Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Ruud van Nistelrooy marches over to the Liverpool bench to hug fellow Dutchman Arne Slot. Van Nistelrooy managed Cody Gakpo at PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23. Will Gakpo score against his old boss tonight?

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "It was in two parts. Different because we played 45 minutes with one man and worse off for us. They suffered with a lot of chances. Even with 10 men, we were near their goal during their half. Again, set-pieces change the game a little bit to make it harder. In the first half, I think we controlled it. Sometimes, we controlled but Wolves made some transitions but we were in control of the game. We had a little bit of a lack of aggression in the last third but we were controlling the game. Then, we have the second half to do something more to change some things and then, the first player sent off was really hard for us."

On whether they looked like equalising : "Of course. Sometimes, it can be from not the best idea but we tried until the end. I felt we were near the draw more than Wolves were from the second goal. In the last play of the match, everyone was focussed on the draw and suffered another goal."

On the first goal: "Last week, I saw the same goal against Tottenham. I think Onana cannot go to the ball because he has one man in front, one in the back and in the last moment, is jumping. Just a touch in his back can change the way you see the ball. I saw it last week."

Are you still not seeing what you want from Marcus Rashford?: "I just do what I think is the best for the team."

Image source, Getty Images

The players are out on the pitch at a foggy Anfield. Fortunately, it isn't too bad at pitch level so shouldn't cause any random shenanigans.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Anfield

This is Liverpool's 28th and final game at Anfield in 2024.

It started with a 4-2 win over Newcastle on 1 January under Jurgen Klopp but will it end with Arne Slot's side going seven clear at the top?

For the record, Liverpool have won 22 of their 27 home games this calendar year while they have pocketed 44 points from a possible 54 in the Premier League.

Their first home game of 2025? Manchester United on 5 January followed by Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup six days later.

Wolves

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think we have good players with quality, just was missing a mental click to play and I think the commitment today and the supporters with us, it's something special. The Premier League is very special. It's something that takes a long long time to come here, you understand."

On his start in the PL: "It's not easy, the teams have a lot of quality. When you believe in the work, when the communication is a simple communication, everyone knows the tasks and what they should do on the pitch, it's the quality of the players."

On getting back-to-back clean sheets: "Usually my teams have good defensive organisation and of course I like to see my defensive line as a swiss clock with coordination. But the other parts, the men in attack and midfield must understand when we should press and when we should wait to be compact. These are the two moments we need to understand together."

On how he's found the players: "Before I came I studied the team and in my opinion this team has quality. The energy today with these supporters, today we showed positive energy, confidence in ourselves, confidence in the work we do every day. This is what it is."

On keeping the positive energy in the team: "I said to them now that it's not only about tactical things, it's about spirit, the energy, the commitment, the confidence in themselves. In our lives if we don't have confidence it's impossible to achieve the targets."

On Matheus Cunha's goal: "We tried to put this ball swinging inside, but it's his quality. I think it's not about work, it's individual quality. He's a player in my opinion who can reach high standards in this league."

On the second goal: "This is what I asked them to be. For me a player that has a chance to score and assists is the true spirit of the game. The true spirit of the team is this kind of action. I'm very happy, I can not explain what I'm feeling inside. I'm very, very, very happy."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

More from Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Bruno Fernandes' red card: "It's so tough to win games in this league with 11 men. With 10 men, it's more difficult. We have to focus on that."

Did you have enough in attack before the red card?: "We have to improve the relationships, but we have some moments. We lack a little bit of aggression, but we don't train. We just play and try to find a better way to win games and that's it. We can't control the games like the other ones that we lost. I think we were always in control of the game, not always dominating, but in control of some things, some set-pieces. The sending off was really hard for us."

On Marcus Rashford: "It's always the same reason it's going to be. We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end."

Has he not shown you anything different since leaving him out?: "If he's not here, you can make your mind up."

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim: "Of course, when you lose, when we don't win, it's a step back. It was really hard with the sending off. The goal was similar against Tottenham. Then, we tried. Even with one less guy we tried to and I think we were near something but then Wolves scored the second one. Then, in the end, we tried everything and the transition was 2-0. For us, let's continue.

Disappointing to concede a similar goal in quick succession: "Yes, against Tottenham. It's the same. Onana cannot go to the ball I think."

Do you think it's a foul?: "I think he cannot go to the ball. He's trying to reach the ball and some guys are not even looking at the ball but I don't want to focus on that. I think the good thing is we were near the goal, even with 10 men. That is a good thing, but we lost."

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Anfield

View from the press box. Anyone got an orange ball going spare?

Steve: Will Amorim last longer than Dan Ashworth, that’s the real question?

Ruben Amorim has suffered his fifth defeat in seven games as Manchester United manager.

And their next three fixtures do not make for happy reading.

• 30 December - Newcastle (Home)
• 5 January - Liverpool (Away)
• 12 January - Arsenal (Away)

If they were to lose all three...well the pressure on him will surely only intensify.

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is thick fog here at Anfield.

At the moment I cannot see the corner flags on the far side and part of the Kop is covered in mist.

I am told they're going to keep a close eye on what's going on.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Anfield

There was a lively atmosphere outside Anfield before the late kick-off as Liverpool fans digested the news that nearest rivals Chelsea have lost at home to Fulham.

Liverpool started the day with a four-point lead but should they overcome Leicester, Arne Slot's side will end it seven clear - with one game in hand on the two teams immediately below them.

And with the Reds playing at West Ham on Sunday before Chelsea go to Ipswich the following day, Liverpool's lead over Enzo Maresca's side could be into double figures by the end of the weekend.

Wolves

Wolves scorer Matheus Cunha, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I feel so happy. Vitor came with a lot of energy and we feel this. We come together, we suffer together, we score together. It means a lot, in the stadium you can see how happy they are.

On the impact of new manager Vitor Pereira: "He came here with a lot of energy. He said that he dreamed of coming to the Premier League and we saw this, we can see this energy. We can come with these kind of things."

On whether he meant to score from a corner: "I was shooting, we train to shoot! The second one I had this luck and scored the goal!"

On Hwang Hee-chan's goal: "I feel so happy. He talks to me every day saying 'pass to me, I want to score' and I passed to him and he scored, everybody's happy."

Image source, Getty Images

Vítor Pereira is the first manager to win his opening two Premier League games in charge of Wolves.

He is the second Portuguese manager to win both of his first two fixtures, after Jose Mourinho (for Chelsea in August 2004).

Pereira is also the first Wolves manager to win his first two top-flight league games in charge since Sammy Chung in August 1977.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is just chatting to the TV crews at Molineux. I wonder what he made of that?

His team looked like they would not have scored if they had been playing until January and on top of that, they conceded from a set-piece again in laughable circumstances - an issue he had talked about prior to kick-off.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have failed to score in seven of their 18 games, only Southampton and Everton (both nine) have failed to score more often in the Premier League this season.