Wolverhampton Wanderers are having a fantastic return to the Premier League. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has led Wolves to seventh place in the Premier League and on the cusp of Europa League qualification through the league or FA Cup.
Burnley have not had quite the same stellar season. The Clarets are just two points off of the relegation zone having lost four straight league matches. Sean Dyche’s team has been outscored 11-4 during their four-match losing streak. Burnley have struggled to keep goals out of their net having allowed the second-most scores in the Premier League (59).
The Clarets have picked up 17 of their 30 points at home. Their last two matches at Turf Moor have ended in losses to Crystal Palace and Leicester City, respectively.
Wolverhampton Wanderers go into the fixture with a near complete compliment of players. Santo can select from a fully fit group of players for the away fixture which will help the top-seven club away from Molineaux. Santo will be without Ryan Bennett after the defender picked up an accumulation of cards.
The old gold team is just one point above eighth place Watford. Wolverhampton Wanderers can still qualify for the Europa League through their Premier League final table position. They can only qualify through the league, however, if they finish seventh and Manchester City win the FA Cup.
Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers have split their last six games with two wins apiece, two draws, and two losses apiece. Those meetings date back to 2010 in the Premier League, however. The clubs have often found themselves in different divisions. Wolverhampton Wanderers won their previous meeting this term, 1-0, at Molineaux.
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez scored the game’s only goal when the teams last met. Jimenez is in fantastic form. The Mexican international has scored three goals in his last three matches in all competitions. He was on target for Mexico during the international break and is brimming with confidence for the weekend.
Jimenez will enjoy playing against Burnley’s porous defence. The Clarets have conceded at least two goals in each of their last four games. Wolves’ last five matches have seen fewer than 2.5 goals scored. They do not score a lot of goals (38), but their defence keeps other sides out of the net (36).
Wolverhampton Wanderers can play Saturday’s fixture without pressure. The same cannot be said about Burnley, who are desperate to win and distance themselves from relegation. Wolves are in-form and they will continue their solid play at Turf Moor with a win. Expect fewer than 2.5 goals as Wolverhampton Wanderers tighten their grip on seventh place.