Gary O’Neil could gain an advantage over Luton Town by starting one Wolves player with Pedro Neto.
Wolverhampton Wanderers return to action this afternoon, as they travel to Kenilworth Road to play Luton Town in their sixth Premier League match of the 2023/24 season.
Gary O’Neil’s team fell 3-1 to Liverpool in their previous encounter, despite an excellent first-half performance before the Reds found top form and the hosts’ good work was undone.
With only one win on the board thus far, the Midlands club must take their chances against Luton Town, who are the only team left in the league without a point.
The Hatters have had a difficult start to life in the Premier League, which Wolves must capitalize on in order to continue to make their way up the league following an equally poor start.
What’s the most recent Wolves team news?
O’Neil confirmed ahead of the game that despite limping off the ground during the Liverpool defeat, he expects Rayan Ait-Nouri to play against Luton.
Due to his deadly link-up play with Pedro Neto, the Algerian had an impressive game against the Merseyside outfit and might be a crucial player for Wolves to have fit against today’s opponents.
The 23-year-old extended his remarkable form this season with an assist in 90 minutes against Jurgen Klopp’s side, earning himself a 7.4 Sofascore ranking, higher than anybody else in his team on the day.
The Portuguese star often troubled Liverpool’s defense with his blistering pace and ball-carrying abilities, as evidenced by him completing four of six dribble attempts in the game.
While Neto has the ability to harm Luton from wide areas, he wasn’t the only Old Gold player who showed out against the Merseysiders, with one man demonstrating he has all the tools to leave Rob Edwards’ side with another upset to swallow.
How did Jean-Ricner Bellegarde fare in his match against Liverpool?
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde made his Premier League debut against Liverpool last weekend after joining Wolves on deadline day from Strasbourg for £12.8 million.
The Athletic’s Thom Harris described the 25-year-old as “incredibly direct and uncomplicated” when in possession, and he maintained an 85% passing accuracy percentage in center offensive midfield against Liverpool’s high-profile individuals.
According to Sofascore, the £35k-per-week Frenchman attempted five dribbles in the centre of the pitch, displaying energy and technique that might harm this afternoon’s opponents if allowed space to roam.
Bellegarde was in good form for Strasbourg before to his departure to the Midlands, with two goals and two assists in three appearances in the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season.
His figures in his country highlight how dangerous he can be in the final third, which is supported by his overall performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side on his debut, which he did “very well” on the day, according to his boss.
After a rough start to the season, this afternoon’s game against a Luton club that appears far from ready to fight in the top division should be ideal for O’Neil’s side to find some form.
With Neto and Bellegard on board, Wolves’ chances of success are only going to become better…
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