Wolverhampton Wanderers FC vs Southampton FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC vs Southampton FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Wolves, like their fellow bottom three companions Aston Villa and Leicester, are an established Premier League looking in trouble right now.

They are not scoring anywhere near enough goals to turn some decent play into positive results. We know that they have lacked significant firepower for several seasons, but the opening five games of this season have been particularly light.

Wolves would have seen their midweek clash against troubled Bournemouth as a way to hit back into form, but instead played out a goalless draw with the managerless club.

Southampton, on the other hand, appear to have discovered some form after a tricky start to the season. With two wins from their last three games, they have moved into a top half position. 

Even their defeat during that period, against Manchester United, was a close encounter. 

New signings Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Duje Caleta-Car could play their way into the manager’s thoughts this weekend.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     New signings could give this team a boost

     Won their last three matches against Saints

Reasons to be fearful:

     No team has scored fewer goals than Wolves’ two

     Being in the bottom three will damage player confidence

Wolves could bring their new striker, Sasa Kalajdzic, straight into their starting line-up here.

The former Stuttgart player, standing at 6ft 7in or over two metres, will add a presence to Wolves’ front line, although they will need to create the chances for him in the first place.

Another new signing, loanee Boubacar Traore, could slot into a midfield spot in Bruno Lage feels like shaking things up in the middle of the pitch.

Wolves have a good record against Hasenhuttl’s Southampton side, winning in each of the last three meetings with the club.

Can they finally win their first game of the season here and move out of the bottom three in doing so?

Star Man – Raul Jimenez

Southampton are the Mexican’s favourite club to play against, having scored five goals against them in five appearances. With Wolves desperately short of goals, can he fire them to glory here?

Southampton FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Two wins from last three games represents improvements

     New signings should strengthen the team

Reasons to be fearful

     Romeo Lavia will be a big miss through injury

     Have not kept an away clean sheet in their last 16 attempts

Many worried about Southampton before the season started, and wondered whether manager Ralph Hasenhuttl would be one of the first to lose his job.

Two games in, after a draw and a defeat, the pressure on his shoulders continued to grow.

After five games, however, things begin to look a little rosier for the Saints, with two wins under their belt. Victories over Leicester and Chelsea have propelled them up the table and spirits appear lifted.

Losing Romeo Lavia to injury is a big blow to their hopes, however. The talented midfielder will miss the next six weeks and it’ll be interesting to see how they cope without his presence.

The Saints’ away record is poor, both against Wolves and in general, so can they turn things around here?

Star Man – Che Adams

The striker is always full of running, which will help his side stretch this Wolves defence. He was brilliant against Chelsea without getting on the scoresheet. His energy can cause the opposition some problems here.