Liverpool v Wolves

Premier League | selectabet | December 26, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Liverpool v Wolves

Live on ESPN, Kick off 5.30pm

There are must win games and then there are MUST win games. Recent results have left Rafa Benitez’s coat on a shoogly peg and anything less than a home win against Wolves would surely be the straw that finally broke the camel’s back as far the Liverpool fans and their board are concerned.

Benitez can no longer hide behind the absence of Torres and Gerrard, as both his lynchpins are now back to full fitness, if not form. The suspension of Mascherano may also force Benitez into handing summer-signing Alberto Aquilano his first start for the Reds. Rafa’s reluctance to do so previously has been a curious one but the Anfield faithful will be hoping that he can provide the spark that has been missing for several months now.

In Wolves they face a side that’s on decent run of form. Manager Mick McCarthy conceded their recent match at Old Trafford before the game even began by making wholesale changes to his first team but you cannot argue with wins against Bolton, Spurs and Burnley in their last 4 games which has propelled them to 12th in the table. McCarthy is unlikely to adopt the same tactic as he did against Man Utd, instead he may fancy his chance of turning up the heat on Rafa in the opposite dugout.

Wolves can be backed at 13/1 with Aussie firm Canbet, whilst Irish bookie betChronicle go 12s alongside VCBet. There’ll be a few fans tempted at thos odds but I just can’t see it myself. Neither though would I be getting involved in Liverpool at a measly 3/10 (Betfred, Coral, William Hill). Those are tremendously low odds for a side who’ve dropped 27 points already this season. I do think Liverpool will win but those odds jst aren’t worth it.

So often have the aforementioned Torres and Gerrard been Liverpool’s saviour but recently it’s been the ikes of Kuyt, Benayoun and Ngog who’ve been weighing in with the goals. Gerrard hasn’t scored from open play since September so 5/1 on him opening the scoring is a bit skinny. Torres though is getting back to full fitness with each passing game and if he starts then I’ll be taking some of the 7/2 (Coral, Expekt) on him opening the scoring this evening. Benayoun at 7s (Paddy Power, SkyBet) also has it’s appeal.