Wolverhampton Wanderers host Southampton on Saturday at the Molineux Stadium. Wolves are coming off of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United and are in fine form. Last season’s Championship winners have played good football and sit comfortably in midtable with nine points from 18.
Southampton are four points behind Wolves and have collected just one win this term. Mark Hughes’ team has struggled in front of goal scoring just six times while allowing nine goals.
Southampton have experienced a number of injuries already this season. Strikers Charlie Austin and Shane Long have been the latest to struggle for fitness. Long will not play on Saturday leaving Hughes with fewer options at forward. Hughes will have Danny Ings, Manolo Gabbiadini, and Mohamed Elyounnoussi available for selection, however. Ings has been Southampton’s most prolific goal scorer. The on-loan Liverpool striker has tallied three of the Saints’ six goals.
Wolves’ only loss this season came at the hands of Leicester. Other than that loss, Wolves have performed well thanks to its collection of youth and experience. Striker Raul Jimenez leads the team in goals with two.
Joao Moutinho tallied the team’s lone goal a week ago to take points off of Manchester United. The former Monaco midfielder was one of the transfer signings of the summer. Moutinho has been excellent as the team’s playmaker. His leadership has been vital in Wolves’ early season performances.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has kept the same starting XI for each of Wolves first six Premier League games. If he starts the same side on Saturday it will equal the Premier League record. Wolves won the fixture 2-0. Santo has been fortunate not to have key players injured. Wolves will have their full complement of players on Saturday when Southampton come to town.
Wolves have scored just six goals this season, but they continue to play solid football. The team’s two wins were both by scorelines of 1-0. The team is grinding out games and doing enough to get points. Wolves’ last five matches have seen fewer than 2.5 goals scored.
Santo’s side haven’t lost at home since January 2018. Southampton don’t look likely of breaking that streak based on recent performances. The most recent meeting between Wolves and Southampton came in August 2017 in the EFL Cup.
Wolves will defeat Southampton and extend their Premier League undefeated run. Santo’s side isn’t your normal newly promoted team and a spot in the European places is a possibility.