Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Burnley

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: BetUS

Following their breakthrough in ending their troubling home record, Burnley now head away to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in the upcoming Premier League fixture on Tuesday evening.

Vincent Kompany’s team showcased a dominant performance against Sheffield United, securing a resounding 5-0 victory over the weekend at Turf Moor. Meanwhile, the hosts faced a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Arsenal.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal, known for their slow starts in the 2023/24 season, broke the pattern in an explosive manner against Wolves at the Emirates Stadium. They swiftly gained a 2-0 lead within 13 minutes through goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Despite their early advantage, Mikel Arteta’s team missed several opportunities to extend their lead. Matheus Cunha took advantage of a defensive mistake in the second half, narrowing the scoreline. This led Arsenal to adopt a more defensive approach towards the end of the game to preserve their lead.

While Arsenal secured a hard-fought win, Wolves’ manager Gary O’Neil acknowledged his team’s positive performance and criticized Arsenal for what he perceived as time-wasting during the match.

However, despite Wolves’ commendable performance, their recent form raises concerns. They’ve suffered defeats in three of their last four Premier League matches, sliding down to 13th place. Depending on Sunday’s results, they might get closer to the relegation zone.

Wolves consistently offer goal-scoring opportunities, as evidenced by their 12 consecutive games in which they’ve both scored and conceded. On a more positive note, they’ve managed to remain undefeated in their last four home games in the top flight.

Team News

Wolves faced a series of setbacks in the first half against Arsenal. Starting goalkeeper Jose Sa had to leave the match in the 23rd minute due to a back problem, although manager O’Neil remains optimistic that it’s not a serious issue.

Daniel Bentley stands ready as a backup option, while concerns persist over Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fitness after the left-back missed the Gunners clash due to an ankle problem. Unfortunately, Pedro Neto (thigh) and Joe Hodge (shoulder) are confirmed absences for the upcoming game.

O’Neil refrained from providing details about Jonny’s absence from the squad, simply stating that the Spaniard wasn’t available without mentioning an injury. On a positive note, Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes are set to return to the midfield after serving suspensions.

Burnley

Before Sheffield United’s visit, Burnley had solely served home defeats, enduring a record-breaking seven consecutive losses at Turf Moor in the Premier League season. The match against the struggling Blades seemed to present Burnley with an opportunity to secure at least one point, but Vincent Kompany’s team dominated the game right from the start, with Jay Rodriguez scoring straight from kickoff. Jacob Bruun Larsen, Zeki Amdouni, Luca Koleosho, and Josh Brownhill further compounded Sheffield United’s woes, leading to a resounding victory for Burnley. Adding to Sheffield’s troubles, Oli McBurnie received a red card, allowing Burnley to ease some pressure off their manager while increasing Sheffield’s woes under Paul Heckingbottom, who has been sacked since.

Despite the much-needed success, Burnley remain deeply embroiled in the relegation battle, currently sitting in 19th place. Although the win halted a streak of seven consecutive defeats across all competitions, they find themselves level on points with Everton after the Toffees’ 10-point deduction, and just two points behind Luton Town at this stage.

Burnley’s impressive Championship performances reflect in their unbeaten streak of 17 midweek league matches. Additionally, they have remained undefeated in their last seven Premier League encounters with Wolves. Wolves’ last victory against Burnley dates back to September 2018, courtesy of a goal from Raul Jimenez, who now plays for Fulham.

Team News

Burnley’s impressive victory over Sheffield United came with a setback as defender Jordan Beyer received his fifth Premier League yellow card, resulting in his suspension for the upcoming trip to Molineux.

Hannes Delcroix and Ameen Al-Dakhil were absent from Vincent Kompany’s squad against the Blades. Consequently, the recently recovered Hjalmar Ekdal appears to be the likely choice to step in and fill the defensive void for the Clarets.

Aside from Beyer’s suspension, Burnley’s current concerns revolve around Jack Cork, who is dealing with an unspecified issue, and Arijanet Muric, who is sidelined due to illness. Additionally, attacker Lyle Foster is on indefinite leave to address mental health issues.

Conclusion

The morale within the Burnley camp is currently soaring, and historically, they have had a positive record against Wolves in previous Premier League encounters. However, O’Neil’s team has demonstrated resilience particularly on their home ground at Molineux.

Despite Wolves’ recent loss to Arsenal, they maintained a sense of pride in their performance. While keeping a clean sheet might remain a challenge for the hosts, there’s a strong possibility of them halting Burnley’s momentum and bringing them back to reality with a potential victory.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: BetUS