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Aston Villa Preview Wolves by Always Wolves 21 seconds ago
Wolves v Aston Villa: Match Preview
We bring you all the latest news, stats, facts and predictions ahead on Wolves v Aston Villa at Molineux on Friday.
TEAM NEWS
Wolves team news
Wolves will be without Ladislav Krejci for Friday night’s derby after his red card last weekend earned him a suspension. Toti was back on the bench at Selhurst Park after two months out and could come straight into contention to replace the Czech defender, while David Moller Wolfe is another option after coming on at left centre back against Crystal Palace. There is also a boost in training, with Hee Chan Hwang back on the grass this week. This game may arrive a little too soon for him, but Rob Edwards has said he is hopeful the South Korean can return to the squad next week.
Aston Villa team news
Villa are set to welcome Alysson back into the travelling squad after returning to training this week, with the January signing having played just 16 minutes so far. Unai Emery is still dealing with major absences in midfield, with John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Boubacar Kamara all ruled out long term, and Harvey Elliott a new injury concern ahead of the trip to Molineux. There is good news at the back, though, as goalkeeper Marco Bizot returns from suspension following his recent red card in the FA Cup.
ROB EDWARDS PRESS CONFERENCE
Edwards confirmed there were no new injury concerns and that both Angel Gomes and Joao Gomes are fit and “in a good place at the moment”.
Edwards said there was “a lot to like about the performance” against Crystal Palace, a game they lost 1-0, adding: “I was equally frustrated after the game as we should have taken something from it. It was frustrating being a yard away from stopping the goal happening and making something of it. There was emotion and anger after the game.”
The Wolves boss confirmed he had seen a positive reaction in training after the Palace loss. Edwards said: “We flipped it the next day and that shows that people care. The dressing room was interesting after the game. There is not a frustration that lingers which is causing any sort of problem. We have an exciting week, and we’re at home to try to get some results as well.”
On facing Aston Villa, who are currently placed third in the Premier League, Edwards said: “Villa are obviously a brilliant team and an amazing manager [Unai Emery]. They have a clear way of playing – we sort of know big, big elements of what we need to do to make sure we are competitive in the game. It needs to look like it matters to us. Villa are a team which can win a game in many different ways.”
On the supporters galvanising the team: “The supporters have been amazing considering how difficult it has been. I know the players have got to produce, but what I want as well is for the supporters to keep backing the team. We need to bring our best, and I know the supporters will be right behind the lads.”
On Mateus Mane being approached by Portugal to play for them over England: “He has got to be able to follow his heart. But again, I will support whatever he chooses to do. His main focus, and he knows this, needs to be here.”
On how Tolu Arokodare is coping after being racially abused on social media: “He is alright, and he has trained this week. He has trained, so he is fit and in a good state to play. Our supporters can have an influence and get behind him and show that love for singing for him.”
GET THE FULL DETAILS HERE... Rob Edwards pre match press conference: Wolves v Aston Villa
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Lee Betts, Mat Wilkes. Fourth official: Tim Robinson. VAR: Paul Howard. Assistant VAR: Stuart Burt.
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Wolves have won four of their last six Premier League home games against Aston Villa (D1 L1) and are unbeaten in four since a 1-0 loss in December 2020.
Aston Villa have won three of their last four Premier League games against Wolves (L1), as many as in their previous 15 (D6 L6). They’re looking to complete the Premier League double over them for the first time since 2003-04.
Wolves have failed to score in a league-high 15 different Premier League games this season. Only in 2009-10 (17) and 2021-22 (16) have they failed in more in a single campaign.
Since a run of eight Premier League wins in a row between 9 November and 27 December this season, Aston Villa haven’t had a repeated result in any of their last nine games (LWDLWLDWD), last drawing consecutive games in September against Everton and Sunderland.
Each of Wolves’ last seven Premier League wins (dating back to March 2025) have been against teams in the bottom seven of the table, with those sides having an average position of 17th. They’re winless in 17 against sides in the top half (D5 L12) since a 1-0 win at Bournemouth in February 2025.
Wolves have conceded the first goal in 22 different Premier League games this season, more than any other side. In fact, of the 40 teams to play 200+ games in the competition, Wolves have conceded first in the highest percentage of them (59.6% – 266/446).
Aston Villa had 66.8% possession in their 1-1 draw with Leeds last time out; Villa won their first three games when having 65%+ possession under Unai Emery but have since won just five out of 17 games when dominating that much of the ball (D8 L4), winning just one of five games in 2025-26 (D2 L2).
Three of Aston Villa’s last four Premier League goals have been scored in the last five minutes of normal time (88th, 86th and 88th), while they have netted 63.2% of their goals in the second half of games (24/38). Only in 2015-16 (70.4%), 1999-00 (69.6%) and 2007-08 (66.2%) have they scored a higher share of second half goals in a Premier League season.
No Wolves player has scored more than twice so far in the Premier League this season. With 27 games played, it’s the latest into a season a team has had to wait for a player to score at least three goals, overtaking Southampton from last season (MD24).
Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham has scored more goals against Wolves than any other opponent in English league football (6), netting a hat-trick in his first Premier League game against them with Chelsea in September 2019.
FORM GUIDE (ALL COMPETITIONS)
HEAD TO HEAD (ALL COMPETITIONS)
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