Leeds vs Wolverhampton Predictions

• Leeds had the league’s third-worst home record last season
• The Whites have lost Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha this summer
• Wolves had the seventh-best away record in the league last term
• The hosts won only once at home to the 16 sides who finished above them last season

Top-flight’s forgotten fixture

With new season excitement bubbling, promoted teams kicking off their campaign and new signings out to make their mark, Leeds meeting Wolves feels a bit out of place. Neither of these sides excelled last term, while they’ve not exactly caught the eye with their transfer dealings.

Wolves have stood still in the market bar adding Nathan Collins from relegated Burnley. Meanwhile, the big focus at Leeds has been on the departures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha. Jesse Marsch isn’t being tipped to hang around long and he has work to do to keep Leeds up this term.

There are also worries over Wolves and with little to get excited about on either side it’s easy to see this as Saturday’s forgotten game.

How ready are the Whites?

The hosts will take time to adapt after those two big departures, while they’re coming off the back of a season in which they barely survived the drop. Leeds have conceded in 12 straight Premier League home games and they’ve picked up one win from their last nine at Elland Road.

Leeds had a lot of injury issues last term and this season looks no better, with Stuart Dallas, Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling ruled out. They’re also missing big summer signing Luis Sinisterra, while Daniel James is suspended.

The hosts are weakened, while last season they won just once at home to the 16 sides who finished above them, losing nine. Leeds have lost their opening game in both top-flight seasons since promotion and they look on for a hat-trick of defeats.

Back Wolves to capitalise

The visitors haven’t had a great window and they tailed off last season to finish 10th. However, they did finish up with a strong away record, claiming eight victories on the road. Five of those came at the bottom eight, reason to believe they can extend their solid recent form at Elland Road.

Wolves are unbeaten in four away league games against Leeds United, winning three of those. They come into this game with a settled side at least, while adding Collins only adds to their solid defence.

It could also boost them going forward given that the Irishman showed promise from set pieces last term. He scored a couple for strugglers Burnley and proved himself a real presence in the box. No side conceded more goals from set pieces than Leeds last season and with Wolves looking a little light up front, look to Collins as a big-priced scoring threat.

I think Wolves are well priced at over 2/1 given they had a top-seven away record last term. Only Norwich and Watford picked up fewer home points than Leeds last term and that’s before the hosts lost two key players. With injuries a factor for the Whites again I’m opposing them here, with a 1-0 victory for Wolves my correct score prediction.

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