Wolves handed major boost ahead of Liverpool clash as official Premier League statement made

The Premier League have released an official statement confirming a triple suspension for Liverpool in the build-up to their home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Relegation-threatened Wolves travel to Anfield to lock horns with the league-leaders in a fixture which takes place just days after a feisty Merseyside derby which finished 2-2 at Goddison Park.

Wolves are in 17th position heading into the contest but can take some confidence from the manner of their 2-0 victory over European contenders Aston Villa last time out and will hope to stage yet another upset against a Reds team that have won just two of their last five games across all competitions.

What happened in the Merseyside Derby?

A rejuvenated Everton under the guidance of David Moyes landed the first blow by scoring through Portuguese forward Beto after just 11 minutes. The Blues have been much improved since Moyes’ return to Merseyside and showcased a great desire and hunger to try and defy the odds against the imperious runaway leaders.

However, despite their bright start,they were pegged back against the title challenging side after a goal from Reds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in the 16th minute. Liverpool started to gain control of the contest and looked to have sealed all three points Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah fired them back infront with a 73rd minute strike, but in a stormy conclusion a determined Blues’ team equalised in the 98th minute through defender James Tarkowski.

As tempers flared at the end of an explosive contest, Toffees midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure was seen taunting the disgruntled Liverpool fans and was confronted by a host of furious Reds players, including substitute Curtis Jones, with players from both sides squaring up to each other at the end of the contest.

Wolves handed major boost ahead of Liverpool clash

Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool’s midfield counterpart Curtis Jones were both sent off for their role in the melee that broke out at the end of the Merseyside Derby. The sending off for Jones, who was subbed onto the pitch in the 63rd minute, prompted great frustration from manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, who were also handed red cards for confronting the referee and questioning a number of his decisions after the final whistle.

Slot and his coaching team felt aggrieved at the manner of Tarkowski’s leveller and believed that the goal should have been ruled out for a shove in the build-up. After the contest, a statement from the Premier League Match Centre’s account on X said: “The referee issued second yellow cards and red cards to Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré following an altercation after the final whistle. Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown straight red cards after the final whistle.”

Liverpool remain top of the table and seven points clear of Arsenal, who will have to cope without striker Kai Havertz after his season-ending hamstring injury. Wolves, who will take inspiration from Plymouth and Everton in recent weeks, will be out to cause an upset and will look to end a 15-year streak without a league victory at Anfield, with the last coming in December 2010.

Jones is one of a number of notable absentees from the contest, with the Reds also sweating over the fitness of Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold.