Preview: Wolves v Reds

Liverpool could go fourth in the Barclays Premier League with victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight.

Should they pick up three points at Molineux, the Reds will move back into the top quartet if Tottenham Hotspur fail to beat Fulham at White Hart Lane.

Rafael Benitez's side head into the clash in the Midlands having collected 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four league outings.

It was a 2-0 win over Wolves that kick-started that sequence when second-half goals from Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun sealed victory for Liverpool at Anfield on Boxing Day.

The last meeting between the sides in the Midlands came in January 2004. Wolves claimed a point that evening when Kenny Miller's late strike cancelled out Bruno Cheyrou's opener and ensured the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

In fact, the Reds have not won at Molineux since April 1979 when an Alan Hansen goal gave them a 1-0 win.

The opposition

Since their 2-0 Anfield defeat last month, Wolves have failed to collect a point in the Barclays Premier League following encounters with Manchester City and Wigan Atheltic.

Their form has seen them slip from 12th position at Christmas to 17^th, level on points with Hull City just below them in the relegation zone.

However, Mick McCarthy's men remain in the FA Cup - though they were twice forced to come from behind to secure a 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace in the fourth round tie on Saturday.

McCarthy was an interested spectator at Liverpool's 2-0 triumph against Spurs last week - a victory achieved without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

He said: "I watched them against Spurs last week and they performed very well. It was a good professional performance.

"The team they put out that night was very solid and Dirk Kuyt, who got their two goals, was outstanding.

"To suggest that when Gerrard and Torres don't play means they are any less than a top-four team would be barmy.

"Let's not underestimate them just because they are missing those players."

The danger man

Kevin Doyle is Wolves' top scorer so far this term with five goals to his name - all of which have come in the Barclays Premier League.

The 26-year-old became the Wanderers' record signing when he moved to Molineux from Reading in the summer.

The Irish international had spent four years at the Madejski Stadium, having been plucked from Cork City.

He helped the Royals into the Premier League in 2006 and notched 13 goals in the top flight that season.

A clinical poacher and powerful in the air, Doyle will have to be closely monitored by the Reds' rearguard.

Match stats
By Ged Rea

At least a point would take the Reds into 5^th place above Manchester City, although City would have two games in hand. A win would take Liverpool 4^th if Tottenham fail to beat Fulham.

Liverpool won the reverse fixture at Anfield 31 days ago with Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun scoring in a 2-0 victory after Wolves left back Stephen Ward had been sent off.

In that game Alberto Aquilani made his first league start while Dani Pacheco made his Premier League debut. It was a match that saw Steven Gerrard captain Liverpool for the 200^th time in the league and Liverpool win their 400^th Premiership point under Rafa Benitez.

The last meeting at Molineux came six years ago almost to the day when a last minute Kenny Miller equaliser gave Wolves a point after Bruno Cheyrou had opened the scoring for Liverpool.

Liverpool have not won on this ground in the last five meetings with two draws and three defeats.

Liverpool's last win at Molineux came in April 1979 when Alan Hansen scored the only goal of the game.

Back in 1976 Liverpool clinched the Championship on this ground. Both sides had to win - Liverpool for the title and Wolves to stay up. It seemed that Steve Kindon's early goal would be enough for the home side, but in the last 15 minutes goals from Kevin Keegan, John Toshack and Ray Kennedy gave Liverpool a 3-1 win.

Liverpool's biggest ever win at Molineux came in September 1968 with the Reds winning 6-0.

The Reds' heaviest defeat here was the 4-1 reverse suffered in November 1980.

Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight league visits to Wolves.

However, in the last 21 League meetings home and away they have prevented Wolves from scoring on 12 occasions.

The Reds last did the league double over Wolves in 1978-79. Should they win it will be their 12^th double since the clubs first met in 1894-95.

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