A big Midlands derby, and one that at the start of the season might have been pegged as a potential European decider. It technically still is, but only for one of the teams. Whilst Wolves have spent much of the year chopping and changing key club positions and fighting relegation, Villa have only went from strength to strength under Unai Emery. Can they continue that great form in the Black Country?

Wolverhampton Wanderers News

Wolves are going to be without a few players. One player who is likely out is Nelson Semedo, joining Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho on the injury list. Boubacar Traore is also likely to miss out, though he has rarely played for the Midlands club this year.

Aston Villa News

Aston Villa are without a few players, too, and will be without Leon Bailey, Boubacar Kamara, Matty Cash, and Philippe Coutinho. That is a pretty significant number of players to be without, and it could be pretty impactful as the game progresses.

Emery is missing too many players to make major changes, though, so expect a similar or identical line-up to the one which lost at Old Trafford.

Verdict

A tough one to call this, with Wolves in need of a reaction after a 6-0 destruction against Brighton and Hove Albion. Villa have seen rivals for European spaces win, too, and they need to get something back on the board after losing while Liverpool won. Expect a tough encounter here, but with Villa a long shot for UEFA Champions League qualification it might actually be Wolves who have more to prove.

Score Prediction: 2-1

Given both sides have been relative powerhouses in the Midlands over the last few years, nobody expected either club to be battling relegation. The sacking of Brendan Rodgers and Bruno Lage, though, sees both teams come into this game under different managers than they started the season with. While Lage left before the 2022 World Cup, Rodgers only left recently. Can Leicester get some kind of new manager bounce under Dean Smith?

Leicester News

The Foxes come into this one with the knowledge that they have both a poor recent record in the league and a tremendous record against Wolves. They have not even so much as conceded a goal against their Midlands rivals in the last four games at the King Power.

They are likely to be without a few key players, though, and a run of eight losses in the last nine means the Foxes come into this one very much the hunted. Smith and his coaching team of Craig Shakespeare and John Terry will need to get creative to field a competitive side here.

Wolves News

Wolves have been, for the most part, decent under Julen Lopetegui. A pair of wins against Brentford and Chelsea has propelled the Wolves up the league table, and they now sit in the relative comfort of 13^th spot. Three unbeaten and with three wins in their last six, too, Wolves come into this with a rare blend of decent form, upward mobility, and a relatively fit squad.

Verdict

Without being harsh, Leicester look dreadful. They have barely put up a fight for most of 2023, and the sacking of Rodgers has done little to galvanise the squad. Whatever the problem was, it was not the cup-winning coach. Wolves are not special by any means, but they bought-in fully to new coach Lopetegui’s system and look primed for another result here.

Score Prediction: 0-1

Sitting in 14^th spot, you would assume that West Ham United are feeling comfortable with life. Following a 5-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United and then a surprising win at Fulham, things are pretty up and down for the Hammers. A Thursday night draw with Gent in the UEFA Europa Conference League keeps the dream of another European last four appearance alive, but points are needed in the league. Are they going to find those points at home to the potential champions?

West Ham United News

West Ham have, for once, a relatively clean bill of health. The only player who is going to be missing is Gianluca Scamacca. The Italian is suffering from a knee knock and will miss this game. It does mean, though, that West Ham are picking from more or less a full squad aside from their Italian No. 9.

That bodes well for David Moyes, who has grown used to mixing and matching squads this year.

Arsenal News

Arsenal are missing a few players, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny both missing for this game – and likely the season. Eddie Nketiah is almost certain to miss out, while William Saliba is unlikely to recover from an injury in time. Both players are close to a recovery, but it is more likely they will be back in the team next weekend as opposed to this.

Verdict

A tough game awaits for the home side, who are going to need to start picking up some points at home in the near future. With Arsenal dropping points last weekend at Liverpool, a return to winning ways this weekend is imperative. Luckily, they are playing a Hammers team who have been pretty average at home and have used up valuable energy in their European exploits midweek. Expect the Gunners to win comfortably.

Score Prediction: 1-3

Like last year, most fans would have expected this to be a dream title match-up like we enjoyed last year at the Etihad. Instead, Liverpool are floundering outside of the top four and Manchester City are struggling to stay level with Arsenal. This game could provide a major challenge for both sides, and dropping points could be terminal for their respect seasons. So, what happens?

Manchester City News

Manchester City are going to be without two of their most potent threats in Phil Foden and potentially Erling Haaland. The Norwegian missed international duty with his country, which seen them struggle in their first European Championships qualifiers. Foden is out with post-appendix surgery recovery, but other than this City should not be missing any players.

Liverpool News

Liverpool are facing an injury crisis of sorts, with Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, and Joe Gomez all ruled out for the medium-to-long-term. Darwin Nunez and Kostas Tsimikas are struggling to get fit enough for the game, too, which only further weakens the hand of Jurgen Klopp. While Luis Diaz might be back in the squad, it is unlikely he will be risked due to the likely intensity of the fixture.

Verdict

Liverpool have been horrendous away from home, and it is likely that they will get run over here. The Reds have rarely turned on the biggest occasions away from home this season, and this is not likely to change – even with City missing so many key attacking players, a comfortable home win feels likely.

Score Prediction: 3-1

Signed as another one of the raft of young Portuguese talent at Molineux, Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto is a real livewire. Coming through the vaunted Braga youth system, he spent time in Italy at Lazio before arriving in England. After a slow start to his time in the country, though, Neto has become one of the foremost exciting attacking players in the Premier League.

Zippy and decisive on the ball, the 21-year-old shows vision, decision making, and matchday understanding far beyond what most would have expected.

What makes Pedro Neto worth watching?

For one, he has successfully played out wide, up front, and in central midfield whilst continually delivering great performances. In fact, some of his best games in the team have actually arrived from a central role. His off the ball movement, dribbling with pace, and ability to pass and finish under contest is one of the most exciting things about Neto.

His pace is one thing, but Neto makes a difference with his ability to drive on and off the ball, his ability to cut in behind defenders, and his interesting array of finishes from slotted finishes to blasted curlers.

Things to improve for Pedro Neto

Really, the only thing Neto needs to add to his game is even more goals and assists. He works hard enough going back the way for a ‘luxury’ player, arguably more than many would have expected. He gets his team involved in the game, he gets the team up the pitch, and he can take a set-piece. If Neto could double his already impressive goals and assists tally, he would be well on his way to being the best player at Wolves.

Given his age and his massive improvement under Nuno Espirito Santo, more development is an absolute certainty.