Liverpool crashed to a fourth defeat in their last seven games in all competitions when Wolves fired three goals against the Reds in a Premier League encounter on Saturday evening, a miserable run featuring only one win.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are languishing in 10th place, 10 points adrift of the top four amid their worst season of Klopp’s seven-year reign.
It is the first time since 2012 that Liverpool have lost three successive away league games, while they have already conceded more league goals this season than they did in the entirety of last term.
Facing a struggling team who kicked off in the relegation zone, Liverpool immediately crumbled as Joel Matip deflected Hwang Hee-chan’s cross into his own net after five minutes.
Wolves debutant Craig Dawson doubled the lead after 12 minutes when the defender smashed in from 10 yards.
With Wolves fans taunting Klopp with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, Ruben Neves sealed the rout with a 71st-minute finish from Adama Traore’s cross.
Wolves have made a fresh approach to persuade Julen Lopetegui to become their new permanent head coach, sources have confirmed to 90min.
Wolves axed previous boss Bruno Lage at the start of October, and they soon made Lopetegui their top target as he parted company with Sevilla. However, the Spaniard turned the job down – citing family reasons, confirming he wanted to see his elderly father.
Upon leaving Sevilla, he said: “The only future plan I have right now is to go see my father, who is 92 years old and I haven’t seen him for a long time.
“My family is important, they live with the intensity of our profession, we take our problems home, I owe them everything and I’m very grateful. They are the ones who give me the strength to continue being a football coach.”
Sources have now told 90min, that after failing with approach for QPR’s Michael Beale and interviewing a host of other names – the club have gone back to their first choice…Lopetegui.
Lopetegui is believed to have responded favourably to Wolves’ new effort to tempt him to Molineux, which includes the promise of a substantial transfer fund to help bolster the squad.
Wolves, who had appointed coach Steve Davis on an interim basis until 2023, are now hoping they can agree terms with Lopetegui in order for him potentially even take charge before the World Cup break later this month.
At the very least they would hope for an appointment some time in December ahead of the return of the Premier League from the World Cup hiatus on Boxing Day
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Leicester City moved up to 16th in the Premier League table thanks to a thumping 4-0 win over Wolves at Molineux on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Youri Tielemans, Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy earned the vital win for the Foxes.
Although Wolves started well, a moment of real quality would give Leicester City an early lead. Youri Tielemans would provide said quality, volleying brilliantly into the top left corner of Jose Sa’s net from 25-yards. SportBet ⚽ Get a free promo code of about 50% … Click now!!
Not to be deterred by going behind, the home side pressed forward immediately after conceding in search of an equaliser. In the 10th minute a brilliant chance to make it 1-1 fell to Matheus Nunes who was played through on goal on the right of the penalty area. His effort on goal, however, was well smothered by Danny Ward in the Foxes goal.
Wolves were made to rue that missed opportunity eight minutes later, as Harvey Barnes doubled his side’s lead. A wonderful sweeping move from right to left culminated in a quick one-two between Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Barnes, with the latter subsequently drilling low into the back of the net.
It was so nearly 3-0 on the half hour mark when Barnes drilled the ball low across goal – a ball which Tielemans just couldn’t get his foot on.
Just before half-time Wolves would be denied by Ward once again. This time the Leicester number one was on hand to palm a venomous effort from Daniel Podence wide of his right post.
Immediately after the interval, the home side continued to push forward hoping to half their arrears. Ruben Neves was first in the second 45 to come close to scoring, drilling a free kick just wide, before Diego Costa spurned a good chance from a corner kick – side-footing into Ward’s mid-riff. SportBet ⚽ Get a free promo code of about 50% … Click now!!
As they were in the first half, Wolves were made to pay for these missed chances, going three goals behind in the 65th minute. Leicester’s third would come from club top scorer James Maddison, who curled a great effort past the outstretched Jose Sa and into the top corner.
That goal proved to knock the stuffing out of the home side, and Leicester were able to add to their tally in the 79th minute thanks to substitute Jamie Vardy. The 35-year-old stole in unmarked inside the six-yard box to sweep a Timothy Castagne cross from the right flank.
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Wolves have sealed an agreement with Diego Costa after he passed his medical with the club, 90min understands.
The 33-year-old was granted a work permit – as 90min confirmed – when Wolves appealed via a Football Association hearing after he initially failed to meet the new Brexit points criteria.
After learning his permit was now approved, Wolves immediately booked him in for his medical which he has passed.
Wolves are now set to confirm his signing on an initial one-year deal, meaning he could feature in this weekend’s scheduled Premier League clash with Liverpool if required.
Wolves made their move for former Chelsea star Costa after their recent signing Sasa Kalajdzic was ruled out until 2023 with a serious knee injury, which he has now had surgery on.
With Raul Jimenez having to overcome a recent knee issue of his own, Wolves were in desperate need of striking reinforcements and they have turned to Costa.
Costa, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro at the end of last year, returns to the Premier League having last featured in England back in 2017 with Chelsea.
Chelsea blew a two-goal lead in front of prospective owner Todd Boehly as Wolves snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw, while Watford were relegated from the Premier League after defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Boehly has won the battle to buy Chelsea in a £4.25 billion ($5.2 billion) deal.
Roman Abramovich put the west London club on the market in early March, just days before he was sanctioned by the British government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
After a lengthy bidding process involving several groups, Boehly and his fellow investors were picked by Raine Group, the New York bank overseeing the sale.
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Boehly’s consortium includes a fellow co-owner of the Dodgers baseball franchise, Mark Walter, Swiss billionaire Hansjoerg Wyss and US investment firm Clearlake Capital.
They still need to satisfy the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test and gain approval from the UK government, but Chelsea expect the sale to be completed by the end of the month.
After fears for Chelsea’s future were sparked by the protracted sale, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel welcomed the takeover, saying: “It gives us an outlook if terms are agreed and hopefully the process will be streamlined and go forward as soon as possible. Good news.”
But Tuchel’s third-placed team were unable to celebrate the deal with a victory as they squandered an opportunity to move closer to qualifying for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.
Romelu Lukaku, who has endured a wretched season following his £97 million club record move from Inter Milan, converted a VAR-awarded penalty after he was fouled by Romain Saiss in the 56th minute.
The Chelsea striker followed his first Premier League goal since December 29 with another two minutes later.
This time he produced a fine 20-yard finish from Christian Pulisic’s cross as Boehly rose from his seat to celebrate.
But Wolves forward Francisco Trincao set up a tense finish when he hammered home from the edge of the area in the 79th minute.
And Chelsea cracked deep into stoppage time as Conor Coady nodded a close-range equaliser to leave Boehly shaking his head in frustration.
Chelsea are six points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who play their game in hand at quadruple-chasing Liverpool later on Saturday.
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Watford go down At Selhurst Park, Watford needed a win to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding the drop, but Wilfried Zaha’s first-half penalty was enough to condemn them to relegation.
With three games still to play, second-bottom Watford are certain to drop into the Championship 12 months after winning promotion as second-tier runners-up.
The Hornets will head into the close-season looking for a new boss after their current manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he would not be extending his short-term contract.
Hodgson, 74, was unable to rescue Watford after replacing the sacked Claudio Ranieri in January to become the club’s third manager this term following Xisco’s dismissal in October.
Watford were heading for relegation in the 31st minute when Hassane Kamara handled Michael Olise’s header, conceding a penalty that Zaha converted for his 14th goal this season.
Burnley wasted a chance to boost their survival chances as Aston Villa cruised to a 3-1 victory at Turf Moor.
Caretaker boss Mike Jackson saw Burnley beaten for the first time in five games since replacing the sacked Sean Dyche.
Former Burnley striker Danny Ings put Villa ahead in the seventh minute with a composed finish from Emiliano Buendia’s pass.
Buendia slotted home from Lucas Digne’s cross in the 31st minute.
Ollie Watkins scored Villa’s third with a diving header in the 52nd minute and although Maxwel Cornet struck for the hosts in stoppage time, Burnley sit perilously just two points above the bottom three.
Burnley would be back in the relegation zone if third-bottom Everton beat Leicester on Sunday and fourth-bottom Leeds avoid defeat at Arsenal.
Brentford crushed Southampton 3-0 at their Community Stadium, with the goals coming from Pontus Jansson, Yoane Wissa and Kristoffer Ajer
Wolves technical director Scott Sellars had revealed that the club have opened talks with Ruben Neves over a new contract in an attempt to ward off widespread interest in the midfielder.
Noble Reporters Media revealed earlier this year that Manchester United were considering a January move for the Portugal international, while Tottenham and Chelsea have both been monitoring his progress. Arsenal have additionally been credited with interest at various times.
Man Utd remain keen on Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves Neves, who has two years left to run on his current deal at Molineux, has starred for a resurgent Wolves side who are pushing for a European place under Bruno Lage. And Sellars told the Express & Star the club are hopeful their good relationship with the player will help contract negotiations.
“Ruben is having a fantastic season and everybody should take a pat on the back in terms of how well he is playing,” Sellars said.
“We’re obviously talking to him and we all know how much he loves playing for the club. We know how much he has settled here, but he is also an ambitious young man.
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“As with all players, you try and have an open dialogue with them and their representatives to come to the best scenario for the club and the player.
“Rightly so, elite clubs all over Europe will have Ruben on their radar, but we have an excellent relationship with him and will do things properly, and collaboratively, when the time is right.”
Neves picked up a knee injury in Wolves’ 3-2 loss at home to Leeds recently, ruling him out until May in a bitter blow to their hopes of European qualification.
Wolves have suffered a major blow with news that star midfielder Ruben Neves will be ruled out of action until May with a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee.
The Portugal international sustained the problem during Friday night’s 3-2 Premier League defeat to Leeds. He only played 25 minutes of that encounter before being subbed off for Francisco Trincao, who scored the Wanderers’ second prior to things starting to go downhill.
Wolves are outsiders to secure a European qualification place in the Premier League this season but Neves’ injury means another member of their squad will have to step up in the meantime.
A statement from Wolves reads: “Ruben Neves suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee in the match against Leeds United on Friday evening.
“He travelled to Portugal with members of the Wolves medical team to see a knee specialist, where the injury was confirmed as uncomplicated.
“He will spend this week in Portugal with the Wolves physio before returning to continue his rehabilitation at Compton Park. We are hoping for Ruben to be fit to return in May.”
Leander Dendoncker is the prime candidate to fill Neves’ boots alongside Joao Moutinho in central midfield, while Romain Saiss can also play there despite being primarily used as one of Wolves’ back three in defence this season.
Elsewhere, Pedro Neto is being eased back into games and continues to be monitored closely, while Nelson Semedo has returned to training this week.
Despite that enthusiasm, Tuchel urged fans to be realistic about their aspirations for the current season, insisting the main goal for Chelsea is to make it back to the top four again.
New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted that he was pleased with his side’s 0-0 draw with Wolves on Wednesday, claiming it was a real sign of things to come during his reign.
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The game, which came just 24 hours after Tuchel’s first training session with the team, saw Chelsea dominate possession and set records for both single-half and full-game passing numbers this season. However, clear-cut chances remained at a premium and it was Wolves who arguably had the better opportunities to win the game.
It wasn’t exactly the most inspiring performance, yet Tuchel was determined to see the positives and could not hide his delight at Chelsea’s energy and determination.
“Yes [disappointed not to win], it was deserved for the effort the guys put in,” Tuchel said (via Sky Sports News). “But I spoke in the dressing room and told everybody there was no room for disappointment or doubts.
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“I was very happy with the performance energy-wise, we were structured and didn’t allow any dangerous counter-attacks against one of the most dangerous teams. We were very well-organised, brave, played with courage as a team both offensively and defensively.
“We had a good impact from the bench and a very good attitude from the players who did not come on. It was hard work, but we never lost intensity and for that I am happy. If this is our starting point I’m looking forward to where we will end up.”
“The title is far away, we have to be realistic,” the boss continued. “Honestly, when you sign for Chelsea or, like me, as a manager, you sign for the expectation of challenging for titles; the Premier League, Champions League and all of the Cups. That’s absolutely clear.
“At the same time you have to be realistic and, at the moment, there are a lot of points and places between us and fourth. We have to work on a daily basis on the details and the progression of our game and the points will follow, I’m absolutely sure.
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“We have the capacity with this squad to hurt everybody in every league, in every competition, and it’s my job to bring the team to that level as fast as possible.
“We will build a team that nobody wants to play against. And that’s the challenge for me to do that as quickly as possible.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore has rejected comparisons to Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, insisting that the England international should be compared to him instead.
Traore has enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career so far this term, scoring six goals and creating 10 more in 43 appearances across all competitions.
The 24-year-old’s increased effectiveness in the final third has seen him likened to other top wingers in the Premier League, but Traore believes that the comparisons should be the other way around.
When asked whether there was another player like him in the league, the Spanish speedster told Wolves’ official website: “[Wilfried] Zaha and [Raheem] Sterling maybe, but I am not like them, more like they are like me.”
Sterling has scored 20 goals and registered seven assists in 39 games this season, while Wilfried Zaha has scored three and created five in 30 games.
Meanwhile, only Neymar and Lionel Messi average more dribbles per game than Traore in European football this season.
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