Here’s our Wolves Vs Southampton preview, prediction, team news and predicted lineups ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Wolves Vs Southampton Preview
Hosts Wolves will begin the weekend rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. Gary O’Neil’s side have picked up just three points so far and are one of two teams still looking for their first league win of the season, along with newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
Last time out, Wolves played an eventful 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at the Molineux.
This followed another 2-2, this time at Brighton, after they had taken champions Manchester City deep into added time, and would have earned a point but for John Stones’ 95th-minute winner for City.
Standing between Wolves and a vital first victory are Southampton. The Saints took their own maiden Premier League win at home to Everton last time out.
Adam Armstrong’s late winner was enough for a 1-0 victory at St. Mary’s, but Russell Martin’s side are only one point better off than Wolves, and sit 19th heading into the weekend.
Barring an unlikely swing of goal difference, even a victory for Southampton would not lift them out of the bottom three.
But if the South Coast side are to have any hope of surviving their first season back in the top flight, they’ll need to win these games against the teams around them.
Beat Wolves, and Saints are within touching distance of safety, but lose and they will drop to 20th, and already look odds-on for relegation.
Wolves Vs Southampton Team News
The hosts are still without five long-term absentees. Each of Bastien Meupiyou (fitness), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Enso Gonzalez (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee) and Yerson Mosquera (knee) remain out for the weekend.
Hwang Hee-chan (ankle) is hoping to overcome the issue he picked up on international duty, but is a major doubt for Saturday.
Keeper Sam Johnstone is back in training after a groin problem, but is not yet part of the match day squad.
Jose Sa will therefore continue between the sticks, while former Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina should slot back in against his old club.
For the Saints, manager Russell Martin has confirmed midfielder Adam Lallana hurt his groin in the win against Everton.
The veteran is now a doubt for the weekend, meaning Joe Aribo is likely to replace him in the middle of the park.
Ryan Fraser is also carrying a knock, while the trio of Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Will Smallbone (thigh) and Ross Stewart (calf) all continue to sit out with ongoing problems.
Young starlet Tyler Dibling may return to the starting lineup, though the teenager is now only one yellow-card away from suspension.
Wolves Vs Southampton Predicted Lineups
Wolves Lineup (3-4-2-1):
Sa; Toti, Bueno, Dawson; Semedo, Doyle, Lemina, Ait-Nouri; Gomes, Cunha; Strand Larsen
Southampton Lineup (3-4-3):
Ramsdale; Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens; Sugawara, Downes, Fernandes, Walker-Peters; Aribo, Dibling; Armstrong
Wolves Vs Southampton Prediction
With both sides occupying the bottom three, this has the hallmarks of a nervy relegation six-pointer.
Neither side has been great defensively, but Southampton’s lack of firepower up front means they could struggle to expose Wolves.
But with the hosts still chasing their first win, the fear of losing could cancel out both sides and cause a draw that’s little use to either team.
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Southampton
