[WATCH] Keep the Wolves at bay: Liverpool’s Jota calls for clean sheet against his former team
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Massive tests: Reds ace Diogo Jota
It’s a massive Premier League week at Anfield this week, with Liverpool first hosting Wolves on Wednesday at 10pm before welcoming groot rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
Down in seventh place on the log and still in the hunt for a top-four Champions League place, the next five days could be make or break for the Reds, who owe their fans big time after following up last week’s 5-2 Champions League last-16 first leg home defeat to Real Madrid with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
Nine points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, but with two games in hand, the Reds simply can’t afford another slip-up.
Anfield awaits.
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 27, 2023
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And after being destroyed 3-0 just last month by 15th-placed Wolves in the league, former Wolf Diogo Jota has called on the Reds’ defence to keep the visitors’ attack at bay this time around.
Ruben securing the victory the last time we faced Liverpool.
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 28, 2023
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Having returned from long-term injury in the Palace match, Jota says: “A clean sheet, that is a really important factor… I truly believe that if we keep that for Wednesday we will get the three points.”
The importance of those three points are not lost to Jota, who adds: “We need to try to do something and there is still a lot to play for - there is a place to fight for in the league and to give next season already a better shape because we all know how important it is to be involved in the Champions League.”
He adds: “I know the way they can compete and it’s really important that we avoid their confidence going up because in the end this is the Premier League and everybody can beat everybody.”
Coach Julen Lopetegui and his Wolves have things to fight for too, looking to avoid relegation this term.
And after already smashing Liverpool in the league this season, they will be smelling blood.
Midfielder Matheus Nunes says confidence is high under Lopetegui, who joined the club in November last year.
He says: “We’re more confident now and having better results, of course, and that helps as well. We just have to carry on.”