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