Wolves have lost on their past four visits to the Amex Stadium, but a win against Brighton could catapult them into the top half of the table for the first time this season. This is the predicted lineup for the Black Country side as they face the Seagulls in the Premier League in a Monday night match on January 22.
Wolves Predicted Lineup vs Brighton and Hove Albion
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— Wolves (@Wolves) January 21, 2024
How Wolves Have Lined-up Recently
In the absence of veteran defender Craig Dawson, Santiago Bueno has come into the team and formed formidable partnerships with mainstays Max Kilman and Toti Gomes. The young Uruguayan centre-back was signed in the summer from La Liga side, Girona, and after a rocky start has begun to impress the Molineux faithful with his assured footwork and aerial prowess.
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Tommy Doyle has also made a case for continued selection, having scored a beautiful long-range strike against Brentford in the FA Cup and helped the team tick with his fluid passing.
Pedro Neto continues to make appearances off the bench as he returns to fitness, following a lengthy absence from a hamstring injury. In his pre-match press conference, Gary O’Neil said that the “incredible” Portuguese international was match-fit and ready to play.
A surprise package off the bench has been 18-year-old Nathan Fraser, who scored against Brentford in the Cup with an accurate strike across goal. The local lad has been with the club since he was eight years old and has earned plaudits from the manager.
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Wolves Recent Form and Tactics
The West Midlands side have had a reasonable run of form, picking up important league wins against Everton and Brentford, and overcoming the Bees over two legs in the FA Cup to reach the fourth round.
However, away form will concern O’Neil’s men, as they have lost four out of their last five away fixtures. Their expected goals conceded figures suggest that, on average, they concede more goalscoring chances away from Molineux (1.57 away compared to 1.41 at home).
Nevertheless, there is real optimism around the Golden Palace, and giant killings delivered to Manchester City and Spurs earlier in the season mean that this Wolves side will not be daunted by an in-form Seagulls team.
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Tactically, notable absences in wide positions mean that Wolves’ forward line has narrowed, with the coach preferring two central forwards: a ten in Matheus Cunha and a false nine behind him, either Jean-Ricner Bellegarde or Pablo Sarabia.
A starting place for Neto could change this, but the Wanderers have otherwise relied on width to come from fullbacks who push up into wide midfield when the side have possession. This means they will almost certainly start with five at the back, with two deep-lying midfielders, an attacking midfielder, and two forwards.
Notable Absences
Joao Gomes is still serving a suspension for a red card against Brentford in the FA Cup, so he will be missing. Mario Lemina is available after being on compassionate leave for the passing of his father, but O’Neil has suggested he is not quite up to speed yet.
International duties have called for three more players. Leading goal-scorer, Hee-Chan Hwang is at the Asian Cup with South Korea, although he is yet to feature as he has picked up an adductor injury.
Similarly, Boubacar Traore is in Cote D’Ivoire representing Mali at the African Cup of Nations, as is Rayan Ait-Nouri, who represents Algeria. Dawson made the bench in Wolves’ last match but is unlikely to be fully fit as he returns from a nasty knee injury.
Predicted Lineup
GK – Jose Sa
LB – Matt Doherty
LCB – Toti Gomes
CB – Santiago Bueno
RCB – Max Kilman
RB – Nelson Semedo
CM – Tommy Doyle
CM – Joe Hodge
CAM – Pablo Sarabia
FW – Matheus Cunha
FW – Pedro Neto
