Wolves vs. Brighton
Venue: Molineux
Kick off: 4PM
Wolverhampton Wanderers play host to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten domestic streak to five matches.
Although Wolves are having to contend with an increasingly demanding schedule, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side continue to remain a factor in the race for Champions League places.
There was a time after the turn of the year when the West Midlands outfit looked outsiders at best to gatecrash the top four, but eight points from four matches have put the club on the brink of moving level on points with Chelsea.
Given the increased expectations at Molineux, it remains to be seen how Nuno and his players will react to the added pressure of trying to break new ground for the club at a pivotal time in their development.
Nevertheless, it is hard for anyone not to be impressed with a team who can often be compared to a relentless juggernaut, like they showed during last weekend’s 3-2 success at Tottenham Hotspur.
Not for the first time this season, Wolves overturned a deficit to claim all three points against one of the division’s top clubs, but now they must show a different side to their game in order to overcome a struggling Brighton team.
While seven draws have come from their last 14 outings in all competitions, the Seagulls have won just once during the same period, which came on New Year’s Day against lowly Bournemouth.
The drop in form has led to Graham Potter’s men being left in a group of six teams who are directly involved in a relegation battle, while also just one win from potentially moving away from the drop zone.
With Arsenal and Manchester United to follow the meeting with Wolves, the schedule is unrelenting for the South-coast outfit, who at one point were a fixture in the top half of the table.
Despite failing to find the back of the net against Crystal Palace last weekend, Brighton’s biggest problem is recording a clean sheet, something which has only occurred once since November 10.
Wolves possible XI: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Vinagre, Neto, Jimenez, Jota.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible XI: Ryan; Montoya, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Propper, Stephens, Mooy, Gross, Trossard, Maupay.