Wolves vs Brighton Preview

• Draw or Wolves win
• Over 2.5 goals

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ dramatic rise under Vítor Pereira has been one of the more compelling narratives in the latter half of the Premier League season. Although their six-match winning streak came to an end in the previous round with a narrow 1-0 loss away to Manchester City, Wolves’ performance was more than respectable, particularly considering the dominance of their title-chasing opponents.

The defeat, while disappointing, is unlikely to derail what has been a highly encouraging run of form. However, with little more than pride and positional prize money to play for in the remaining weeks of the campaign, questions will be asked about motivation and whether Wolves can maintain their intensity now that European qualification looks out of reach.

Home Comforts Key for the Old Gold

Returning to Molineux should provide a timely boost for Pereira’s men. Wolves have won each of their last three home matches in the Premier League – as many as they managed in the 15 before that combined (W3, D2, L10). That recent resurgence in front of their home fans is their best such run since May 2023, and a fourth successive home victory would further cement the positive direction of the team under new leadership.

However, the challenge increases with the visit of a top-half Brighton side. Wolves have struggled against sides higher in the table this season, with just four of their 20 home points coming against teams starting the matchday above them (W1, D1, L8). It’s a trend that suggests they’ve often fallen short when faced with higher-quality opposition in front of their own supporters.

Seagulls Still Chasing Europe

Brighton & Hove Albion make the trip to the Midlands clinging to hopes of sneaking into eighth place – a position that could bring European football depending on domestic cup results and UEFA allocations. Fabian Hürzeler’s side currently sit one point adrift of that potential golden ticket, though they’re hardly flying into the run-in.

Just one win in their last seven Premier League matches (D3, L3) has seen the Seagulls lose ground in the standings. Alarm bells will be ringing particularly due to their back-to-back away defeats, with the most recent coming against Ipswich and Arsenal. They haven’t lost three successive top-flight away matches since May 2021, and with the season nearing its climax, a repeat could be catastrophic to their continental ambitions.

Recent H2H Favour Brighton

If Brighton need a boost, they need look no further than recent history in this fixture. The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last six Premier League meetings against Wolves (W4, D2), scoring 18 goals in the process – an average of three per match. Even more impressive is their record at Molineux, where they’ve won their last three top-flight visits.

That H2H dominance suggests Brighton know how to handle Wolves, and if they can rediscover their scoring form, they could complete a league double over the Old Gold for just the second time.

Key Players to Watch

One of Wolves’ standout performers this season has been Rayan Aït-Nouri, a full-back turned attacking threat. No Premier League defender has been involved in more goals this season than Aït-Nouri, who boasts four goals and seven assists.

He’ll be full of confidence, especially after scoring in the reverse fixture, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Brighton’s threat may come from the lively Yankuba Minteh, who has shown a knack for early strikes – four of his last five goals have arrived before half-time. He’ll aim to exploit any gaps left by Aït-Nouri when the Algerian pushes forward, setting up a fascinating head-to-head battle down the flank.

Stat Pack and Prediction

• Hot stat: Wolves have already scored 51 league goals this season – their most in a top-flight campaign since 1979/80, when they hit 58.
• Brighton have kept just two clean sheets in their last ten Premier League matches.
• Wolves have failed to score only twice in their last 17 home league games.

Prediction: Brighton have the better H2H record and arguably more to play for, but Wolves’ recent home form under Vítor Pereira shouldn’t be ignored. Expect a close and competitive clash with goals on both sides. A 2-2 draw seems plausible.

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Wolves v Brighton, 2024/25 | Premier League