimann.