Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to clash with Burnley in the second round of the Carabao Cup 2024-25 at the Molineux Stadium. Wolves enter this fixture on the back of a disheartening 6-2 defeat to Chelsea, while Burnley arrive after narrowly losing to a 10-man Sunderland in their previous encounter. Both teams will be eager to turn their fortunes around in this cup tie, adding an extra layer of intensity to the upcoming match.
Wolves have had a varied experience in the six seasons since earning promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship in 2017-18, marking their first return to the top division since 2011-12. They excelled in the first two campaigns back in the top tier of English football, finishing seventh in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, but have failed to replicate that success in the subsequent years. Since then, Wolves have finished 13th, 10th, were involved in a relegation battle in 2022-23, ending just seven points above the drop zone in 13th, and most recently placed 14th.
Gary O'Neil took charge just days before the 2023-24 campaign after Julen Lopetegui departed the club over financial concerns, and he appeared set to guide the team to a comfortable top-half finish as they sat 10th on matchday 29. However, Wolves suffered an extremely disappointing end to the season, losing eight of their last 12 fixtures and slipping down to 14th in the table, leaving O'Neil with ambitions of a first top-half finish since 2021-22 this year.
Wolves have endured a less-than-ideal start to the 2024-25 season, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in their opener, followed by a humiliating 6-2 loss at home to Chelsea. After those two results, O'Neil will be desperate for his side to pick up their first win of the new term against Burnley, who Wolves have only beaten once in the last nine meetings.
Burnley enter into this game under difficult circumstances, with 16 players having left the club so far this window and rumours of more departures before the transfer deadline, leaving Scott Parker's side with a concerning lack of squad depth. This was glaringly obvious in Burnley's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in their most recent outing, where they had to name two goalkeepers and three youngsters on a bench of just seven players, while central defender Luke McNally was sent up front in an attempt to chase an equaliser.
That defeat to Sunderland ended Burnley's perfect start to the Championship season, impressively beating Luton Town 4-1 and Cardiff City 5-0 in Parker's first two games as manager, marking a strong start to a campaign with aims of returning to the Premier League after last year's relegation. Parker will be hoping Burnley can address their squad depth issues in the remaining days of the transfer window, while the new manager will be aiming to return to winning ways against Wolves on Wednesday.
Wolves Hoping for a Rebound
Wolves are keen to change their fortunes, especially after a poor start in the Carabao Cup and a dismal showing in the Premier League, where they’ve lost both of their opening matches. In their first fixture at the Emirates Stadium, goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka ensured Arsenal took all three points, leaving Wolves empty-handed. Their second outing was even more troubling, suffering a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of another London side, Chelsea. Wolves will approach this Carabao Cup match with a desperate desire to revive their season, hoping to recapture lost momentum and kickstart a turnaround.
Wolves Players to Watch
Jorgen Strand Larsen scored his first goal for Wolves against Chelsea on Sunday. The Norwegian man played very well and his link-up play almost led to a few goals. He proved difficult for the Blues defence to deal with, linking multiple times with Matheus Cunha and grabbing himself a goal. The pair will look to link up well again against a weaker defence and grab more goals. His positioning and awareness was also impressive and caused many problems in and around the box. He is the type of out-an-out striker that Wolves have been crying out for since the departure of Raul Jimenez.
Larsen is also quite a physical player and can use his pure power to outstrength his man. As Burnley are quite a physical side, he might be the key to breaking down their back line, and continue to link up with other attackers to score.
Burnley Aiming for an Upset
Burnley FC, widely regarded as one of the top contenders for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season, have been under pressure to meet high expectations in the Championship. Currently sitting fifth in the table, Burnley made an impressive start to their campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Luton Town, followed by a 5-0 demolition of Cardiff City. However, their momentum was disrupted in a surprising twist when a 10-man Sunderland side handed them their first defeat of the season.
Despite this setback, Burnley are determined not to dwell on the disappointment and instead focus on capitalizing on their next opportunity to bounce back. The upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers presents a perfect chance for Burnley to regain their form and confidence, especially against a Wolves side currently struggling. To advance, Burnley will need to rediscover their optimal level of performance and unleash their full potential to overcome a beleaguered Wolves team.
Burnley Players to Watch
Victor Alexander da Silva, widely known as Vitinho, embarked on his football journey with Cercle Brugge, where he amassed 72 appearances and netted two goals. His transition to Burnley in 2022 marked a pivotal point in his career, as he quickly established himself as a crucial player for the team, contributing four goals in just 16 matches. Vitinho’s role is particularly significant for Burnley as they aim to exploit the flanks effectively. He was an integral part of the Burnley squad that spectacularly clinched the EFL Championship title in the 2022-23 season, doing so with a level of dominance that left no doubt about their superiority. As Burnley gears up for their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Vitinho will be eager to replicate the exceptional form of the 2022-23 season, with aspirations of leading his team to an upset victory and further glory.
Key Players to Watch
Wolves will be without Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic as they continue their recovery from cruciate ligament injuries, with Gonzalez not expected to return until April 2025 and Kalajdzic likely to be back by late October. After a disappointing collapse in the second half against Chelsea saw Wolves concede four goals to lose 6-2, O'Neil could heavily rotate his team in search of a much-improved performance. Last weekend's goalscorers, Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen, have been shining lights in both of their two defeats thus far, and the pair could remain in the starting side here.
As for the visitors, Aaron Ramsey, Ameen Al Dakhil, Hannes Delcroix, Hjalmar Ekdal, Jordan Beyer, Mike Tresor and Nathan Redmond are all expected to be unavailable due to injury. Due to their lack of squad depth, a similar side to the one that lined up against Sunderland could be fielded against Wolves on Wednesday.
Looking Ahead
Despite Wolves going through times of tribulation, it is essential to understand that this side has the potential to get the better of any team on any given day. We expect Wolves to emerge victorious in the upcoming fixture and revive back their lost momentum.
Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Burnley FC
How to Watch the Game
India – Fancode
UK – Sky Sports+
US – TBD
Nigeria – TBD
Australia – beIN Sports 2
Canada – DAZN Canada
Japan – DAZN Japan
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