Wolves return to Premier League football for the first time in 2024 on Monday evening as Gary O’Neil’s side head to the south coast to take on Brighton & Hove Albion.
#1 In both camps
The spirits are currently high in the Wolves camp after the side extended their unbeaten run to five matches, which included booking their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a replay victory over Brentford – setting up a mouth-watering Black Country derby with West Bromwich Albion. Although many eyes from an Old Gold persuasion will already be on next Sunday’s cup clash, Wolves have an important Premier League clash to come first on Monday night, against a Brighton team which have been a thorn in their side in recent seasons. O’Neil will be missing some key players for the visit to the Amex, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Boubacar Traore and Hee Chan Hwang away on international duty, while Joao Gomes is serving the second match of his three-game ban following his FA Cup red card against Brentford. However, the return of Mario Lemina from compassionate leave and Pedro Neto coming through almost 60 minutes unharmed on Tuesday night will give the visitors a boost.
Brighton are preparing for their first Premier League outing following their warm weather training camp in Dubai last week, and it was a welcome break for Roberto De Zerbi’s side as it gave a chance for players to get some rest as well as try to recover from various bumps, bruises and injuries after the Amex’s treatment table was beginning to get a lot busier following the Christmas period. Experienced defender Joel Veltman is expected to be out until mid-February with a knee injury, while Solly March was back in light training in Dubai after a ? injury but remains some way off match fitness. Tariq Lamptey (thigh), Julio Enciso (knee) and Ansu Fati (thigh) are all expected to be out until February, while Simon Adingra and Karou Mitoma are on international duty, but both also sustained injuries which have delayed their appearances at AFCON and the Asian Cup respectively. Brazilian defender Igor missed the win against Stoke City after picking up a knock, but he should be fit for Monday night, as should Adam Webster, after he returned from injury in the second half of the FA Cup clash.
#2 Coming into it
Wolves have been in impressive form during the last 30 days, with O’Neil’s men currently unbeaten in their last five outings in all competitions, as well as having achieved three wins on the bounce in the Premier League. If the Old Gold were to claim victory at the Amex on Monday evening, it would be the first time the club has achieved four successive wins in the top flight since January 1972. However, Wolves have lost their last four Premier League meetings with Brighton – conceding at least three goals each time.
Wolves’ last three | W 3-2 Brentford (H) – D 1-1 Brentford (A) – W 3-0 Everton (H)
Following their stunning start to the season, which saw Brighton claim five wins from their opening six Premier League matches, the Seagulls have managed to win just three of their following 14 games. However, they are unbeaten in their last four, including an eye-catching win over Tottenham Hotspur in their last outing at the Amex, and boss De Zerbi is yet to not taste victory against Wolves, wining his three meetings with the Old Gold by an aggregate scoreline of 13-3.
Brighton’s last three | W 4-2 Stoke City (A) – D 0-0 West Ham United (A) – W 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Highlights from last night's @EmiratesFACup comeback victory against Brentford 🍿 pic.twitter.com/efIjekFvxU
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 17, 2024
#3 Since last time
Wolves 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 4 | 19th August 2023
Gary O’Neil’s Molineux bow didn’t go according to plan, as Wolves were well beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion in their home opener to the 2023/24 campaign. The Old Gold fell behind to Karou Mitoma’s August Goal of the Month winner, but the hosts enjoyed the better chances with Fabio Silva and Rayan Ait-Nouri passing up opportunities before half-time. But a spate of three goals just after the break put Brighton out of sight before Hee Chan Hwang got a consolation for the home side and Matheus Nunes was shown red, in what was to be his final act as a Wolves player.
Wolves’ XI | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Lemina, J. Gomes, Nunes, Neto, Cunha, Silva.
From the Wolves side which started against the Seagulls last time out, Nunes is no longer at the club following his move to Manchester City, while Silva has also left Molineux to join Rangers on loan two weeks ago. Every Brighton player who started against Wolves remain at the club, but Roberto de Zerbi has made additions since, with the signings of Carlos Baleba from Lille and Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona.
Brighton’s XI | Steele, Milner, Webster, Duck, Estupinan, Gross, Gilmour, March, Enciso, Mitoma, Welbeck.
#4 In the media
BBC Sport pundit and former Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Michael Brown has looked at how Wolves need to strengthen before January is over but believes the appointment of O’Neil in the summer has created a ‘real breath of fresh air’ around Molineux.
“Wolves have got resources, they play with confidence and they have also been able to sit in at times and withhold pressure,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website. “O'Neil would like to go into the transfer market to strengthen a couple of areas but he knows he is limited on funds. He might have to move a few out to do that, and that is what he’s looking to do.
“At the beginning of the season, people did not think Wolves had a chance and they could be the ones looking at relegation after his late arrival meant he did not get pre-season with them. But he has moved a few players around and got some results. His squad is looking stronger, but I still think he needs a bit of help. He needs a couple of players who can play how he wants rather than him looking at the squad and having to adapt to them.”
With speculation linking Brighton’s star young striker Evan Ferguson with a move from the Amex to Stamford Bridge during the January window, former Chelsea and England defender Glen Johnson believes the Blues would be ‘bonkers’ to pay the £100 million fee which has been reported.
“This Chelsea side at the minute needs an experienced striker. 100 per cent.” Johnson said as part of promotional work by bookies BetFred.com. “They need a big name that’s going to make their opponents fearful. Regarding Evan Ferguson, don’t get me wrong, he may eventually become the next big thing and I hope he does, but Chelsea can’t be spending £100 million on a 19-year-old.
“They have spent a fortune on youngsters already and they don’t have two or three years to wait. What are the chances that a 19-year-old is going to have the character and knowledge to be the main man for Chelsea? It’s highly, highly unlikely. In two or three years, he may be at the level to achieve that, but not right now because he’s not fully proven yet. £100 million for Evan sounds bonkers to me.”
