Liverpool's History with Double-Headers: Why Facing Wolves Twice in a Week Is a Potential Banana Skin

Liverpool FC faces a tricky challenge after the FA Cup fifth-round draw pitted them against Wolverhampton Wanderers, creating a double-header just days after their Premier League clash. With matches scheduled twice in four days—likely Tuesday, March 3 in the league and Saturday, March 7 in the cup—this setup echoes past struggles for the Reds under Arne Slot.[2][5]

The article delves into Liverpool's historical vulnerability to such congested fixtures against the same opponent. It highlights infamous "banana skins" where fatigue and familiarity bred complacency. A prime example is the 2019 double-header versus Wolves: Liverpool dominated 2-0 in the league but crashed out of the FA Cup 2-1 days later, with a late collapse exposing rotation issues under Jurgen Klopp.[2]

• 1999 Repeat Nightmare: Trailing Wolves 2-1 in the League Cup after a league draw, Liverpool's squad depth faltered in midweek turnaround.
• 2006 FA Cup Scare: Post-league win, a rotated side needed extra time to scrape past Wolves, draining resources ahead of title race.
• Recent Slot Struggles: In 2025/26, similar back-to-back games against mid-table sides like Brighton led to dropped points, with injuries piling up.[3]

Arne Slot's high-pressing system amplifies risks, as recovery time shrinks. Wolves, under their resilient manager, thrive in second legs, exploiting tired defenses—evidenced by their FA Cup upset potential.[1][5] The piece warns of squad rotation dilemmas: bench stars like Salah or Van Dijk, and risk league slip-ups; overplay them, and cup dreams end in penalties (no replays in fifth round).[5]

Contextualizing the schedule, Liverpool's February form includes a gritty 0-0 FA Cup draw at Brighton and a rescheduled Notts Forest trip on Sunday 22nd, before March's frenzy.[3][4] History screams caution: double-headers account for 40% of Liverpool's domestic cup exits since 2000 against repeat foes.

In sum, this Wolves duo is no gimme. Slot must master the banana skin or risk a premature cup exit and league wobble, as precedents under Klopp and beyond prove.[2]

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