Wolves vs Aston Villa – News and Probable Lineups

Molineux will be the scene for a West Midlands derby this Friday evening as Aston Villa, aiming for a top-four finish, square off against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Currently holding the third spot in the Premier League, Villa has a three-point advantage over Manchester United in fourth, while Wolves find themselves at the bottom of the table, trailing Nottingham Forest in 17th place by 17 points.

Match overview

Wolves come into this match after a narrow 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, where Evann Guessand scored the only goal late in the game. However, the performance was a positive sign for a team at the bottom of the standings.

In their previous home game at Molineux against league leaders Arsenal on February 18, Rob Edwards’ side managed a 2-2 draw. Nevertheless, their solitary league victory this season highlights their struggles, with a likely relegation to the Championship looming.

The season’s record for Wolves stands at one win, seven draws, and 20 losses from 28 matches, accumulating just 10 points at the bottom of the league, making it clear that a minor miracle is needed to avoid relegation.

One of the significant challenges for Wolves this season has been finding the net, with just 18 goals in 28 matches, although there have been glimpses of improvement recently.

Significantly, Wolves have recorded four wins in their last six home Premier League encounters against Villa and have remained unbeaten since a 1-0 loss in December 2020.

Meanwhile, Villa head into this fixture following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, which almost saw them suffer a surprising home defeat until Tammy Abraham equalized in the 88th minute.

The recent form of Villa has not been ideal, as they have secured only one win in their last five matches across all competitions and just one victory in their previous four league fixtures.

Despite remaining third in the table, Emery’s side is only three points ahead of Man United in fourth and six points clear of both Chelsea and Liverpool in fifth and sixth, respectively. Therefore, they have significant work ahead to secure Champions League qualification for the next season.

Villa boasts the third-best away form in the Premier League, having collected 22 points from 13 matches, and they will be facing a Wolves team with the worst home record in the league.

The visitors will be aiming to achieve a league double over Wolves for the first time since the 2003-04 season, with this match further highlighted by their next two fixtures against Chelsea and Man United in England’s top flight.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:

LLLDDL

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):

LLDWDL

Aston Villa Premier League form:

LWLDW

Aston Villa form (all competitions):

WLDWLD

Team News

Wolves will be missing Hwang Hee-chan due to a calf injury, and Ladislav Krejci is suspended after his red card against Crystal Palace.

Krejci’s absence may allow Toti to step into the team this Friday evening.

Angel Gomes could also feature in an attacking role, while the highly sought-after Mateus Mane, being monitored by several top clubs, is expected to retain his spot in the starting XI.

On the Villa side, Youri Tielemans (ankle), John McGinn (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee), and Harvey Elliott (unspecified) are unavailable, while Alysson is doubtful due to a minor injury.

Abraham, who came off the bench to level the score against Leeds last time out, is expected to continue as the central forward at Molineux, with Ollie Watkins likely to maintain his role.

Both Ross Barkley and Jadon Sancho made positive contributions off the bench against Leeds, but it is unlikely either will start, with Leon Bailey set to feature again on the right flank.

Wolverhampton Wanderers probable starting XI:

Sa; Mosquera, S Bueno, Toti; Tchatchoua, Bellegarde, Andre, H Bueno; A Gomes, Armstrong, Mane

Aston Villa probable starting XI:

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Bailey, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins

This is a challenging fixture to predict; Villa is not on top form, and they will face a Wolves team that appears to be improving as the season progresses. Nonetheless, the expectation is that the visitors will secure a vital three points this Friday night.