Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United: YEP Jury give their big-match predictions

It has also left them curious as to whether head coach Marcelo Bielsa will continue with the experiment of having Pascal Struijk cover for Kalvin Phillips in midfield or whether he would be better off returning to the heart of Leeds’ defence alongside captain Liam Cooper. Those issues aside, the general feeling is that there will be goals at Molineux and, while a draw seems likely, an away win for the Whites shouldn’t be discounted. DAVID WATKINS After the reality check at Arsenal, we now have an opportunity to show again what we are really made of, with a strong performance at Molineux. The first half at the Emirates was not representative and was full of mistakes. In mid-October, Wolves sneaked off with all three points despite being outplayed. It was another game of two halves though and, while we faded after the break, Wolves came alive as they always do. Wolves’ results have been erratic - a bit like Leeds and Arsenal - and they sit one place and two points below the Whites in the table, much as Arsenal did before the game last weekend. That suggests it won’t be easy and we’ll need to start well and make the most of the expected Wolves inertia in that first 45 minutes. Leeds have not drawn away from home yet so that could be a good shout but I think, if we keep our ‘A’ game going for 90 minutes, we can win this one. Prediction: Wolves 1 Leeds United 2. KEITH INGHAM After Sunday’s disappointing defeat at Arsenal, Bielsa’s boys go to the Midlands to face Wolves for a Friday-night game. There have been some great games beteeen the two clubs, including a 4-3 thriller in the Championship a few years back. A draw wouldn’t be the worst result and I think there might be a few goals in it. Wolves have a good squad with stand-out players and whoever is picked in Leeds’ defence will probably be busy. Marcelo Bielsa faced questions over his team selection at Arsenal but, with Kalvin Phillips again absent, he may well stick with Pascal Struijk in midfield and Luke Ayling in the centre of defence alongside Liam Cooper. I’d put Struijk back at centre-back and play the versatile Stuart Dallas as a holding midfielder - but what do I know! Wolves have already beaten Leeds 1-0 at Elland Road thanks to a Jimenez goal. Leeds didn’t play badly but didn’t take their chances and, with the quality Wolves had, you knew they would get a chance. They did - and they took the three points. Wolves have hit a ‘hole in the road’ since losing top scorer Jimenez with a fractured skull. Thankfully, the player is on the mend but won’t be involved tonight. Prediction: Wolves 2 Leeds United 2. MATTHEW EVANS Leeds United need to get over the disappointment of Arsenal and take some of that second-half Emirates spirit into a full 90 minutes against Wolves. The reverse fixture saw Wolves grab an unlikely three points, clearly against the run of play, in a season where they have struggled against expectations. We’ve still got no Kalvin Phillips available which seems to be a significant issue for this Leeds side to overcome. But it’s important we have a good go at taking at least a point from this game otherwise we are at risk of being leapfrogged by the team directly below us in consecutive games. I’d personally like to see Pascal Struijk restored to the defence and Luke Ayling bombing down the right wing. That means we need somebody else to cover Phillips. Maybe that could be Stuart Dallas who seems to slot neatly into any position he’s asked to play in. I think we’ll grab a draw at Molineux and that won’t be such a bad result all things considered. Prediction: Wolves 1 Leeds United 1. ANDY RHODES The games seem to be coming thick and fast in the Premier League at the moment, so much so that there’s no time to dwell on the Whites’ previous result against the Gunners. Incidentally, though, Arsenal did give Marcelo Bielsa much food for thought going into another tough trip, this time to the Midlands. Wolves find themselves lower in the table than many would have predicted and boast just one home league win since mid-December. After the Arsenal result, Leeds should be chomping at the bit to add to that troublesome statistic. Pascal Struijk has settled into the side in recent weeks, while Helder Costa’s goal will give him a boost. Wolves tend to be somewhat miserly but do show signs of cracking; West Brom’s solitary win on the road came at Molineux. This has the potential to be a real cracker under the lights, although I’m sure everyone would settle for a quiet win this time around. Prediction: Wolves 0 Leeds United 1. JACOB STARR Leeds will be looking to replicate their spirited second half against Arsenal, rather than the horrifying first, at Wolves. With Kalvin Phillips definitely out, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have the likes of Pedro Neto and Joao Moutinho to capitalise on his absence. At Elland Road, a Raul Jimenez strike gave Wolves a narrow win but the Mexican striker has since suffered a fractured skull, contributing to an out-of-character dip in form from his team, which is normally sniffing around the European places. A comeback win over Southampton at the weekend will do wonders for confidence but they’ll have to keep creating chances to outscore this Leeds team. United currently sit two points ahead of their opponents and will climb back into the top half of the table with a victory. In the last 11 meetings between the sides, eight have been won by a one-goal margin, with a 4-3 Wolves win and 3-2 Leeds win included, both at Molineux. I wouldn’t be surprised if we witness another goal-fest. Prediction: Wolves 2 Leeds United 2. MIKE GILL It is still difficult to calculate what the main cause of the Arsenal defeat was. Pascal Struijk not up to deputising for Kalvin Phillips or the disruption caused by the lack of Struijk in central defence. If Llorente is fully fit, then I would persevere with PS in the Phillips role and get Luke Ayling back to his swashbuckling role out wide. This game is very difficult to call but one thing United showed last time out was their inability to let their heads drop and feel sorry for themselves. This fact is often misunderstood because it’s easier to say that they just keep attacking because they know no other way to play. Wolves have been a bit of an oddity this season. After punching way above their weight in their first two seasons in the Premier League, they appear to be suffering from PLF - Premier League Fatigue. Unfortunately for United, though, Wolves have returned to form in the Premier League of late. But I’m predicting another bounce back from the Whites. Prediction: Wolves 1 Leeds United 2. Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click HERE to subscribe.