Wolverhampton-Brighton is a match valid for the second day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 4 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Excellent disposals, taken for granted after the best season in the club’s history, seem not to have dented Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton, which in the first day of the championship had an easy time in the match against newly promoted Luton, overwhelmed 4-1 at the Amex Stadium.
Waiting for more probing tests, the Italian coach can be largely satisfied with the performance his men gave on their debut, in perfect continuity with those of last year. Brighton, despite the painful but lucrative departures of Caicedo (116 million), Mac Allister (42 million) and Sanchez (23 million), continues to have a clear identity: against Luton they recorded 71 percent of ball possession, shooting 27 times toward the opponent’s goal. In short, once again the Seagulls are a candidate to be one of the most spectacular teams in the Premier League. In the last 25 league games they have scored at least two goals on 14 occasions, showing that they have internalized the dictates of their coach’s game. Among the positive notes is that of Joao Pedro, who arrived for 34 million from Watford: the Brazilian, wanted very badly by De Zerbi, scored one of four goals, finishing on the scoresheet along with March, Adingra and Ferguson.
Brighton, which from September will also be engaged in the Europa League, now goes on the hunt for confirmation in the tricky Wolverhampton away game.
O’Neil cautioned by referee
The Wolves debuted with a defeat, but the chances of returning with points in their pockets from Old Trafford were indeed slim to none. The Black and Gold, however, lost by just one goal to Manchester United (1-0) and have little to complain about: until the very end they managed to hold their own against ten Hag’s team, repeatedly presenting themselves in front of Onana’s goal. Thus, there was no psychological backlash after Lopetegui’s farewell, which came as a thunderbolt a few days after the league opener. On the Wolves bench today sits Gary O’Neil, architect of Bournemouth’s salvation.
The prediction
There’s no doubt that Wolverhampton deserved at least a point at Old Trafford but it won’t be easy to repeat that kind of performance against a highly-launched Brighton side now playing from memory. Seagulls slightly favored in a match in which the hosts should also find their way to goal.
Wolverhampton-Brighton’s likely lineups
- WOLVERHAMPTON (4-3-3): Jose Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Joao Gomes, Lemina, Matheus Nunes; Sarabia, Cunha, Neto.
- BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Steele; Milner, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Gross, Dahoud; March, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
