MARSHALL MUNETSI might possibly be filled with a lot of emotion when he steps out onto the revered Anfield turf today as Wolverhampton Wanderers play league leaders Liverpool.
Alongside the awe and reverence of gracing one of football’s most storied grounds, Munetsi may feel the added pressure of upholding Zimbabwe’s rich Anfield history, especially in light of Peter Ndlovu’s historic hat-trick for Coventry City against Liverpool in 1995.
Munetsi’s Anfield sojourn echoes the footsteps of Zimbabwean footballers who have come before him.
It appears Zimbabwean players have always done well either playing for or against Liverpool, and this cannot escape Munetsi’s mind.
From Ndlovu’s historic hat-trick to Bruce Grobbelaar’s stellar performances for Liverpool, Zimbabwean footballers have made an indelible mark in the team’s history.
Among the legendary Reds is Grobbelaar, the acrobatic goalkeeper who wore the Liverpool jersey from 1981 to 1994.
A hallmark of Grobbelaar’s style was his daring athleticism, unflinching courage and eccentric flair, earning him comparisons to modern-day “sweeper-keepers” by pundits.
Over his illustrious 13-year tenure, Grobbelaar amassed an impressive 628 appearances for Liverpool, a staggering 440 of which were League fixtures.
During this time, the Zimbabwean goalkeeper tasted unprecedented success, clinching the League championship on six occasions, together with three FA Cups, three League Cups and the coveted 1983-1984 European Cup.
These triumphs now serve as a benchmark for Munetsi, who, like his compatriots Ndlovu and Grobbelaar before him, has become a vital component of the Zimbabwe national team.
Now, he is in line to make his much-awaited Wolves debut, and if it indeed comes, fate will have pitted it against one of England’s biggest clubs and English Premiership log leaders, which are driven by talisman Mohamed Salah.
The 28-year-old Zimbabwean last weekend featured for Wolves in their 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers to advance into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Munetsi was introduced in the 66th minute.
The 28-year-old Zimbabwean midfielder and fellow new signing Nasser Djiga have left Pereira beaming with confidence as they head to Anfield today.
The Old Gold head to Anfield aware of Liverpool’s strengths, but with confidence of their own after consecutive victories against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup.
Having strengthened his arm with the arrival of Munetsi and Djiga in January, Pereira now believes Wolves are in a better position than they were when he arrived in December.
He wants to continue the positive momentum between now and May.
In fact, the entire Wolves ensemble seems better off after Munetsi and Djiga’s arrival, as Pereira himself said “they were the missing pieces to the puzzle”.
“I think we are better than when we started,” said the Portuguese gaffer on the club’s website. “I’m pleased with the work that the players are doing.
“I think inside (the squad), the competition is higher at this moment, and this is where we are.
‘‘Of course we can increase our level week by week, but I’m happy with the team.
“When we started work, we had to convince them to play in a style, in a game model. And the first weeks they tried to be aligned with what the coach was asking.
“But week after week they started to enjoy it, because they started to be comfortable in the roles.
‘‘It means they don’t need to focus too much on the system. They know in each moment of the game what we should do, and I’m feeling that now they are in conditions to compete.”
The Wolves boss reserved special praise for Munetsi and Djiga.
“(They are) good players,” he said.
“I think they add quality to the team. They have the skills, each one in their position, to help the team.
“We have a good team, and they are team players. They are committed, focused on the work, and this is what we need, this kind of player. Munetsi is a transition midfielder, box to box.
“He has the power to go in our box, to defend, and after a second to be in the other box.
“This is something that we need in this team to appear with more players in the box, and we are improving a lot, the way that we attack the box, the way that we defend.”
The Old Gold will be without forwards Hee Chan Hwang and Jorgen Strand Larsen, with Pereira confirming their absence in his pre-match press conference.
Hwang suffered a hamstring injury just before half-time in last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers and Pereira believes he will miss at least the next two weeks as he recovers.
Pereira said Larsen is due to start training soon, but indicated the Anfield visit may come too soon for the Norwegian.
On the other side of the pitch, Liverpool boss Arne Slot will be sweating on the fitness of Cody Gakpo ahead Wolves’ visit after the Dutchman was taken off against Everton in midweek with a knock.
Gakpo would join the likes of Joe Gomez — who is facing a lengthy spell away from the squad after suffering a thigh injury against Plymouth Argyle last weekend — and Tyler Morton on the sidelines if he is not able to feature.
Liverpool will also be without Curtis Jones after he was sent off during the fracas that occurred following the Merseyside derby draw.
Pereira has indicated that he will not be paying too much attention to Liverpool’s injury troubles.
“My focus is my team, to increase our level, and we must go there with our qualities, looking for our qualities,” he said.
“Of course, we will face a strong team, in a fantastic environment.
“We have to defend with our tools, with our work, but I believe that we will play a good game for sure, fighting for a good result.
“I respect every team, and Liverpool are one of the best in this league. But, of course, a good result brings us confidence, and this is important in this moment.” — Wolves.co.uk/Zimpapers Sports Hub
