The final fixture of Gameweek 9 takes place this Monday at 20:00 as 12th Wolverhampton Wanderers host 5th Southampton at the Molineux Stadium, the home side will be looking to pick up a win as they sit mid table whilst the visitors look to continue their good run of form.
Wolves are currently sitting lower in the table than they would surely like however one loss in their last five games looks to have given them a boost after they started the season rather poorly. Southampton also had a rough start but have catapulted themselves up the table not losing a single game since a 5-2 loss at home to Tottenham.
This fixture is going to be an important one for both sides as Wolves attempt to pick up the form they were in before a loss to Leicester just before the international break. Southampton are themselves like Wolves have been doing for the past few years now trying to get back into Europe and establish themselves as a secure Premier League side after multiple years of relegation battles and mid table scraps.
Head to head
The last time these two sides played one another it ended in a thrilling 3-2 win to the visitors Wolves back in January. In the history of the fixture there has been a total of 17 draws, Southampton come up on top historically with 27 wins to Wolves 23.
Players to watch
Wolves - Pedro Neto 🇵🇹 The 20 year old Portuguese forward was signed by the club from Lazio in 2019 for a fee within the region of £18m. At the time he was signed as an added bit of fire power to the already competent Wolves attack, now he finds himself the task of filling the boots of fellow compatriot Diogo Jota after his move to champions Liverpool. Similarly to the whole team Neto has started slowly this season with one goal and two assists appearing in all eight of Wolves Premier League fixtures. The young forward is no doubt talented and full of promise however we shall see if the weight of replacing Jota will be too much or will the Portuguese project at Wolves continue successfully.
Southampton - Theo Walcott 🏴 Former England golden boy Theo Walcott has arrived back at Southampton which can only be described as one of the stories of the season. Nearly fifteen years since he fist left the Saints for Arsenal in 2005 the former England international returns on loan this time under head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl. The 31 year old has had somewhat of an instant impact with two assists in four appearances but he will surely be eager to impress and score his first goal back at the club after being away for so long.
Managers thought's
Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo has been singing nothing but praise for Southampton recently "They are a very good team, good players, good manager. They play with good intensity". He also sees the fixture as a way of improving the way they play "We want to improve all the aspects of the game, knowing that it’s a big challenge in front of us. We always try to raise our standards. We want to embrace this challenge as a chance to play better.”
Despite his sides great form Saints manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has stayed cautious ahead of what he describes as a big challenge "We have another big challenge at the weekend, they are famous for their good mentality and never giving up. It's tough to go there and to take points." Danny Ings has also been topic of conversation with the forward out with a knee injury "Everybody must take responsibility without Ingsy. Without him we lose some quality in some situations and we have to handle it in a different way."
Preview analysis
There is no doubt that this upcoming fixture will be one to watch, Wolves though inconsistent are a side with great talent across the pitch particular within forward areas. Southampton however will be hoping to keep up their run of form but without Danny Ings may find it hard missing their main man up front. Should Mexican striker Raul Jiménez be firing on all cylinders the away sides defence may struggle to contain the 29 year old but with Danish centre half Jannik Vestergaard performing considerably well it will be a very tight contest at either end.
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