• Loading...
Loading...

Premier League Preview:Newcastle United vs Wolves,Game 21

  • FlashFootball 2025/01/15 03:12
  • 0

Premier League | Gameweek 21

Jan 15, 2025 at 7.30pm UK

St. James' Park

Newcastle vs Wolves


Match preview

Newcastle have taken two significant steps towards ending a trophy drought that has lasted almost 70 years, with one foot in the EFL Cup final and a date with Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round next month as a result of their efforts over the past week.


After capitalising on Arsenal's profligacy with their own ruthlessness in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, Howe's men did it the hard way in the FA Cup against Bromley as Lewis Miley, Anthony Gordon and Will Osula responded to Cameron Congreve's shock opener.


Not only are the Magpies chasing their first major trophy since 1955 - unless you count the 2006 Intertoto Cup as a significant piece of silverware - but five successive top-flight victories have propelled them into top-four contention in the Premier League.


Only Nottingham Forest have taken 15 points from their last 15 games in the Premier League, although Newcastle's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur two weekends ago was marred by a handball controversy that left Ange Postecoglou "the angriest I've ever been" after a football match.

While the apoplectic Australian raged, Newcastle were enjoying the fact that they had moved to within a point of fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table - at least until Tuesday night - and Wednesday's hosts have now scored at least two goals in each of their last 10 games in all competitions.


Newcastle's penchant for multi-goal games makes for an intriguing encounter with Wolves, who have the distinction of being the most entertaining team in the Premier League in 2024-25, with a league-high 76 goals scored in their games, 31 for and 45 against.


The Old Gold are yet to be involved in a top-flight game with fewer than two goals scored in 2024-25, and that theme continued in the FA Cup, where goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes sent Bristol City packing at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

Vitor Pereira's men have much bigger fish to fry in the top flight, however, with 17th-placed Wolves only above the relegation zone on goal difference at the time of writing after former boss Nuno Espirito Santo masterminded a 3-0 win over surprise package Nottingham Forest on 6 January.


That Forest defeat was the first and only one Wolves have suffered under Pereira's watch, and the 56-year-old has overseen a three-match unbeaten run away from home since taking over from Gary O'Neil, scoring at least two goals on each occasion.


However, the visitors' last win over Newcastle dates back to October 2021, and the Magpies are now unbeaten in six consecutive meetings with Wolves, who could now lose both their league games against the Magpies in the same season for the first time in 119 years.


Recent Performance


Newcastle United Premier League form:LWWWWW

Newcastle United form (all competitions):WWWWWW


Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:LLWWDL

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):LWWDLW


Team News

The only blemish on Newcastle's FA Cup win over Bromley was the muscle injury that forced Harvey Barnes off at half-time, and Howe admits the winger could be out for a month.


The Magpies were already without the injured quartet of Alexander Isak (thigh), Sven Botman (groin), Jacob Murphy (muscle) and Joe Willock (knock) for the third-round clash, but none of the four are believed to be serious and none have been ruled out for midweek.


However, Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Callum Wilson (thigh), Emil Krafth (shoulder) and Nick Pope (knee) remain sidelined for the hosts, who are holding on to Martin Dubravka for the time being as Al Shabab continue their pursuit of the Slovakian's signature.


While Newcastle will be hoping to have their star attacker back for Wednesday's clash, Wolves will have one of their own available, with Matheus Cunha having served a two-match ban and now available to lead the Old Gold's attack.


Pereira has also revealed that Nelson Semedo (hamstring) and Craig Dawson (calf) are ready to return, although he may err on the side of caution with the duo, while Mario Lemina is back from illness but has been heavily linked with a move away.


Toti Gomes (hamstring), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee), Enso Gonzalez (knee) and Yerson Mosquera (knee) are all still out, although there is a slim chance that Traore could be back in action before the end of the month.


Possible starting lineup


Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon


Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, Bueno; R. Gomes, Andre, J. Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Hwang; Larsen

Loading...
Try leaving your comments

0comments

  • Hot
  • Time

No comments available