Wolves v Leeds predictions: Hosts value for the victory

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wolves v Leeds in the Premier League on Friday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Wolves
2pts 8-5 Betfred, Hills

Team news

Wolves
Daniel Podence, Willy Boly and Raul Jimenez remain sidelined.

Leeds
Mateusz Klich (hip) and Diego Llorente (muscle strain) are available but Kalvin Phillips, Gaetano Berardi, Rodrigo, Adam Forshaw, Ian Poveda and Robin Koch are ruled out.

Match preview

Wolves have been stuck in the bottom half of the table since Christmas Day but they have taken seven points from their last three games and can beat injury-hit Leeds at Molineux.

Expectations have risen among Wolves fans and there were a few grumbles after a 1-0 loss away to Crystal Palace last month which extended their winless sequence to eight league games.

However, any minor fears of relegation expired after last Saturday's 2-1 victory at Southampton and the target for the rest of the season will be to secure a third successive top-half finish.

Wolves boss Nuno has focused on getting back to basics by reverting to his tried and trusted three-man defence and the balance of his attack has looked a lot better since the January loan acquisition of centre-forward Willian Jose from Real Sociedad.

Their new number nine hasn't scored in his first five appearances but he has provided the focal point which had been missing since Raul Jimenez suffered a nasty head injury in November last year.

Willian Jose may lack the finesse and finishing skills of Jimenez but he occupies opposing defenders and creates more space for dangerous wingers Pedro Neto and Adama Traore to make their mark.

Neto and Traore were key men in Wolves's victory over Southampton and they could create problems for Leeds, who are hampered by the absence of several key players.

Leeds have central defender Diego Llorente back in their squad but they are still without senior men Rodrigo, Robin Koch and Kalvin Phillips, who would all probably all feature in Marcelo Bielsa's strongest line-up.

The biggest issue is the ongoing absence of Phillips, who was sorely missed in last Sunday's 4-2 loss at Arsenal.

Without his powerful and energetic presence in front of the back four, Leeds were horribly exposed by the Gunners and they trailed 4-0 after 47 minutes until consolation goals from Pascal Struijk and Helder Costa which gave some respectability to the final scoreline.

Bielsa will not have been fooled and he needs a lot more from his team but given the limitations of the squad it is hard to see where he can make positive changes.

Leeds will attack the game with gusto and should create chances but their defence could be picked apart on the counter-attack, allowing Wolves to collect a third win in four league games.

Key stat

Leeds have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight away games.

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