Wolverhampton Wanderers 2021-22 Premier League Preview
How will Lage fare at Molineux?
Wolverhampton Wanderers start life after Nuno Espirito Santo with a trip to Leicester City on the opening weekend of the 2021-22 Premier League season in mid-August. After doing a remarkable job at Molineux for three years, Nuno was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
In early June, Wolves appointed Bruno Lage as their new boss. The Portuguese was assistant at Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City before taking over at Benfica in 2019. Will he make an instant impression in the Midlands? Check out our in-depth Wolves 2021-22 Premier League betting preview.
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Table of Contents
- 1 2020-21 Review: Wolves finish in bottom half
- 2 2021-22 Fixtures: Nuno back at Molineux in game two
- 3 Wolves Transfer News: Will Adama move on?
- 4 Who Are Wolves’ Biggest Challengers: Mid-table for Lage?
- 5 Leeds United Preview: Whites to kick on under Marcelo?
- 6 Everton Preview: Will Rafa make an instant impact?
- 7 West Ham United Preview: Hammers to build on last season’s success?
- 8 Aston Villa Preview: Can the Villans cause more surprises?
- 9 Southampton Preview: Saints to push for top ten?
- 10 Wanderers players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Jimenez back on the pitch
- 11 Our Wolverhampton Wanderers Predictions: Can Lage’s men avoid a relegation battle?
2020-21 Review: Wolves finish in bottom half
After two impressive Premier League campaigns having won the 2017-18 EFL Championship, Wolves struggled to live up to their high standards last season. They kicked off with a 2-0 away win at Sheffield United but three league and cup defeats followed. At the end of 2020, Wolves had picked up just six Premier League wins and were languishing in the bottom half of the table.
Wanderers secured an impressive victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 29th November but hit a woeful patch of form directly after that. Wolves went on to claim just one victory from their next 11 league matches, though that sole win did come against giants Chelsea in mid-December.
Wolves were beginning to look over their shoulder, but Nuno’s men eased the pressure with three wins and two draws from five. From April to May, Wanderers also secured victories over Fulham, Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Their final three games kind of summed up their season on a whole. They lost to Tottenham, Everton and Man United, scoring just one goal. Nuno’s final match in charge was the 2-1 home reverse to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils on the last day. Wolves ended up in 13th spot with 45 points to their name. The Midlands outfit picked up 12 wins, suffered 17 defeats and drew nine times in a turbulent campaign.
2021-22 Fixtures: Nuno back at Molineux in game two
Wolves begin their Premier League season with a trip to the King Power Stadium to face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester. Lage’s first home match in charge will see Wanderers welcome Nuno back to Molineux. Things do not get any easier, as Wolves entertain Man United in game three.
Wolves have the toughest December imaginable. They kick off the month with a home fixture with Liverpool before going to Manchester City straight after. The Midlands outfit also face Chelsea and Arsenal over the festive period. Wolves then start 2022 with a trip to Old Trafford to face Man United.
Wanderers’ final two away games of the season will take place at Stamford Bridge and Anfield. Sandwiched in between is a home match against 2020-21 Championship champions Norwich City.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Key Facts
- Wolves have been champions of England three times
- Wanders won the Championship in 2018
- Since arriving in the Premier League in 2018, Wolves have reached the UEFA Europa League
- Only four clubs picked up fewer away points than Wolves last season
Wolves Transfer News: Will Adama move on?
Wolves have had plenty of incomings and outgoing so far this summer. They have brought the likes of Jose Sa, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Yerson Mosquera, Louis Moulden and Francisco Trincao to Molineux.
They failed to keep hold of star goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who has joined Jose Mourinho at Roma. Sadou Diallo, Cyriaque Mayounga and Hong Wan have been released, while Dion Sanderson has headed out on loan again, this time to Birmingham City in the Championship.
After watching Patricio move on, the Wolves fans will be hoping that their other star men will stay in the West Midlands. Adama Traore has been linked with several clubs – will the Spain international join Santo at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
Who Are Wolves’ Biggest Challengers: Mid-table for Lage?
The bookies are predicting Wolves to have a tough season, with Paddy Power offering just 5/1 for them to drop back down to the Championship. However, we are a bit more optimistic, as Wolves’ talented squad is more than capable of pushing for another top-ten finish. Who will be their closest challengers in the Premier League this term?
Leeds United Preview: Whites to kick on under Marcelo?
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United were one of the surprise packages in the Premier League last season. After winning the 2019-20 Championship title, United were back in the big time for the first time since 2004. They started well last term and never looked back.
Leeds finished just three points away from the European spots last season. They have a real togetherness in the team and no lack of talent. The Yorkshire side will no doubt be pushing for another top-ten finish this year.
Everton Preview: Will Rafa make an instant impact?
The appointment of Rafa Benitez as the new Everton manager was one of the shocks of the summer. The 61-year-old guided Liverpool to UEFA Champions League success during his memorable six-year spell at Anfield. As you can imagine, Benitez’s move to Goodison Park was greeted with mixed emotions among the Toffees supporters.
Carlo Ancelotti, who left for Real Madrid, built some solid foundations at Goodison, which Benitez will be hoping to build on. Everton have European hopes before every Premier League campaign, and this season will be no different.
West Ham United Preview: Hammers to build on last season’s success?
David Moyes’ West Ham United had a remarkable 2020-21 season. The Hammers flirted with the Champions League places for a large chunk of the campaign. Despite missing out on the top four in the end, West Ham finished in sixth and sealed a spot in the UEFA Europa League.
With some new signings, United are more than capable of building on last season’s success. Juggling Premier League and Europa League football is something new for the Londoners, but the West Ham fans will enjoy every minute of it.
Aston Villa Preview: Can the Villans cause more surprises?
Aston Villa were another surprise package in the Premier League last term. Dean Smith’s troops survived by the skin of their teeth the season before, but they opened up their 2020-21 season with four straight wins, including an unforgettable 7-2 hammering of Liverpool.
They had an up and down middle part to their season, though Villa finished with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Villa Park. The Midlands outfit took 11th spot, collecting 55 points in the process. Smith’s boys will be hoping to break into the top half this time.
Southampton Preview: Saints to push for top ten?
Southampton started last season in fine fashion, even topping the Premier League table at one point. However, a woeful run of results almost put them in a relegation scrap in the end. The Saints went on to finish in 15th with 43 points to their name.
Having already signed the likes of Theo Walcott and Romain Perraud, Ralph Hasenhuttl will be hoping to add more new faces to his squad before the window slams shut. Will the Saints have a successful season in the Premier League?
Wanderers players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Jimenez back on the pitch
Raul Jimenez suffered a horrific injury back in November last season which kept him out for the remainder of the campaign. After Jimenez’s absence, Wolves struggled to break down defences. Before his injury, the Mexican scored seven times in 15 league and cup games for club and country.
Jimenez was back on the pitch in pre-season and looks ready to hit the ground running at the start of this Premier League year. Raul has been touted as a Harry Kane replacement for Spurs if the England skipper moves on, but Lage will be hopeful of keeping him at Molineux. A huge season lies ahead for Wolves’ excellent No. 9.
Our Wolverhampton Wanderers Predictions: Can Lage’s men avoid a relegation battle?
Some bookies have Wolves priced at just 4/1 for the drop this season. Nuno may have moved on, but Wanderers still have a supremely talented squad, which is glittered with experience and quality.
In truth, Wolves should be nowhere near the bottom three. Instead, they could be one of the teams battling for a Europa League spot. A season of transition seems more likely, and we like the look of Paddy Power’s 21/10 for the Midlands club to finish in the top half of the Premier League.
