The 2024/25 Premier League season will take its curtain call this weekend with Gameweek 38. The final round of fixtures will begin and end with ten simultaneous matches, including Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford at Molineux.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured a topsy-turvy ride in the 2024/25 season, with Gary O’Neil losing his job in December. The Black Country outfit had managed only two wins in the opening 16 games, and Vitor Pereira oversaw four successive defeats in as many games. However, Pereira’s charges turned it around with a six-match winning run to secure their Premier League status.
On the other hand, Brentford never looked in trouble, nor did they occupy a spot in the top six throughout this season. However, a four-match winning run has helped them jump to ninth in the Premier League standings, and the Bees will hope to secure a top-half finish to cap off a solid and promising 2024/25 campaign.
The reverse fixture was an engrossing affair that ended in a 5-3 win for Brentford, with Rayan Ait-Nouri scoring a late consolation goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Vitor Pereira has a new injury concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Wolverhampton Wanderers manager may be bereft of the services of as many as seven first-team players vs Brentford on Sunday.
Pereira is sweating over Jorgen Strand Larsen’s fitness. The Norwegian international is struggling with a muscle injury and faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Sam Johnstone (knock), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Enso Gonzalez Medina (knee), Tommy Doyle (muscular), Leon Chiwone (knee), and Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Dan Bentley should take his spot between the sticks, with Wolverhampton Wanderers lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Sunday. The central defensive unit will feature Nelson Semedo, Emmanuel Agbadou, and Toti Gomes. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Gomes and Rayan Ait-Nouri will likely start as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Jean Ricner Bellegarde should usurp Andre to become Joao Gomes’s partner in the middle of the park. Finally, Jorgen Strand Larsen will lead the line for the home side against Brentford if he is fit and available, with Pablo Sarabia and Goncalo Guedes providing creative support.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Bentley; Semedo, Agbadou, Toti Gomes; Rodrigo Gomes, Bellegarde, Joao Gomes, Ait Nouri; Sarabia, Guedes; Strand Larsen
Unlike his counterpart in the Wolverhampton Wanderers dugout, Thomas Frank has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Brentford manager will be without only four first-team players on Sunday.
Aaron Hickey is fit and ready after recovering from his long ordeal. However, Michael Kayode (thigh) faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. Meanwhile, Vitaly Janelt (ankle), Joshua Dasilva (knee), and Fabio Carvalho (shoulder) remain on the sidelines.
Mark Flekken is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. The backline should feature Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, and Keane Lewis-Potter.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Christian Norgaard and Yehor Yarmolyuk in the double pivot. Mikkel Damsgaard will reprise the no. 10 role, with Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade being the two wide attackers. Finally, Yoane Wissa will spearhead the Brentford attack against the Black Country outfit.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Ajer, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Yarmolyuk; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
While Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Rayan Ait-Nouri were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Jorgen Strand Larsen as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford at Molineux.
The Norwegian international has enjoyed an exceptional 2024/25 campaign, scoring seven top-flight goals since the start of March, more than any other Premier League player in that time. Strand Larsen will be eager to continue that run and cap off an excellent season with another top-class performance this weekend.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford are eager to turn things around after losing their most recent Premier League games. While the two sides barely have anything to play for, ending their campaigns with a victory will set them up for the 2025/26 season.
Considering Brighton & Hove Albion’s form and a favourable outing against Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford will unlikely usurp the Seagulls to finish eighth. However, with nothing guaranteed, the Bees will give it their all and clinch a narrow victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Thomas Frank and his charges.
