In a match with no major stakes for either club, all eyes will be on the departing German, overseeing his final 90 minutes in a Liverpool tracksuit. While Klopp might not miss the English media much, his final pre-match press conference on Friday saw him receive a beautiful canvas showcasing his fondest Merseyside memories, from Champions League glory to long-awaited Premier League triumph.
Four months after shocking the football world with his resignation announcement, Klopp’s farewell has arrived. His coaching team, including Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos, and Peter Krawietz, will also be moving on, with Lijnders and Matos set to join Red Bull Salzburg.
Although Klopp won't relax come 4 PM on Sunday, personal pride is all that's at stake for Liverpool, who are guaranteed to finish third in the Premier League after their title hopes fizzled out during a dismal Easter period.
Monday’s six-goal thriller against Aston Villa was a microcosm of Klopp’s final season. Leading 3-1 with 10 minutes left, Liverpool conceded two late goals to draw 3-3 at Villa Park, reflecting the Reds' struggles this season.
Liverpool’s recent form is underwhelming, with only three wins from their last nine matches in all competitions. They haven’t kept a Premier League clean sheet at Anfield since December 17, and achieving one on Sunday would be a fitting farewell gift for Klopp.
On the other side, Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, in the early stages of his managerial career, aims to play the spoiler on Sunday. Wolves could still break into the top half of the table if results go their way.
However, Wolves have faltered recently, suffering a 5-0 thrashing by Manchester City on May 4, followed by a loss to Crystal Palace. Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Eberechi Eze’s goals made Matheus Cunha's strike irrelevant, leaving Wolves 13th in the standings, just two points behind 10th-placed Brighton.
For Wolves to finish in the top half, they need to defeat Liverpool and hope Brighton, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace all slip up—a tough ask given their recent form of one win in their last 10 matches.
September’s match at Molineux saw Liverpool stage a classic comeback to win 3-1 against Wolves, who haven’t won a Premier League game at Anfield since 2010. As Klopp bids farewell, Wolves aren’t expected to pose a major threat to his ideal send-off.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
In addition to Klopp and his coaching team’s imminent departures, Liverpool announced on Friday that Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip will be leaving when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Unfortunately, Matip's ACL injury means he won't get an on-field farewell.Thiago, however, was back in training earlier this week after dealing with a muscular problem and has a slim chance of making a final appearance. Diogo Jota (hip) and Andy Robertson (knock) have also rejoined the squad and should be involved in the game.
Ben Doak (knee) and Bobby Clark (unspecified) will miss out on Sunday’s match, but Klopp might give some playing time to Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic, likely from the bench.
For Wolves, Portuguese winger Pedro Neto is nearing the end of his recovery from a thigh injury and will be part of the squad traveling to Merseyside, as confirmed by manager Gary O’Neil.
Craig Dawson (groin) and Leon Chiwome (ankle) are both ruled out for Wolves. Goalkeeper Jose Sa, who missed the Palace game due to illness, has now recovered and is available for selection.
However, Pablo Sarabia has picked up a minor issue and is a fresh doubt for O’Neil. Boubacar Traore, who was substituted at halftime last weekend, seems to have been a tactical decision, offering Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Tommy Doyle a chance to compete for a spot in the midfield alongside Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes. Liverpool is reportedly interested in reigniting their interest in Gomes this summer.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; S. Bueno, Toti, Kilman; Semedo, Doyle, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Hwang
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 3-2 Wolves
While Liverpool's defense might not be as solid as it once was, they are up against a Wolves side lacking confidence. This matchup seems set for Klopp to secure his 299th and final victory with Liverpool before the tributes pour in.
