Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Everton

Saturday, 27^th March – 15:00 GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: LLWDW

Once again Wolves came out and surprised the footballing world even if it was just a simple win at Upton Park against a fellow relegation threatened club. The way in which Wolves took the game to West Ham on Tuesday was outstanding, breathtaking at times, so much so that Wolves looked the home side on the night in a venue where the actual hosts should have rose to the platter. However, it was Wolves who were sensational from the word ‘Go’ and the three points were their just rewards for a 10/10 team performance. Now, though, they must do it all again and should they avoid defeat on Saturda,y against a team they drew 1-1 with in the reverse meeting, Wolves will extended their unbeaten run in the league to four games, what will be their longest unbeaten run in the league this season.

There’s plenty at stake for Wolves then this Saturday. None more so than the opportunity to put a healthy gap between them and the drop. Should they make it three wins from four games on Saturday, Wolves might put ten points between themselves and the relegation should others come a cropper, while it would put them within touching distance of the magic 40 point marker generally needed to confirm your Premiership status. However, they also have the opportunity to extend their unbeaten run in the league to four games – What would be a new high for the club this season after previously only managing three successive games without losing.

However, while returning home will be a buzz for some teams, for Wolves it won’t as their recent ability to avoid defeat has been solely done in away fixtures. In fact, bad results at Molineux had led them down the relegation path, but, fortunately for Wolves fans, their away form has let them off the hook massively, with the seven points they’ve earned from their last three away encounters allowing the club to take in a breather as those below them in the table become stranded. However, defeat on Saturday, what would be their third in succession at home, would drag Wolves right back into this relegation mixer. Something everyone at Wolves should be keen to avoid.

It must be said that while Wolves have suffered two straight home defeats in the Premier League both of them were against two of England’s finest in Man Utd (1-0) and Chelsea (2-0). To Wolves’ credit, they shouldn’t of lost either encounter as they had chances to at least share the spoils in both, especially the latter game with United. That has been a grey area for Mick McCarthy this season; Wolves’ poor finishing, with this factor especially being the case at home. Whether it’s the pressure of the expectant fans we don’t know, but Wolves have seriously struggled for cutting edge at home and have hit a brick wall in five of their last six home fixtures. Their 1-0 win over Tottenham back in February last month, a bolt out of the blue, produced a rare home goal from Wolves, their one and only up till now after 540 minutes of action at Molineux. 

Interesting Fact: Wolves have scored just once at Molineux in 540 minutes of play.

Everton

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: LWDWW

David Moyes would hardly contain himself after Everton’s sensational victory in Manchester on Wednesday, with their 2-0 win at The City of Manchester Stadium putting an end to the leagues last remaining unbeaten home record. We thought they might earn a draw away at Man City, while we didn’t rule out a surprising away win, yet Everton shocked us all with their sublime performance on a night where they put the cats amongst the pigeons as far as this race for fourth goes.

Everton were sensational on Wednesday. Arguably the best performance from Everton this season and it’s one that puts them right into this Champions League equation with Everton now just seven points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur who occupy that luxurious fourth spot. With Spurs playing Portsmouth elsewhere, there’s little chance of that gap reducing over the weekend, but it would be a crying shame should Everton lose ground on fourth after such an outstanding display against what is now one of their top four rivals in Man City.

To be honest, Everton’s victory in midweek shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise to most as Everton are the inform side of 2010. At least outside the top three anyway. Since welcoming in the new year, Everton have amassed eight wins from twelve games. It’s the sort of form which would of made them one of the favourites to finish fourth had they not dwindled so early on in the season. They’ve bucked up their ideas though in 2010 and my how they’re now reaping the rewards. Another victory on Saturday would make it three on the spin, their fourth in five league games, although their slim goal difference will hold them back should they win and Aston Villa (7^th) lose as Everton aim to carry on climbing the table. 

The priority now, not that it wouldn’t had they not gotten into this position, is to pick up as many points as possible in order to apply some pressure on those chasing some Champions League glory. One things for sure though and that’s Everton cannot afford to slip up as seven points is still a pretty big gap to bridge. The Toffee’s have a fabulous opportunity to make it three wins from three though at Molienux, a venue where their opponents have lost their previous two league fixtures at, but will all this European excitement get to the Everton players? After all, Everton have spent the entire season half a mile down the road in terms of their position in the league table so all this will be new to them, although they’ve been here before in previous seasons so should cope with the added pressure.

Match Verdict: Everton to WIN – 2.10 Boylesports

We’re going for the team who are blistering hot in the form book and that’s Everton, although only just considering Wolves are unbeaten in their last three league games winning two of them. It’s the Toffees though who get our vote as they’re continually picking up momentum with every hard fought result. They’re scoring goals yet look far more stable at the back now, while the confidence of the Everton players should be sky-high after dispatching of the only home record previously left in tact on Wednesday. Everton to continue where they left off for us, although Wolves will have something to say about that after two wins from their last three league encounters. However, both of those were away from home and Wolves have lost their previous two home encounters at Molineux. A run we fancy will continue on Saturday with defeat to an in form and resurgent Everton side.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 3.80 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 BetFred

Everton – 2.10 Boylesports

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Everton 2-0 Correct Score – 11.00 SkyBet

West Ham United V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Tuesday, 23^rd March – 19:45 GMT

TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1

West Ham United

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: WLLLL

West Ham manager, Gianfranco Zola, has already come out and described this fixture with Wolves as a ‘six-pointer’ and we wouldn’t disagree. The Hammers find themselves just three points above the relegation zone, while Wolves sit right above them in the table with one point more. Victory at Upton Park would be enough to leapfrog their match day opponents, but defeat would prove costly as the pressure down near the bottom really begins to heat up.

Form is a key factor heading into these types of fixtures, the ones where you just have to win, and West Ham have none of that after falling to their fourth defeat in a row on Saturday. The Hammers suffered their tenth away defeat of the campaign when losing 2-0 at The Emirates in a game where not only did they have superior numbers but also spurned a penalty. Like that old adage goes ‘When you’re down the bottom, nothing seems to go your way’ and that was perhaps the case for West Ham, although, in truth West Ham didn’t deserve anything from a game they did very little in. 

The manner in which West Ham lost at Arsenal was a big concern as any other side would have seized the initiative when gaining a man advantage. Not West Ham though, they did little in terms of troubling Almunia in the Arsenal goal, with Carlton Cole’s 20 yard effort onto the woodwork the best they could conjure. Zola didn’t have any wise heads in the centre of the park that could take the game by the scruff of the neck and pile some pressure onto the ten men of Arsenal. Someone like Scott Parker would have sufficed but he was unavailable for the trip to The Emirates but will be available for selection ahead of this crucial Wolves encounter, which is a huge boost for Zola as West Ham looked so lightweight in midfield it was unreal.

While The Hammers are in a poor vein of form right now, their form at Upton Park of late has been half-decent, even if they were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline in their last visit. Since the turn of the year, West Ham have picked up a total of 7 points from a possible 12 at Upton Park, with their 2-1 defeat to Bolton in their last home fixture their first defeat for seven games. That loss was a shame as West Ham were building up ahead of steam after back-to-back wins at home over Birmingham City and Hull City, but does that defeat to Bolton cast doubts over their ability to get themselves up for high-octane encounter such as this one?

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: LLLWD 

Mick McCarthy has seen plenty this season to be proud of his troops, even if they do go down. However, their form recently has improved greatly after a two game spree without losing. What’s more, their 2-2 draw at Villa Park last Saturday will have given the entire Wolves camp a huge lift ahead of this huge relegation clash with a side sat right beside them in the league table, West Ham United. 

Wolves were nothing short of magnificent on Saturday at Villa Park against one of their local rivals, Aston Villa. There will have been few who gave Wolves much hope of attaining any of the spoils at a venue where even some of the mightiest have fallen, but Wolves put in a shift worthy of survival. If only they could do that every weekend. To their credit they have been. Some of Wolves’ displays this season have been awe-inspiring from a club we thought had no chance of staying up this season. They create plenty of chances, their work rate is second to none while their team spirit is up there with the very best. 

The problem for Wolves has been converting chances, and holding their nerve in those crucial periods. They actually did the former well on Saturday. Scoring twice at Villa Park is no mean feat, with not even Chelsea, Man Utd or Liverpool managing that this season. However, it was the former that let them down this time as they failed to hang onto their one goal advantage as John Carew prodded home a Villa equaliser with just minutes left on the clock. The Norwegians goal was debatable, but even so, Wolves weren’t ship tight at the back, which was a crying shame as Villa weren’t exactly piling the pressure on. 

Defending has been an area for concern for Mick McCarthy this season, and it could be their downfall come the end of the season. We have no qualms with their forward play, although they don’t convert anywhere near as many chances as they should, but their defending needs to be sharper if they are to survive. In 15 away games, Wolves have conceded 29 goals. They’re shipping nearly 2 goals a game and haven’t kept a clean sheet since their sublime 1-0 win at Tottenham back in December, meaning Wolves haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven away outings.

What this all means is Wolves will probably need to score twice just to stand any chance of winning this game, which, considering they have major problems converting chances, looks a big ask. Then again, Wolves have scored exactly two goals in both of their previous two away encounters, scoring twice in a 2-1 win at Burnley and two in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, so Wolves are capable of hitting that elusive two goal marker, but surely they can’t make it a hat-trick of 2 goals scored?

Match Verdict: West Ham United to WIN – 1.83 SkyBet

West Ham’s form is dire while Wolves’ is impressive, yet it’s The Hammers who get our vote. Why, I hear you ask? Upton Park! We know West Ham lost their previous six-pointer clash with Bolton but that was a miserable display from Zola’s men that day, what we hope was a blip as some of their earlier efforts at home were promising, with West Ham on a two match winning role before the defeat. Their forward line has been bolstered, even if some aren’t available for action, while the return of Scott Parker to the midfield makes West Ham a whole new proposition as now they have a natural born leader, someone who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive his team towards the finish line. His presence will prove the difference we hope, while Carlton Cole‘s finishing should hopefully claims all the plaudits.

We wouldn’t completely discourage anyone from having a punt on Wolves. After all, they are unbeaten in their last two away ventures. Moreover, their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday will have given the players bags of confidence that no game is beyond them, especially one such as this against a West Ham side far inferior than that of their last opponent.

Match Odds:

West Ham United – 1.83 Skybet

Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 5.10 Expekt

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Carlton Cole FGS – 6.00 StanJames

Aston Villa V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday, 20^th March – 12:45 GMT

TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1

Aston Villa

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: DDWDW

Villa gave their Champions League ambitions a big boost with victory on Monday night in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with the three points earned at the DW Stadium against Wigan doing little to bolster their position in the table but it did keep them in touch with the main chasing pack, with Martin O’Neill’s team now just three points off fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur, although the team dressed in silky Claret colours have a game in hand over Spurs, which could prove decisive come the end of the season. 

On paper, this fixture with their local and bitter rivals Wolves, does represent a fabulous chance to register yet another win, adding another vital set of three points onto the board. However, form generally goes out of the window in Derby encounters, although class is permanent and often difficult to bridge and that should be the case on Saturday as Villa look to impose themselves on a fixture they should win fairly comfortably.

Their form heading into the Derby is strong, with Villa having gone eight games unbeaten in the league following their success at Wigan Athletic last Monday. However, their form is cluttered with draws and the reverse of this fixture did actually end in a draw at Molineux (1-1), a result which wouldn’t go down at all well with the Villa locals should this game end in a similar scoreline. It’s a game Villa should definitely win on paper and they have to back that statement up with a performance worthy of claiming all three points on Saturday.

Villa weren’t at their scintillating best on Monday, which is a concern, while even more alarming is reading that Aston Villa have won just one of their last five league games at Villa Park. Home form is so crucial when you’re having to battle for a worthy cause, with Villa’s being Champions League football, and O’Neill’s men need to step it up a few notches if they want to be considered as strong candidates for that fourth position, especially at home. Their recent fixtures at Villa Park have been tough mind, which is perhaps one excuse they could use, but they were emphatic in their last outing at home when hammering Burnley 5-2. They didn’t start at all well in that game , with Burnley sneaking into an early lead and a similarly bad start on Saturday could see Villa fall behind once again, if they’re not careful and alert from the off.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: WLLLW 

Wolves will be looking to build upon their recent success enjoyed at Burnley, winning 2-1, by making it an audacious two wins in two with victory at Villa Park against an Aston Villa side with strong claims for Champions League football next season. Mick McCarthy’s men should hold little fear though, as Wolves held Villa to a 1-1 draw back at Molineux in October, while the last time these two met at Villa Park was seven years ago in a 3-2 corker, with Wolves unfortunately losing out on that occasion.

The Orange of Wolves were on the prowl at Turf Moor last Saturday, and their hunger for all three points drove them to a three point success. It must be noted that both of their goals were largely down to good fortune, but it wasn’t as though Wolves didn’t deserve all the spoils in a contest where they enjoyed just as many clear openings as the home side, it was just Wolves were the more clinical of the two. However, this victory of theirs won’t completely overshadow Wolves’ poor away record in the league, especially as the victory was against a hapless, and on the decline, Burnley side. 

That win in Lancashire was pivotal though as it ended a five match run without winning away from Molineux. The three points will also help their relegation cause significantly, with Wolves now three points clear of the drop, while it should also provide the entire camp with a boost in confidence. However, Mick McCarthy was keep his players heads firmly on the ground as it was just a victory over struggling Burnley, a side third from bottom in the table, while it still doesn’t cover up their away flaws, with Wolves an ordinary outfit when playing away from their comfort zone of home.

Victory over Burnley was their third away win of the season, their first of the year, but before then they were struggling for goals on the road, and have done for the majority of the campaign. Since the start of the season, Wolves have found the back of the net just thirteen times in fourteen away outings, which might not sound bad to some but for a side which do create plenty of chances, it’s a concern for us punters as you just can’t rely on Wolves’ forwards to stick the ball in the back of the net. Even their goals on Saturday was fortuitous, so there is still a lot of work to be done in that final third before Wolves can really be competitive in this type of fixture.

Match Verdict: Aston Villa to WIN – 1.40 PaddyPower

While Wolves have shown plenty of hunger and perseverance in their recent encounters, Villa’s superiority in the quality department should see them prevail in the battle of the Midland teams. To boost the claims from the home side, Villa had to work so hard in their last fixture, that 2-1 win at Wigan, and shown plenty of battling qualities needed for a fixture of this stature. The likes of James Milener and Ashley Young down the wings should be too much for Wolves, while it wouldn’t surprise us at all to see John Carew, providing he starts, stick one in with his head as Villa are one of the best crossing teams in the league.

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 1.40 PaddyPower

Draw – 4.50 VCbet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 9.50 SkyBet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: John Carew Last GoalScorer – 6.00 BetFred

Burnley V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday, 13^th March – 15:00 GMT

Burnley

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: WLLLL

The Clarets are in desperate need of points but have been given the idealistic fixture to pick up maximum points as they host 17^th placed Wolves at Turf Moor. It’ a fixture they must win however, as this looks to be their easiest remaining home assignment. They will have to battle on without Steven Fletcher though, the clubs top goalscorer, but Burnley have been scoring goals of late, although they haven’t picked up a point in any of their previous four league games, which is a massive concern despite their apparent ability to regularly get on the score sheet.

Burnley’s performance at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday was pleasing in some respects, mainly just from an attacking point-of-view as Burnley had a good three or four chances to score, more than most sides get at the Emirates, yet they converted just one of them. However, a disturbing sight was just how easy Arsenal carved open that Burnley defence – the worst defence in the Premier League – and were Nicklas Bendtner not in such a wasteful mood, Burnley could have left London with a more emphatic defeat.

The clubs poor away form is there for all to see and will probably be what kills their Premiership status come the end of the season, having lost thirteen of fourteen away fixtures thus far, so the pressure is beginning to build every time Burnley take to the field in their home encounters as they now any dropped points will be costly, although even their home form is starting to desert them. In their last seven home games, Burnley have notched up just one, solitary victory with that coming in the form of a 2-1 win at home to West Ham. The euphoria at the club after that brilliant start has withered away, while the confidence of the players is almost stone dead, so it’s hard to see where Burnley will get their inspiration from as they have no recent results to be positive about.  

It’s their defence which has our alarm bells ringing, with goals being conceded in regular concessions, even at their beloved Turf Moor. Not since their 2-0 victory at home to Hull City, back in October, have Burnley kept a clean sheet in a home fixture, conceding in each of their previous seven games at home. Moreover, to add insult to injury, they were even beaten by the team rock-bottom of the Premiership in Portsmouth in their last home outing, which just goes to show how far Burnley’s tables have changed, with even their home form, what is a lifeline for them, rapidly diminishing.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LWLLL 

A familiar pattern is beginning to form; Wolves play out of their skin against their Premiership opponents, hit the wood work a few times before succumbing to the inevitable defeat. You would think backing against Wolves is easy money going by their recent run of results, but that hasn’t been the case as their performances of late have merited so much more than just defeat after defeat. There is little room for sympathy though as Wolves now drop even closer to the relegation zone, with only a superior goal difference keeping Wolves on safe ground. Defeat at Turf Moor, however, could see Wolves fall back into uncharted water, so it’s about time Wolves became clinical for once. 

Mick McCarthy must feel he and his hard-working Wolves team are cursed at the present moment in time after yet another valiant display on Saturday, only this time at home to the reigning champions, Manchester United. Wolves played so well that no-one would have bemoaned a Wolves win, which just about says everything you need to know, with a point was the least they deserved. Of course, as per usual, they came away with nothing, no points and zilch to show for their efforts as their unfortunate spell of results extends to three defeats in a row.

Surely a win is just around the corner as Wolves are playing some of the best football in the Premiership right now, and that’s us biting our tongue after earlier in the season rating Wolves as one of the poorest footballing sides in the league. Their last three games have been tough assignments on paper; two home fixtures with Chelsea & Man Utd and an away venture at Bolton. All of which Wolves should have scored a good few in but managed nothing in, once again. It’s not as if half-chances are going begging, it’s glaring missed, chances any other side would put away with their eyes closed, which does make you think that perhaps Wolves are just doomed, a club stricken with relegation fate and that their brief stint in the Premiership is coming to another abrupt end. 

If Wolves carry on where they left off; creating tonnes of chances and work hard, then a win will come eventually, perhaps even at Turf Moor as now is the ideal time to play a hapless Burnley. However, backing Wolves just seems too precarious so long as their baron run in front of goal continues, with their fruitless evening at Molineux on Saturday the third game on the spin where they hadn’t managed a goal. Add this to the fact that Wolves have failed to score in four of their previo9us six away fixtures and you’ll be forgiven for having reservations over a Wolves team ironically playing their very best football at the moment but still not reaping any rewards as a direct result.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

The draw was the only viable option as we couldn’t back either side with any great deal of confidence. In fact, with both teams enduring miserable losing runs, the draw looks a stunning bet as neither know how to win a game of football on present form, and while a draw probably wouldn’t be a bad result for either considering it would put an end to both sides losing ruts. If we had to pick one side then it would be Wolves simply because they are creating a lot of chances and it’s a just a case of when and not if they’ll score a good few in a single game. They’ve been simmering in front of goal for a while now, but will Turf Moor be the venue where Wolves boil over and unleash their forward wrath? We don’t think so as a stalemate is the call.

Match Odds:

Burnley – 2.38 Coral

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 3.30 Expekt

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Half-Time to finish in a Draw – 2.20 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Manchester United

Kick-Off: Saturday, 6^th March – 17:30 GMT

TV Coverage: ESPN

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: DLWLL

One of the more ominous fixtures in the calendar for Wolves is that of Manchester United’s visit to Molinuex. It’s a game which will certainly capture the imagination of the locals but it’s also one which does have a touch of nostalgia about it as United’s last visits to Molineux in a Premiership affair wasn’t a pleasant, no, instead it was a memorable occasion for those Wolves in Orange when on the 27^th August, 2003 Wolves beat the 18-time English champions 1-0. That’s been their only meetings with the mighty Red Devils since, so that victory seven years means Wolves are unbeaten at home against Man Utd and in fact hold a 100% record over one of the greatest teams in English football history.

Mick McCarthy wont hold fond memories of the reverse meeting with Manchester United though, after that infamous night where the former Republic of Ireland coach fielded a team of Wolves reserves in a fixture he, and apparently the rest of the squad, believed was one they had absolutely no chance of getting anything from. The club were consequently fined for what we felt was a joke of a decision but one that was justifiable in that this is a 38 game season, where tactics are a huge part of winning and surviving, and the option to rest any number of players should be at the discretion of the manager, but that’s a long rant we’ll leave for another day.

Will he field a stronger side on Saturday – Certainly, but does he honestly think his squad, of whom he clearly underrates by the sound of it, can overhaul the reigning English champions at Molineux – Certainly, and so do we surprisingly. Their recent displays would suggest a big result in the offing and whom better than Manchester United to suffer their wrath. The stumbling block, and it’s a huge one in football terms, is Wolves just can’t seem to win the games where they dominate and play by far and away the better football. They were dogged at Bolton at the weekend, hitting the woodwork on numerous occasions but leaving The Reebok with zilch. The same happened in their last home fixture when they lost 2-0 to Chelsea, Undeservedly we must add.

Wolves have little problems carving open what was a vulnerable Chelsea defence at the time and they could have yet more success in that area against a shaky United defence. Sticking the ball in the net though is an art Wolves have yet to master, with their baron spell in front of goal now two games long. It’s nothing to be overly concerned about but their failure to score at Bolton last Saturday was the thirteenth time they had failed to do so this season. It’s been an ever present thorn in Mick McCarthy’s side that his Wolves side, one which do create plenty of wonderful chances, simply can’t put the ball in the net on a more regular basis. 

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: WWDLW

The United camp will be in a buoyant mood after their jubilant weekend. While the Carling Cup does little to turn on the majority of England, Manchester United were certainly the proud owners of a new trophy last Sunday when they came from behind to beat Aston Villa in the final at Wembley. Sir Alex Ferguson will have high hopes of attaining plenty more silverware this season, with the Premiership being his top priority, and, if that’s to be the case, surely only a win will be acceptable at Molineux this coming Saturday. 

It was that man again, Wayne Rooney, who stole the show at Wembley when he fired up yet another header, his sixth header in eight games I believe, to the Carling Cup title and United’s first silverware for the season. While their performance on the whole wasn’t great, with defensive cracks apparent, the success should be all that matters and it will hopefully be the platform to bigger and better things this season. At least that’s what the United fans are thinking.

It’s back to business now though, real business, no fancying around in a competition which we honestly believe lost it’s mojo decades ago. The league is every English sides bread and butter and the United camp must get straight back to doing what only they know best, winning league games. However, while their last two competitive fixtures have been ones they’ve thoroughly enjoyed; Winning 3-0 at home to West Ham in the league and 2-1 in the Carling Cup against Aston Villa, their recent away outings have been nightmares. On their previous two away ventures United have failed to win, with Man Utd’s only away win in four coming at the Emirates against Arsenal.

As the old adage goes though, ‘You’re only as good as your last game’ and if that’s to be believed then United fans are in for another long day. The last time Fergie took his troops to battle away from base camp Old Trafford they were beaten in a resounding manner. Everton gave them a right good hiding at Goodison just a fortnight ago, winning 3-1, and it intriguing from a neutrals perspective to see just how well, if well at all, United respond in their very next away test. They are fortunate in that their next away assignment is an easier one than their last but if the Red Devils don’t turn up the heat on Wolves then it’s them who could be left with burnt fingers.

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.35 Expekt

This is us playing safe really on the basis that while United did lose on their last outing, they actually know how to win a game of football whereas their opponents don’t. Despite winning just one of their last four away from home, United have still won just as manager games on the road as they haven’t; Winning seven of fourteen away fixtures. Wolves, however, while their best stuff has come at Molineux, just don’t seem capable of mustering a win of this calibre. They did, though, put Tottenham to the sword only a few weeks ago at home when etching out a 1-0 victory, but while they proven a difficult side to overcome at home this season, they still look inept on paper. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Wolves enjoying large periods of this game, creating plenty of chances, hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions before losing 1-0. It’s been that sort of season for Mick McCarthy, whereas his opposite number has just enjoyed a cup winning weekend and we expect his good fortunes to continue.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 11.00 Boylesports

Draw – 5.00 SkyBet

Manchester United – 1.35 Expekt

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Dimitar Berbatov FGS – 4/1 SkyBet

Bolton Wanderers V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday, 27^th February – 15:00 GMT

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LDLDL

Relegation threatened Bolton go hunting for their first win six games when they entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Reebok stadium in a fixture they have every chance of winning. Their form, though, heading into this meeting with Mick McCarthy’s Wolves isn’t great, not winning in five games, but four of their last five league games have been away fixtures, while Bolton have lost just one of their last six at home in the league, so don’t be too disheartened by their poor recent form and perhaps we should be more encouraged by their more cent efforts back at The Reebok.

It’s fair to say that Bolton are in a sticky situation in regards to their position in the Premier League table and their recent lapse in form. Not since the end of January have Bolton won a league game, while they’ve only managed five wins all season. With so few wins it’s unsurprising that the club are so far down the table, while only time will tell if the appointment of Owen Coyle was a correct one. They are playing much better under Coyle, and by that we mean they’re more attractive on the eye – something the fans demanded after years of torment under Gary Megson, the fans description of events at Bolton and not ours. However, whereas Gary Megson’s aggressive style of play with Bolton sometimes forced his way into the points jar, Owen Coyle’s graceful preference doesn’t seem to be getting Bolton very far, with just one win under his belt thus far.  

Since Coyle took over the reigns from Gary Megson, Bolton have picked up just five points from a possible thirty. They have had some tough fixtures mind, most of them away from home in fact, but while we could excuse them for not picking up as many points as they perhaps should of, the fact remains that defeats can have huge implications and the morale of any dressing room and that’s a big concern for Bolton who haven’t won any of their last five in the league. It’s a run which will only get worse with every bad result,. On Saturday, though, Bolton have a golden opportunity to end their drought with a home against an average Wolverhampton Wanderers side. If Bolton are to build up ahead of steam then they need a quick victory and the arrival of Mick McCarthy’s Wolves’ represents the perfect opportunity to jump straight on the road to redemption.

If we’re brutally honest, Bolton simply cannot afford to drop a single point in this fixture. This looks to be one of their easiest games left to play as they have some tough remaining fixtures left to play. Wolves have an average squad, with very few players standing out as Premiership quality, so Bolton need to put them to the sword on Saturday. Victory on Saturday could do wonders for team morale and it could be the platform for a survival push. However, lose this fixture and Bolton must surely be serious relegation candidates.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: DDLWL

Last week Mick McCarthy and the unenviable task of somehow getting a result against the current Premiership leaders, Chelsea. It was a game where most, us included, thought Wolves were no-hopers, that Chelsea would steamroller their way past Mick McCarthy’s side at Molineux, although that was far from the case. Wolves took Chelsea apart at the back and actually found good goalscoring opportunities fairly easy to come by. However, their flaw on Saturday, what has been their Achilles hell for the entire season, was their inability to convert the many chances they did create, with some appearing clear cut. Nevertheless, the performance, against what is the best team in England judging the league table, was very pleasing for Mick McCarthy and he and Wolves will now try their luck against a team more on their level in Bolton Wanderers.

Considering Wolves have won just two away games all season, it’s hard to imagine thembeing victorious on Saturday, despite Bolton shaping up as a more feasible challenge. However, the slim two victories Wolves have enjoyed this season are two more than some teams have managed this season, so perhaps somewhere in their locker there is a match winning performance waiting to be found. On the same token, though, Wolves have fallen to three defeats in their last four away ventures; losing at Liverpool (2-0), Manchester United (3-0) and Birmingham City (2-1). The latter game, however, was yet another encounter where Wolves deserved far more than the zilch they got, with Wolves actually sitting on a 1-0 lead for the majority of that game before two late strikes from Kevin Philips. That was the last occasion Wolves went travelling in the league and it remains to be seen how the players will respond to that bitter defeat.

To our dismay, this Wolves side, one which doesn’t boast too many quality players at first glance, do actually know how to create chances, decent ones as well. However, actually sticking that round we like to call a ball through those white sticks is an art Wolves haven’t exactly mastered as of yet. Their tally of eleven away goals isn’t the worst, but it’s far from ideal. But, like music to the ears of Wolves supporters, their team have scored three goals in their last two away outings,so perhaps Wolves are slowly beginning to get into their stride and perhaps we should expect a few more goals from Wolves in their upcoming outings.

Credit where credits due; Wolves have faired so much better in this league then we could ever of imagined at the start of the season. They’ve been a match for most teams this season, which really shouldn’t be the case when you breeze through their list of squad members as neither stand out as anything special. However, the problem with Wolves is they just don’t know how to win a game of football. It’s a terrible trait, the worst in fact, and one which will scare all the punters away from backing them. The plus point is they have already won a league fixture in February, that being a sublime 1-0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but they’ve now gone over three months without a win on the road and we’re having difficulties believing that Wolves will end their poor run this Saturday by beating a desperate Bolton side at The Reebok.

Match Verdict: Bolton Wanderers to WIN – 1.95 Boylesports

In the battle of the Wanderers, will Wolves be found ‘wandering’ once again? Well, we certainly think so, or would like to think so. We won’t be touching the game if we’re completely honest, but if we had to have a wager on either side then it would be Bolton purely because they have the potential, match winners if you like, in their squad to win a game of this magnitude and should come on strong at The Reebok. While Bolton have only played at The Reebok once this month; home is certainly where the heart is as far as Bolton are concerned, with the vast majority of their 23 points coming from home games. So, surely, just surely, they will bolster their tally on Saturday, boost their cause, with a much needed win over a Wolves side in close proximity to themselves.

Match Odds:

Bolton Wanderers – 1.95 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 4.50 SkyBet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Bolton Wanderers to WIN to NIL – 3.25 BlueSquare

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Chelsea

Saturday, 20^th February – 15:00 GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: LDDLW

Wolves fans will be surprisingly optimistic about their teams chances on Saturday as they welcome league leaders Chelsea to Molineux knowing that they beat Tottenham Hotspur in their previous fixture. Very few gave them much hope of winning that game, which does include us, but they did, although while they may have bags of optimism after that scalp, Chelsea will probably prove a step too far for Mick MCCarthy’s men. 

Mick McCarthy won’t care in the slightest where the points come from just that they do. However, even he will admit that beating Tottenham Hotspur in their last fixture, a side challenging for the top four, is a sublime result and a credit to his players and staff. It was also a league double over Tottenham after Wolves earned a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane a few months ago. However, while the result did give the players something to brag about, the most important factor was the three points lifted the club out of the bottom three and onto safe ground, with Wolves now a point above the drop zone. On the same token, however, defeat on Saturday, one which is expected, would leave Wolves vulnerable to dropping back into the relegation zone once again.  

If we’re completely honest, Wolves are fairing a whole lot better than we initially expected and the credit has to go to the players and the manager. However, the problem which is there for all to see is that Wolves don’t pick up enough points in a block basis, which, in other words, means they simply aren’t consistent enough. They do, without a shadow of a doubt, try their utmost in games and give 100% for the cause, but Wolves are a side prone to lengthy spells without picking up too many points, whilst they’ve only managed back-to-back wins once this season.

Scoring is also a big cause for concern for Mick McCarthy as his forward line looks extremely blunt and predictable, with basically Kevin Doyle leading the line on his lonesome. The Irishman is battle-hardened and does work his socks off but he will need plenty of support against a strong Chelsea defence. After all, Wolves aren’t even averaging one-goal-a-game at home this season. On just three occasions have they scored two or more goals at Molineux, while they’ve failed to even find the net in six of their thirteen home league fixtures. It’s a statistic which won’t go down well with wolves support but it’s a statistic which could stretch further after the visit of table-topping Chelsea.  

For Wolves to even stand half-a-chance of nicking a point in this fixture, Mick McCarthy will need to be far more adventurous then he has been in recent weeks. He prefers to play with a lone striker as he likes to pack the midfield. However, that looks a catastrophic tactic against a strong Chelsea midfield, one which can overrun just about any midfield in the world. He needs to go with two up front and use the wings, especially now that Chelsea don’t have Ashley Cole at full-back. The full-back areas are where Chelsea could be exposed and it’s an area Mick McCarthy will need to look into as a possible Chelsea weak spot.

Chelsea

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WWDWL

It’s back to the drawing board for Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea as they fell to just their fourth defeat of the season when losing 2-1 at Goodison Park a little over a week ago. It was a really poor performance from a usually consistent Chelsea, even on the road, but that was their fourth away defeat of the campaign and while Wolves represents an easy enough assignment on paper, Chelsea will still need to have their wits about them and apply themselves in the proper, professional manner if they are to regain that winning feeling at the first time of asking. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea were given a dose of the blues against Everton in their last league fixture, falling to a bitter 2-1 defeat, It was a game Chelsea were second best in for most parts, which isn’t something you hear a lot about Chelsea, and they duly got they deserved which was nothing. While they did briefly threaten, even taking the lead midway through the first half, Everton were by far and away the superior side while Chelsea remained relatively lethargic throughout, spending the majority of the second period on the back foot. It was actually a worring sight as we’ve not seen the Chelsea midfield overrun and out battled like that for quite some time. However, Wolves is arguably the perfect opponent to exact some domineering tactics in the midfield and regain some of the confidence that might have been lost with that disappointing defeat and poor display.

They did respond well though, when winning 4-1 at the weekend against Championship side Preston, although even then they were made to work far harder for the win then they should have. Cardiff even took a 1-1 draw into half-time with them, which just goes to show that perhaps the Everton defeat is still hanging over them. They did eventually get their act together and were comfortable winners come the final whistle, but they weren’t at their convincing best once again so perhaps Chelsea aren’t quite worth their short odds despite the inferiority of their opponents.

Still, while there are small niggle of concerns surrounding Chelsea at this moment in time, we mustn’t forget who they are playing and that Carlo Ancelotti still possess some of the worlds best players. Frank Lampard will look for an improved performance in himself after disappointing at Everton while Didier Drogba has been a right handful in just about every game he’s featured in this season and will surely cause a Wolves defence which has conceded seven more than they’ve scored at home all sorts of problems.

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 1.36 Ladbrokes

While Chelsea haven’t been at their best of late, probably the worst we’ve seen them for quite some time actually, they should still have far more in the tank to see off an average Wolves. The Chelsea midfield does need to show a lot more vigour in the centre of the park mind, and they will need to stamp their authority by keeping the ball for large periods of the game. Wolves will give it their all just like they always do but Chelsea have too many quality players on the pitch to oppose them against what is a weak Wolves side which will do well to score against Chelsea.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 11.00 Bet365

Draw – 5.50 BlueSquare

Chelsea – 1.36 Ladbrokes

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Chelsea to WIN to NIL – 2.10 BlueSquare

Birmingham City V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sunday, 7^th February – 13:30 GMT

Birmingham City

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: DWDLD

Finally… After fifteen games, twelve of which were Premiership fixtures, Birmingham fell to defeat as Chelsea ended the clubs most impressive run in it’s history by beating Birmingham 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, just over a week ago in what was a comfortable evening for the London outfit. However, that defeat was so nearly followed up with another when they went mere minutes away from falling to their second defeat in quick succession at home to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, eventually drawing 1-1 via an injury time equaliser. The defeat to Chelsea has perhaps got the Birmingham squad rocking but they have a very easy assignment on Sunday when they aim to make a return to winning ways by welcoming the only team that finished above them in The Championship last season – Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Alex McLeish didn’t have much luck in January, with Birmingham not managing a win that month and several of their bids for some high profile individuals being turned down by various clubs. The Scotsman has quickly come to the conclusion that Birmingham aren’t as strong in the final third as he would like. However, he could only watch on with despair as bids for Ryan Babel & Roman Pavlyuchenko got rejected by Liverpool & Tottenham respectively. To be fair, it wasn’t surprising that McLeish did target some forwards as Birmingham, despite previously enjoying a glorious unbeaten run of twelve games in the league, have looked very weak up top in front of goal, with the last time Birmingham scored two or more in a Premiership fixture coming back in December when they beat Blackburn 2-1 at St. Andrews. They have since failed to surpass the one goal marker in their last six league games and their finishing on Sunday against Spurs was the evidence to back up their poor goalscoring antics this season.

Although their unbeaten run did come to an end a little over a week ago, Birmingham are still undefeated at St. Andrews since the 26^th September, 2009 when they lost 2-1 to Bolton. They haven’t lost a league fixture in front of their home fans in eight games; Winning 4, Drawing 4. However, although this home run of theirs is still alight, they haven’t won at home since the middle of December, drawing their last three home fixtures. Then again, all were against stiff opposition; Chelsea (0-0), Man Utd (1-1) & their latest being Tottenham Hotspur (1-1). All three draws would look worthy results on anyone’s results list but Wolves are one of the weakest teams in the league and questions will be asked of their mental toughness were they not to win on Sunday as doubts will arise over whether Birmingham are still feeling the affects of their Chelsea heartache. 

On face value, and the way Birmingham have gone about their business for most of this season, this should be a home win, although we don’t think it will be a walk in the park as Birmingham don’t win games comfortably. We’ve mentioned this fact, or run, so many times and until it changes we won’t stop mentioning it as it’s a possible moneymaker – All of Birmingham’s nine victories in the league have been by a 1 goal margin, with six being 1-0 wins. That’s a staggering statistic as you could of made a fortune betting on Birmingham to win by one goal this season. Also, Birmingham did beat Wolves 1-0 at Molineux earlier in the season… We think a predictable pattern has been formed!

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LLLDD

This losing trend of theirs has come to end and has been halted by a pair of draws, two decent ones as well. Mick McCarthy will pin his hopes of his sides draws with Liverpool & Hull City building some momentum as they will need plenty of it heading to St. Andrews. The incentive though, as if they needed one with the club so perilously close to the relegation zone, is to avenge the defeat they suffered at the hands of Birmingham back in November when they lost 1-0 at Molineux. However, that defeat catapulted Wolves into winning three of their following four league games and they’ll be hoping a win over Birmingham will send them on their way onto another point baring run.

Wolves have had to work damn hard in their recent outings, frustrating Liverpool at Molineux in a goalless draw and then giving Hull a good scare at The KC last Sunday, earning a 2-2 draw. The draw wasn’t the best of results as it was a game they could of won on paper, but it did, nevertheless, add a vital point to their cause and it does mean Wolves are now unbeaten in two, which could be the start of a prosperous run, and so long as they avoid defeat on Sunday, Wolves will equal their longest unbeaten run this season of three games with at least a point in this contest. 

The stumbling block, when deciding whether or not to have a punt on Wolves, is just where and how their goals will be scored. Their strikers simply aren’t cut out for the Premiership, even Kevin Doyle who has been their shining light this season, and this has been evident all season. The Wolves’ have scored just 19 league goals this season, averaging under a-goal-a-game and their two goals at Hull last Sunday ended a four match run without scoring a league goal. However, their goals on Sunday weren’t without a bit of good fortune, with their first being a freaky own goal and their second coming from the spot. So, in reality, Wolves still haven’t scored from open play in over 450 minutes of Premiership football.

We feel it’s asking too much of Wolves to win at St. Andrews this Sunday as we can’t see them scoring to make this a competitive affair. Their best option is playing for the draw, but they won’t do that as they will feel this is a fixture they have every right of winning. However, Birmingham have one of the leanest defensive records in the league, home and away, and it will take some doing outscoring Birmingham on their own patch. Still, we mustn’t forget Wolves did produce one of the shocks of the season when they beat Tottenham 1-0 at White Hart Lane, so, miracles can happen?!

Match Verdict: Birmingham City to WIN – 1.85 Expekt

We don’t like backing draws unless it’s too close to call and we wouldn’t feel comfortable wasting any money on a Wolves punt so Birmingham get the nod to make a brisk return to winning ways at Wolves’ expense. We think it will be close, with another one goal margin victory perhaps on the cards for the home side, but we can’t see Wolves breaking down a tough and robust Birmingham defence, and then sticking it past one of the goalkeepers of the season, Joe Hart, and so the preference is for Birmingham City of whom don’t score too many goals themselves but one goal on Sunday really should be enough to see off a weak looking Wolves.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 1.85 Expekt

Draw – 3.50 Boylesports

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 5.00 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Birmingham City to WIN by 1 Goal – 3.60 Bet365

Hull City V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday, 30^th January – 15:00 GMT

Hull City

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: LLDDL

There will be several must win games between now and the end of the season for Hull City but none perhaps more so than this fixture with Wolves at The KC. Winnable fixtures don’t come around too often if you’re a Hull fan and this fixture with Wolves is just about the easiest they’ve have to put three vital points on the board. However, Hull’s form heading into this must win game is dreadful, having not won in the league for nine games and going a whole two months without a Premiership victory.

For Hull to stay up this season they will need to notch up a handful of victories at the KC stadium, home of the Tigers, and this does appear their easiest remaining home fixture of the season. It’s also a fixture they just have to win if they are to harbour any season survival ambitions as the task looks a tough assignment for Hull considering they’ve looked a lost side since the season kicked into life. They have registered just four league wins since August, the lowest amount of wins (a shared honour), a statistic which just reinforces how significant getting a win this weekend is. 

The problem for Hull is that they couldn’t hit a barn door at present – simple as that. Their best goal haul in recent weeks was scoring two at Bolton, just the fifth time they has surpassed two goals in a game all season. That rare surge of goals is their only positive goal-baring game since November, and the Tigers have managed a lethargic three goals since the beginning of December, that’s three goals in eight games. That’s a dire goal ratio, probably the worst I’ve seen since Derby were strutting their stuff in the Premiership back in 2008. However, you would have to fancy their chances of at least bolstering what is a ridiculous goal tally at home to a Wolves team which has kept just two away clean sheet thus far.  

The basis equation in football is you need to score to stand any chance of winning, and scoring isn’t something Hull are much good at, merely adequate. However, Wolves are on a plate for them to go out and enjoy themselves in front of goal but they haven’t found the net, neither home nor away, in over 360 minutes of Premiership action and that will only have an adverse affect on the confidence of their strikers. Still, there will not be an easier fixture for them for the remainder of the season and we think they’ll just edged this one.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: WLLLD

To be fair, the same rule applies to Wolves in that this game with Hull is a must win as it’s one of their easiest remaining fixtures of the season. Plus, it’s a game that’s certainly winnable and three points would do Wolves the world of good as the relegation zone beckons. Their confidence levels should have risen a few levels after their midweek results; a 0-0 draw with Liverpool, so perhaps Wolves are the team to be on and not a hapless Hull City. 

Wolves performed brilliantly on Tuesday night in nicking a point against Liverpool. We watched that game from start to finish and it was hard to recognise which side were the five time European winners as Liverpool were well below par while Wolves performed far better than expected. A point was a fabulous result as it end a run of three straight defeats for Wolves in the league. However, it still didn’t hide the fact that they haven’t scored a league goal since the middle of December when they beat Burnley 2-0 at home. They’ve gone four league games without a goal, aiming to surpass the goalscoring lows of Hull it would seem, and just like Hull that’s a huge negative for any potential punter,

If we’re completely honest, we can’t see Wolves winning this game and we think they’ll do well to take a point away from the KC stadium. Throughout the course of the season they’ve been a poor away outfit, with a couple of miracle results still not managing to hide their apparent away flaws. In ten away games thus far, Wolves have avoided defeat just four times, losing six of ten. They have also lost three of their last four away games in the league, although all three were to ‘Big Four’ teams. Still, it’s a tall order for Wolves but it’s not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.

Match Verdict: Hull City to WIN – 2.30 Boylesports

Neither side can afford to pass up this opportunity but home advantage has swung it for us as we plump for a home win. Hull’s form at The KC will be crucial in how their fare this season in terms of staying up or being relegated. They’ve struggled for the majority of the season, winning just four games. However, all four did come on home soil and you’d bet your life on Phil Brown getting his squad fired up for this encounter as it is a six pointer if we ever seen one. Hull will, however, need to locate the Wolves goal, Which is a big ask in itself.

Match Odds:

Hull City – 2.30 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 3.25 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Hull City to WIN to NIL – 4.00 totesport

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Liverpool

Tuesday, 26^th January – 19:45 GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LWLLL

Wolves will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing draw in the FA Cup with Crystal Palace by snatching some points away from Liverpool. Molineux will be the setting, an ideal setting for Wolves fans, but Mick McCarthy’s side have struggled to make home their own this season and, with Wolves already losing more than half of their home fixtures thus far, surely there can’t be too many fancying their chances in this contest.

Mick McCarthy rang the changes on Saturday as Wolves took on Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Cup. McCarthy made seven changes in all, almost a completely different side to the one that lost 2-0 in their last league outing at home to Wigan Athletic. A lack of chemistry between the players did tell as Wolves had to come from behind, TWICE, to salvage a draw and keep their FA Cup dreams alive. However, it does now mean that Wolves have an extra fixtures, a replay at Palace, just over the horizon and that could be a distraction for the players and leave McCarthy having to field a stronger side for the replay. 

The biggest problem we’ve noticed, at least from a far, is that Wolves haven’t been scoring enough goals, and freely. This is especially the case at home in games they should be asserting themselves in. With eleven home games completed, Wolves have only managed nine goals at Molineux and the fact they’ve failed to score in five of those eleven is a major concern. The strikers they have at the club haven’t made the cut in the Premiership, with Kevin Doyle & Ebanks-Blake being their main strikers but yet both seemingly appear out of their depth, with Doyle having 5 league goals to his name and Blake just the one.

Another negative, and there does seem to be a few too many, has been the results and overall peformances from Wolves against the ‘elite teams’ shall we say. Man City (1-0), Arsenal (1-4), Chelsea (4-0), Man Utd (3-0) & Man City (0-3). All were defeats, while some included some extremely poor displays from Wolves. There were, however, occasions where Wolves did play OK; their game with Man City being one of them, but they’ve ended up losing games even though they performed to a satisifactory level, and that’s a sign of a club destined for trouble. Moreover, against the so called ‘Big Four’ this season, Wolves have conceded thirteen goals in four games and that’s alarming as a rejuvenated Liverpool come to town to pay the Wolves a visit.

Liverpool

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: LWWDW

Liverpool gave their Champions League aspirations a big boost when they recorded a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, one of their main top four contenders, at Anfield. Rafael Benitez, who has been under fire throughout most of the campaign, has now guided his side to a four match unbeaten run and he will surely be expecting to extend that run to five on Tuesday night, although a draw simply won’t do as the Reds’ are still playing catch up in sixth position. A million miles away from where they expected to be at the start of the season. 

Because Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup by Reading a fortnight ago, Rafa & Co had the weekend off, whereas Wolves were in action against Crystal Palace. Mick McCarthy did rest a whole host of first team players but will that be enough to bridge the gulf in class between the two sides. Well, Wolves performed extremely well when the pair met in December at Anfield, although their efforts were in vein come the end as Liverpool won 2-0. However, Wolves were far from disgraced in that meeting, meaning Liverpool didn’t play well. They did, however, do just enough to earn all three points but they were fortunate on two levels. The first being their home advantage while the second was the sending off of Stephen Ward midway through the second period. Although the second part was out of their hands, Liverpool will have to do without a large home support and that could be a huge factor.

To be perfectly honest, anything other than a comfortable win would be a poor showing. They are expected to win this at a canter and they should do just that considering they have plenty of good form behind them. At least in the league. Their exit in the FA Cup would have hurt the players but they bounced back with a tremendous win over one of their main rivals for the season in Tottenham, beating Harry Redknapp’s side 2-0 on the night in a game where Liverpool’s players put in one of their biggest shifts of the season. It was the first time in a long while where the players actually worked as a team and battle hard even without their talismanic duo of Steven Gerrard & Fernando Torres. However, the boost for Liverpool fans is that the former, Gerrard, could play some part in Tuesday nights affair as the England international has made a return to training.

There is no excuse for Liverpool for not winning this encounter. They are superior in quality and have by far the better form heading into Molineux’s clash. A four match unbeaten run consisting of three wins and a draw may not seem a lot for a club like Liverpool but they’ve been short of confidence for the best part of the season and this recent vein of form should be the momentum they need to kick on and push the likes of Tottenham & Aston Villa for a top four finish. The possible return of captain Steven Gerrard will be a welcome boost but will it be enough to shake off their poor away record this season? In their last outing they could only manage a 1-1 draw at Stoke City, albeit suffering a late equaliser, but the alarming statistic is that Liverpool have won just two of their last eight away games, even falling to defeat at Portsmouth last month.

Some may say it’s Liverpool who have it all to do…

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.73 PaddyPower

We have two side who can create plenty of decent goalscoring chances but neither have been particularly good in front of the sticks. Wolves are seriously short of quality in attack and that has resulted in them not scoring nearly enough goals, while Liverpool do have some form of talent up top but prefer to pass up the easy chances, Dirk Kuyt being the main culprit. However, give Liverpool enough chances and they will usually take one of them and that could be enough to see of Wolves in a game which could be tighter than some anticipate.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 5.50 Bet365

Draw – 3.75 VCbet

Liverpool – 1.73 PaddyPower

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Dirk Kuyt FGS – 6.50 PaddyPower