Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Southampton - prediction, team news, lineups

Wolverhampton Wanderers play host to Southampton on Saturday afternoon still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season.

At a time when the home side are in the relegation zone, the Saints sit in mid-table courtesy of recent wins over Leicester City and Chelsea.

Match preview

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Even with Bournemouth having conceded nine goals to Liverpool and being without a permanent manager, Wolves supporters would have still been pessimistic about their team finding the back of the net on the South Coast.

They were eventually proven right as a mixture of several missed chances and a failure to convert possession into a win led to a goalless draw being played out between two out-of-form sides.

While Bournemouth would have been ecstatic with the share of the spoils, Wolves would have viewed it as two points dropped as they remain without a victory in five Premier League fixtures this season.

Just two goals have been scored - one of them being netted within the first six minutes of the new campaign - and Bruno Lage may not get the patience that he has requested for Wolves to improve in the final third.

Taking 2021-22 into consideration, Wolves have now not prevailed in their last 12 top-flight games, and a meeting with the Saints is the last match before a double-header of Liverpool and Manchester City.

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In sharp contrast to the negative vibe at Molineux, Southampton supporters have been pleasantly surprised by the upturn in fortunes at their club in recent months.

Although Ralph Hasenhuttl has opted for youth over experience in the transfer market, Southampton's prospects have starred during the opening weeks to help the club to seven points from a possible 15.

Either side of a spirited defeat at home to Manchester United, the Saints have overcome Leicester and Chelsea, both from losing positions.

While Hasenhuttl will not get carried away, the Austrian will acknowledge that the foundations have been laid for a season away from the relegation zone.

He will also feel that Southampton head into this encounter at the right time to right the wrongs of losing both games to Wolves in 2021-22.

Team News

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Providing that he receives a work permit and visa, Sasa Kalajdzic is expected to feature in the Wolves squad, likely among the replacements.

However, Lage could freshen up his side after naming two unchanged starting lineups in succession with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Daniel Podence both pushing for recalls.

Nelson Semedo and Goncalo Guedes may be the players to drop out of the side, although Jonny and Pedro Neto will also come under consideration.

Meanwhile, Southampton will make at least one alteration with Romeo Lavia due to spend several weeks on the sidelines with the injury that he sustained against Chelsea.

Joe Aribo will be recalled in his place, with Ibrahima Diallo dropping into a more defensive midfield role, but the rest of the team should stay the same.

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sa; Jonny, Collins, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Nunes, Neves, Moutinho; Podence, Jimenez, Neto

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu, Perraud; Ward-Prowse, Diallo; Elyounoussi, Aribo, Armstrong; Adams

We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Southampton

With Wolves looking devoid of confidence in the final third, we cannot back them to take advantage of playing at Molineux at the weekend. Nevertheless, there is also a feeling that their luck must change at some point, leading us to predict a low-scoring share of the spoils against opponents who are growing in confidence.

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