Wolves vs Tottenham preview, predictions & possible XIs
Wolves and Tottenham go into Sunday’s clash aiming to close in on the top four as well as preventing each other from pushing towards the Champions League places.
The hosts were unfortunate to lose this fixture last season, almost coming from three goals down to snatch a draw.
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They made up for it with a 3-1 win against Spurs at Wembley, which all points towards another thrilling encounter.
Read on for our preview, predictions, team news, possible line-ups and more.
When is Wolves vs Tottenham and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Molineux Stadium
Date: Sunday, 14 December 2019
Kick-off: 2:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Wolves vs Tottenham
29 December 2018: Tottenham 1-3 Wolves (Premier League)
3 November 2018: Wolves 2-3 Tottenham (Premier League)
14 January 2012: Tottenham 1-1 Wolves (Premier League)
10 September 2011: Wolves 0-2 Tottenham (Premier League)
6 March 2011: Wolves 3-3 Tottenham (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Wolves (WLDLD) 9-10 Tottenham (LWDWD)
Three fringe Spurs players who impressed Mourinho against Bayern – and three who didn’t
Tottenham’s final Champions League group stage game against Bayern Munich in midweek was a dead rubber with both sides having already sealed qualification for the knockout rounds, so Jose Mourinho used the match to give opportunities to a number of fringe players.
Some impressed while others didn’t, and those performances – good and bad – could have a bearing on which of them are used in rotation during the busy festive period.
In the ‘good’ category, three players stood out. Juan Foyth wasn’t perfect at centre-back, but he was calm and confident on the ball. With Toby Alderweireld’s future far from resolved, Foyth could find himself playing more regularly in the near future. Oliver Skipp came off the bench and pressed with more intensity than any other Spurs player. The teenager may offer Mourinho a solution to the central midfield conundrum. Best of all was Ryan Sessegnon, who took his goal superbly and proved he can deputise on the left wing if anything happens to Heung-Min Son.
As for the ‘bad’ column, Kyle Walker-Peters looked out of his depth. He could have done with more help, but his slackness in possession and inability to thwart Bayern’s wide players won’t have done him any favours in his quest for minutes. Danny Rose – who has lost his place at left-back to Jan Veronghen under Mourinho – was equally poor, failing to clear the ball convincingly on multiple occasions and struggling to get forward. Then there was Giovani Lo Celso, who played his part in the move that led to Tottenham’s goal but found himself chasing shadows for most of the game. He has a long way to go to prove his is worthy of a starting spot.
Team news
Wolves
Morgan Gibbs-White (back) and Willy Boly (fractured leg) are still out for Wolves, who had the likes of Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota missing from their Europa League starting line-up in midweek (the former being suspended) – Jota, though, still managed to score a hat-trick from the bench. The star players should return here.
Predicted XI: Rui Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Otto; Traore, Jimenez, Jota.
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Tottenham
Mourinho will recall the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane, who were rested for the trip to Germany. Harry Winks (ankle) and Tanguy Ndombele (groin) are doubts, while Hugo Lloris (elbow), Michel Vorm (calf), Ben Davies (ankle) and Erik Lamela (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Predicted XI: Gazzaniga; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Dier, Sissoko; Lucas, Alli, Son; Kane.
Squawka prediction
Tottenham will be hoping the fact Wolves have had one day fewer to prepare plays a part, but Molineux is a difficult place to go regardless. The in-form attackers of both sides will probably have a say, which could mean multiple goals and an exciting draw.
Scoreline prediction: Wolves 2-2 Tottenham
