#1 Time for a reaction… for both
A reaction after a loss is one of the more common rallying cries in football, but on Saturday there’s a clash – both teams need a reaction. Both Wolves and Tottenham were in midweek action and, despite being in different competitions, both suffered defeats. The old gold were punished for their disappointing second half, after competing well before the break at Anfield, and were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool. As for Spurs, they were shocked in the Emirates FA Cup, being beaten by Championship side Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Antonio Conte made six changes to his side for the trip to South Yorkshire, leaving the likes of Christian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane on the bench and they were made to pay.
It’s possible that priorities laid elsewhere for Spurs, with the battle for top four as competitive as ever this season and a Champions League showdown with AC Milan on the horizon next week. For Wolves, they have a free midweek ahead, meaning only two fixtures remain after the weekend before the next international break towards the end of March. Having suffered defeat to Bournemouth last time out at Molineux, Julen Lopetegui will want their home form to return. On West Midlands soil, the old gold have claimed four of their six Premier League wins, including in the two prior to Bournemouth against West Ham United and Liverpool.
#2 Strikers and their goals
Raul Jimenez has made his gradual return to the Wolves first-team fore under Lopetegui and he’s eyeing a first Premier League goal of the season against a side he’s enjoyed facing in the past. The Mexican has only scored against Everton and Southampton more times than Tottenham. Having struck home and away in his first season facing the north London outfit, he’s added a further two goals while in the capital, including in last season’s 2-0 win. Jimenez has scored three times in the Carabao Cup this term and came close to a Premier League strike at Fulham last Friday, so would love to end that run at the weekend.
As for Spurs, Harry Kane is, unsurprisingly, amongst the goals again this term. The England striker has 20 to his name this season, bagging the winner against Wolves in August and in last weekend’s win over Chelsea, but was partially rested in midweek against Sheffield United, featuring for the final 25 minutes. Heung-Min Son was given a start at Bramall Lane instead, but he couldn’t stop Spurs crashing out and is yet to bag against Wolves in his career. Wolves will hope that record continues on Saturday for the South Korean.
#3 On the treatment table
In his pre-match press conference, Lopetegui gave differing news from the treatment room. Hugo Bueno suffered a hamstring injury at Anfield on Wednesday and will be out for around three or four weeks, possibly keeping him absent until after the international weekend at the end of the March. That opens the door for Rayan Ait-Nouri or Jonny – Wolves’ other options on the left. Boubacar Traore and Hee Chan Hwang’s situations are improving, but Saturday’s game is expected to come too soon. That leaves Matheus Cunha, who missed the trip to Liverpool, but is back training and is expected to be involved against Spurs.
Tottenham have some long-term absentees. Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur all remain out, but Emmerson Royal has been passed fit to feature, having missed the trip to Sheffield with a knock. Conte has regularly utilised a back three system and will likely return to a similar team to the one which beat Chelsea, recalling World Cup-winning Romero re-joining the defence, last week’s goal scorer Oliver Skipp back in the midfield and Kane leading the line. One key absentee will be manager Conte himself on the side-lines however, with the Italian due to return to work on Sunday, hopefully completing his recovery from surgery last month.
#4 Strength in depth in midfield
An area targeted to improve in January by Wolves was the midfield and across the board, they’re enjoying themselves. Mario Lemina’s impact at Molineux has been significant. The 29-year-old has settled back into Premier League live with ease and his performances across February saw him earn the Castore Player of the Month award. Alongside him, skipper Ruben Neves continues to shine, while Matheus Nunes was heavily involved in Wolves’ goal at Fulham last week and is showing signs of his ability.
Joao Moutinho is defying his years, continuing to feature in each game, while a player at the other end of his career Joao Gomes received further good news on Friday. The 22-year-old, who scored on his Wolves debut at Southampton in February, was called up to the senior Brazil squad for the very first time. He could make his 2023 even better with a debut against Morocco on 25th March. However, before then he has work to do at Wolves and continues to provide a genuine option to Lopetegui, who is yet to hand him his first start – could Saturday be the day?
A message from our February #Castore Player of the Month 🗣
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 3, 2023
*Thanks to Nathan Collins for the applause 👏 pic.twitter.com/0q8vSIwgKx
