Brighton vs Wolves Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | EFL Cup, September 18, 2024

Brighton vs Wolves Preview

• Tournament: EFL Cup
• Date: Wednesday, September 18
• Kick-off Time: 6:45 pm GMT
• Venue: American Express Stadium, East Sussex

The third round of action in the EFL Cup 2024/25 will include Brighton & Hove Albion hosting Wolves. Brighton thrashed Crawley Town 4-0 in the previous round while Wolves negated the threat of Burnley to advance to the current stage. Both sides will be experiencing a break from Premier League football and will look to ensure a successful journey in the cup. Brighton & Hove Albion vs Wolves can deliver an exciting spectacle for the fans on Wednesday night.

Brighton’s recent form has taken a dip after a tremendous start to the season. Fabian Hürzeler’s men commenced with three consecutive victories, including a 2-1 win over Manchester United. However, draws to Arsenal and Ipswich Town in the last two outings have halted the club’s progress. Brighton was eliminated in the same stage of the EFL Cup last season and will look to earn redemption this time around.

Wolves’ recent form has been an underwhelming one. The West Midlands club is currently at the 18ᵗʰ spot in the Premier League with just a solitary point in the bag. The 2-0 triumph over Burnley has been the sole win for Wolves this campaign. Gary O’Neil and his side’s defensive woes have been well-documented. Wolves was knocked out by Ipswich Town last season in the third round of the EFL Cup and will hope to have a better fate this season.

Brighton & Hove Albion Team News

Considering the hectic football calendar in the upcoming weeks, Fabian Hürzeler will be preparing to rest his first XI for the fixture. Brajan Gruda, James Milner, Mats Wieffer, Matthew O’Riley, and Solly March are expected to miss the game owing to respective injury woes.

Wolves Team News

Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, and Boubacar Traore are guaranteed absentees for the Brighton game. Wolves likes to set up in a 4-4-1-1 formation which will open up possibilities for several backup players to make their way into Gary O’Neil’s starting XI on Wednesday.

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Brighton vs Wolves Predicted Lineups

Brighton & Hove Albion Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Verbruggen

Defenders: Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood

Midfielders: Ayari, Baleba, Welbeck

Forwards: Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter

Wolves Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Johnstone

Defenders: Semedo, Mosquera, Dawson, Nouri

Midfielders: Lemina, Andre, Bellegarde, Gomes

Forwards: Cunha, Larsen

Brighton vs Wolves H2H Record

Brighton has maintained the upper hand in the recent meetings between the two sides. However, the last head-to-head encounter ended in Wolves’ favour in February. Wednesday’s hosts have managed three wins, a draw, and a defeat in the last five outings with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Key Players to Watch in Brighton vs Wolves

Joao Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion)

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a decent start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign with two goals in three games. His goals came against Manchester United and Arsenal which outline his calmness and confidence in front of goal currently. Pedro did not feature in the game against Ipswich Town following a tiring journey across the Atlantic from Brazil. Fabian Hürzeler will most likely hand him a starting berth against Wolves as one of his most trusted individuals to lead the front line.

Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Bart Verbruggen joined Brighton in the summer of 2023 and has become the first-choice goalkeeper in the squad. His ball-playing abilities and passing prowess have made him an indispensable element of Brighton’s squad. The Dutchman is his side’s highest-rated player in the Premier League so far, conceding only a single goal. The 22-year-old started the last-round game against Crawley Town and is expected to do so again to ensure the best chance at qualification.

Brighton vs Wolves Prediction

Predicting the final outcome of cup fixtures amidst a busy league schedule is never an easy task. Brighton’s form is massively superior to Wolves’ currently. The hosts will receive occasional threats from the visitors but Brighton should be able to take advantage of the defensive woes in Wolves’ rank. The superior head-to-head record also endorses a comfortable victory for the Seagulls.

Predicted Score: Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 Wolves

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