Wolverhampton Wanderers

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  1. 'We are scrapping and giving absolutely everything'published at 20:04 28 September 2024

    Wolverhampton Wanderers' English head coach Gary O'Neil reacts after the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Wolves manager Gary O'Neil has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after today's defeat: "Really positive performance from the players. You can see by the reaction of the fans at the end. It was a big effort and a lot of positives against a top side. Disappointed we went off-plan for a second and opened the game up and got punished. Apart from that, I thought the lads were excellent. There were some decisions we made that were not ideal and not patient enough.

    "In terms of a group giving everything and fighting one of the biggest clubs in world football, big performance.

    "I have seen a lot in the first six games that I am confident. We have Brentford away who are really tough. But we are fighting against some of the big hitters at this moment and lost two centre-backs this week. We are fighting, we are scrapping and giving absolutely everything."

  2. 'I ask the fans to stick with us'published at 19:54 28 September 2024

    Toti Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers applauds the fans at full-time following the team's defeat in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Liverpool FC at MolineuxImage source, Getty Images

    Wolves defender Toti Gomes, has been speaking to Sky Sports after today's loss: "A tough defeat according to what we did in the game. We started well and we were a bit unlucky suffering the first goal, but we responded immediately in the first half.

    "We were not paying attention to some details. We deserved something from this game - at least a point.

    "All the details count especially against the big teams. If you do little mistakes they will make a goal and we will suffer."

    On the penalty: "Straight after our first goal, but these are the small details. Suffering again from the penalty is tough - we tried to go again. The game is finished and we did everything we could."

    On Wolves' form: "It is not easy, but it is a matter of time [until results improve].

    "We are not in a good phase, but we have to stick together. We have had tough defeats against big teams but we are going to keep fighting and we have a lot to prove.

    "I ask the fans to stick with us as we are going to keep improving."

  3. Wolves 1-2 Liverpool: Did you know?published at 19:40 28 September 2024

    Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrating after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Liverpool FC at MolineuxImage source, Getty Images

    In 2024, only Ben White, Fabian Schar and Josko Gvardiol (all 6) have been involved in more Premier League goals among defenders than Wolves' Rayan Ait-Nouri (5 - 3 goals, 2 assists).

  4. O'Neil urges his side to trust the process published at 15:22 28 September 2024

    Nick Mashiter
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Gary O'Neil holds his right hand to his mouth while he stands in front of the Wolves' dugout. Image source, Getty Images

    "Stay the course" was Gary O'Neil's message ahead of Wolves' clash with Liverpool.

    He has also written about "scrapping for everything" while still wanting to keep Wolves' style in Saturday's programme.

    The confidence remains at Molineux and O'Neil said to the media on Friday he did not expect to be talking positively throughout the entire season.

    Wolves' winless start is magnified by the fact it comes at the start of the season while O'Neil said it had been suggested to him it had been the hardest opening - in terms of opposition - for any Premier League team.

    Although, with a goal difference of -9 already having conceded 14, Wolves have not made it easy for themselves. The calamitous second half against Chelsea springs immediately to mind.

    Performances against Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and Aston Villa have been promising and with better finishing or without individual mistakes Wolves would have more points.

    They need to find a way to convert positive spells into consistent displays and while victory over Liverpool would be a shock it is clear O'Neil believes his team have it in them.

  5. Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Liverpoolpublished at 11:17 28 September 2024

    Chris Sutton and Paul Smith

    Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

    For week six, he takes on Maximo Park singer Paul Smith, whose latest album, Stream Of Life, is out on Friday.

    Wolves host Liverpool at 17:30 on Saturday.

    Sutton's prediction: 1-2

    Wolves have not been as bad as their results suggest but I suspect the fans' patience is wearing a bit thin with their manager, Gary O'Neil.

    That is slightly unfortunate, and unfair, because overall he did well last season, but the way Wolves ended the last campaign poorly and have started this one the same way does not help him, clearly.

    This game probably won't do much for his cause, either. It is hard to look past a Liverpool win, based on their firepower and their strength off the bench.

    They wiped the floor with Bournemouth last week and, while this will be closer, I still think Liverpool will win it.

    Smith's prediction: 0-2

    This is going to be harder for Liverpool than you might expect on paper against the bottom team. Results have not gone Wolves' way but they have been playing OK and they will put up a good fight here.

    There is something that makes me think they can get a draw but we are in the predictions game here and I have to go with percentages.

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  6. 'Wolves have triumphed in adversity before'published at 19:07 27 September 2024

    Nick Mashiter
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Alfie Pond, playing against Port Vale, for Wolves' Under-21. He is shielding the ball from an opponent with the ball at chest height with his arms out either side. Image source, Getty Images

    This time last year Wolves ended Manchester City's unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win at Molineux.

    It ignited their own campaign and helped shape fan opinion about Gary O'Neil, who had only been in post under two months.

    Wolves already had a win, at Everton, under O'Neil but it is hard not to look at the comparisons ahead of Saturday's visit of Liverpool.

    Another big team rolls into town, expected to win, with Wolves struggling to assert themselves.

    Winless and bottom of the Premier League they are under the spotlight again after a difficult start, although there is little internal panic.

    They pushed the Reds close last season, going ahead before losing 3-1, and their home record against the traditional big six was impressive.

    On Friday, O'Neil played down any links between the City win and any possible victory on Saturday, especially as he deals with a virus which has swept through the squad and left key men doubtful.

    Having lost defender Yerson Mosquera, most likely for the season, following a serious knee injury, it is another issue which the head coach would have wanted to avoid.

    Defender Alfie Pond, 20, who captained the Under-21s to a 4-1 win over Leeds on Monday, could be given a Premier League baptism with the defence already stretched but Wolves have triumphed in adversity before and will have to again.

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  7. O'Neil not 'fazed' by winless start for virus-hit Wolvespublished at 15:05 27 September 2024

    Nick Mashiter
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Gary O'Neil, wearing a black Wolves top, speaks to the media ahead of facing Liverpool.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Gary O'Neil could be without several players through illness when Wolves face Liverpool

    Wolves' squad has been hit by a virus before Liverpool's Premier League visit on Saturday.

    Goalkeeper Dan Bentley was ill last week and several of his team-mates are now major doubts for the Molineux clash.

    Boss Gary O'Neil, whose side are winless and bottom of the table, did not reveal who could miss the game, but said some players will need to be assessed on Saturday morning.

    "There is quite a bit of illness at the moment, there are a few who will need a check on how they are feeling," he added. "Quite a few missed training today [Friday].

    "Some of the lads will struggle for tomorrow, whether they don't quite make it or are not fit enough to start. Sometimes it can clear up in 24 hours.

    "We are hopeful that all of the guys who have had something over the last couple of days will be fine. But, as the doctors told me, at this stage it's difficult to give a definitive answer."

    Defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to be out for the season with a serious knee injury so 20-year-old Alfie Pond, who made his full debut in the Carabao Cup defeat at Brighton last week, could start against the second-placed Reds.

    Struggling Wolves are one of six teams looking for their first win of the season, but O'Neil added: "I'm not fazed at all. I'm looking forward to the next part of it.

    "First thing is you have to accept where you are. So we accept where we are at this moment and then we fight with everything we have to improve it.

    "We have to get the group in the best spot possible for Liverpool and then give absolutely everything to try and improve our points tally."

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.