Bournemouth will be eager to continue the recent upturn in form when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux on Saturday.
The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 24. The action on Saturday will start with three simultaneous matches, including Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Bournemouth at the Molineux.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have improved in recent weeks, with the players absorbing Rob Edwards’s methods. While a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend ended a four-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, they continue to show positive signs. However, unless the hosts embark on a winning run, they cannot evade relegation, as they have fallen 17 points behind Nottingham Forest.
On the other hand, Bournemouth’s dreadful run has ended in recent weeks, and they are on a three-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. The latest victory was a remarkable 3-2 win over Liverpool, with Amine Adli scoring the late winner.
The reverse fixture ended in a narrow 1-0 win for Bournemouth, with Marcus Tavernier scoring the game’s only goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Rob Edwards has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Wolverhampton Wanderers manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Bournemouth on Saturday.
Toti Gomes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde are the only absentees, with the duo recovering from hamstring injuries. Additionally, Edwards will hope to have Jorgen Strand Larsen at his disposal amid the Norwegian striker’s links with Crystal Palace and Leeds United.
Jose Sa is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Wolverhampton Wanderers lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, and Ladislav Krejci. Meanwhile, Jackson Tchatchoua and Hugo Bueno will be the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Andre Trindade and Joao Gomes in the central areas. Finally, Tolu Arokodare will lead the line for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Bournemouth, with Hwang Hee-chan and Matues Mane completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sa; Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Krejci; Tchatchoua, Andre, Joao Gomes, Hugo Bueno; Hwang, Mane; Arokodare
Bournemouth
Unlike his counterpart in the Wolverhampton Wanderers dugout, Andoni Iraola has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Molineux. The Bournemouth manager may be without seven first-team players on Saturday.
Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Tyler Adams (knee), Ben Gannon-Doak (thigh), Julio Soler (knock), Justin Kluivert (knee), and Will Dennis (ankle) remain in the treatment room. However, David Brooks may be fit and available to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend.
Djordje Petrovic is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The backline will feature Adam Smith, James Hill, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Alex Scott and Lewis Cook in the double pivot. Eli Junior Kroupi will reprise the no. 10 role, with, Alex Jimenez and Amine Adli being the two wide attackers. Finally, Evanilson will spearhead the Bournemouth attack against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Cook; Jimenez, Kroupi, Adli; Evanilson
Key Stats
- Wolverhampton Wanderers have lost their last three Premier League home games vs Bournemouth, having won their first two against them in the competition. The Cherries are looking to complete a league double over Wolves for the third time, previously doing so in 1985/86 (third tier) and 2014/15 (Championship).
- Bournemouth have lost only two of their 19 most recent Premier League games against sides in the relegation zone (W13 D4). Away from home, they have won seven of the last eight, with the exception being a 2-1 loss at Rob Edwards’s Luton Town in April 2024.
- There have been five red cards in 11 Premier League meetings between Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers, one every 2.2 games. Of all fixtures to have been played more than ten times, only Aston Villa vs Portsmouth averages a sending off more often (one every two games, 7 in 14).
- Between May and December, Wolverhampton Wanderers conceded in all 11 Premier League home games, conceding 26 goals in total. They have since kept a clean sheet in their last two at the Molineux, their longest run since a four-game streak in April/May 2023.
- After an 11-game winless run, Bournemouth have won two of their last three in the Premier League (D1). Both wins have been by 3-2 scorelines at home, and courtesy of 90th minute winners (vs Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool). However, the Cherries have won only one of their 11 Premier League away games this term (D5 L5), conceding more goals on the road than any other side (30).
Player to Watch
Jorgen Strand Larsen
While Evanilson, Amine Adli, and Tolu Arokodare were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Jorgen Strand Larsen as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth at the Molineux.
While the Norwegian striker will not start this weekend, all eyes will be on him when he takes the field amid his links with Crystal Palace and Leeds United. Meanwhile, Strand Larsen is Wolves’ top scorer in all competitions this season with six goals. However, just one of these strikes has come in the Premier League (2x EFL Cup, 3x FA Cup). He may be critical for the home side to take something from Saturday’s clash.
Prediction
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Bournemouth
Saturday’s match will be Andoni Iraola’s 100th Premier League match in charge of Bournemouth (W35 D29 L35). The Spaniard has the highest win rate of any of the Cherries’ four top-flight managers (35.4%). He will be eager to add to that when his charges take on Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend.
However, with the home side making significant progress under Rob Edwards, they will take the game to the visitors, and a closely-contested affair is on the cards. However, Evanilson and top FPL transfer recommendation Alex Jimenez will deliver the goods in the final third to secure three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Iraola and his charges.
