Two European hopefuls come face to face at Molineux

Credit - Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

Wolves and Leicester City return from their Winter breaks and meet in the Midlands Derby.

Both these sides were tipped to challenge the so-called ‘top six’ for a place in Europe next season, and they have both lived up to these expectations.

Wolves are only four points off 5th placed Sheffield United and six points off Chelsea who are currently 4th, While Leicester City are 3rd in the league and hold a firm grip on the Champions League places.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are currently in the middle of a difficult fixture list however. The Foxes drew 2-2 to Chelsea before the break, and will then face Manchester City on Saturday week.

This is the start of a busy period for Wolves too. Their Europa League campaign resumes at the end of the month which could create a congested period for the Black Country side. But no doubt Nuno Espirito Santo will be confident that his side will be able to challenge for a second consecutive season in Europe.

A win for Leicester will see them move above City into 2nd and will strengthen their position in the top while a win for Wolves will close the gap on Chelsea to just three points, putting serious pressure on the blues, who face Manchester United on Monday.

These two drew 0-0 on the opening weekend of the season. But arguably the standout fixture was back in January 2019. Diogo Jota scored a hattrick in a thrilling 4-3 win for Wolves at Molineux.

Team News

For Wolves – Ruben Vinagre is out with a thigh injury, but Adama Traore is expected to return following a shoulder injury he picked up against Manchester United before the two-week break

For Leicester – Daniel Amartey has been sidelined with a long-term ankle injury. Matty James is close to returning to full fitness, Wes Morgan has an illness. Nampalys Mendy has a knee injury, Wilfried N’Didi could return to action following a knee problem. Ryan Bennett is illegible as he comes up against his parent club

Nuno Espirito Santo believes team spirit has contributed to Wolves’ season

“We keep on building because the spirit is there. The relationship among them, the way they gel, is amazing. We received new players and it’s important to integrate them and that’s the responsibility of the players that are already here, and my responsibility to promote this kind of environment.

“It was a chance to regroup and spend a nice week working. We started earlier than everybody and I think we worked well. I think it was good for us. We are positive about it, we want to compete like always, knowing it’s going to be a tough game.”

Brendan Rodgers knows there’s still a long way to do despite their comfortable league position

“There are still 39 points to play for, which is a lot. We don’t want to change. We can’t be thinking about being in the top four.

“We just need to concentrate on the next game.” We want to be the best we can be. We finished ninth in the previous two seasons. We find ourselves in the top four and deservedly so. Can we sustain that?”