Kick-off: 2000, 04/01/2023
Stadium: Villa Park
Aston Villa have started to show their true worth since the departure of Steven Gerrard but they do not have a great record versus Wolves.
Wanderers did the double over their Midlands rivals last season and have won four of the past six derbies, whilst losing only one.
We reckon 5/2 for a Villa Park stalemate is a value pick for our first Aston Villa vs Wolves prediction.
Aston Villa Odds
After winning just two of their first 11 Premier League matches this term under Gerrard, Villa have prevailed in four of their last six top-flight fixtures.
Having already beaten Brentford, Manchester United and Brighton, the Villans claimed an impressive 2-0 victory at Tottenham on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Emiliano Buendia and Douglas Luiz gave them a third win in four matches since the arrival of Unai Emery.
Emery praised the dedication of his team after they abandoned any plans to celebrate New Year’s Eve in order to focus on facing Spurs.
“We spent the 31st of December here in London in a hotel and we wanted to show the match is our priority,” said the Spaniard. “The players did a very good performance.”
Bringing in former Arsenal, Valencia, Sevilla, PSG and Villarreal boss Emery was a real coup and Villa do now look in safe hands.
Ollie Watkins has been one of the front men to benefit from a more expansive style of play.
Looking at the Aston Villa vs Wolves odds, he appeals at 14/5 to score the hosts’ first goal here.
Last Villa line-up: Olsen, Konsa, Mings, Young, Digne, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Kamara, Watkins, Bailey.
World Cup winner Emi Martinez is set to return to Villa’s starting line-up. Emery will need to assess John McGinn (hamstring) and Douglas Luiz (ankle) after they were forced off at Tottenham, but Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) and Diego Carlos (knee) are definitely out.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Odds
Wolves are second from bottom in the table but have made their own shrewd managerial move in landing ex-Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.
The 56-year-old began his reign with an EFL Cup win over Gillingham and then a gutsy 2-1 league success at Everton.
Lopetegui’s honeymoon period ended with a 1-0 home loss to Manchester United but Wanderers were competitive against the in-form Red Devils.
Raul Jimenez’s stoppage-time header almost earned Wolves a share of the spoils but David De Gea showed good reactions to keep it out.
“We are disappointed with the result, we deserved more but I want to highlight the belief and the way they fought a big team,” declared Lopetegui.
“They were thinking and working to beat them. We have to improve, but in the end we deserved more.
“They didn’t have chances in the second half, the match was arriving in a key moment but it was a pity they scored. It was a different match in the last 15 minutes.
“The only way I know to improve is to make more chances and have the confidence in the players to score more. I believe in my players.”
Ruben Neves forced De Gea to make another good save from a well-struck free-kick, while second-half sub Adama Traore troubled United with his pace.
Matheus Cunha looks a nice loan signing from Atletico Madrid and he could help to add more of a cutting edge up front.
For now, though, Neves appeals at 4/1 to net at any time in our Aston Villa vs Wolves betting tips.
The Portugal midfielder has struck four times in the Premier League this term and can boast two goals in six encounters with Villa.
Last Wolves line-up: Jose Sa, Collins, Semedo, Kilman, Bueno, Neves, Podence, Hwang, Nunes, Moutinho, Costa.
New capture Cunha could make his Wolves debut, with Lopetegui confirming the Brazilian forward is set to be in the matchday squad.
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