Predicting Vitor Pereira’s lineups has been a difficult proposition as of late, with plenty of rotation as he searches for Wolves’ strongest XI.
There’s no sugarcoating it. Wolves need to go to Sunderland and win.
As we approach the quarter-mark of the season, the league table starts to take shape. Wolves sit dead last, and the narrative threatens to shift from poor start to poor season.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 15 |  LeedsLeeds | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 8 |
| 16 |  BrentfordBrentford | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 7 |
| 17 |  Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 5 |
| 18 |  BurnleyBurnley | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 4 |
| 19 |  West HamWest Ham | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 4 |
| 20 |  WolvesWolves | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 2 |
Vitor Pereira’s squad is close to full-strength, with just a couple of doubts in Hwang Hee-chan and Jean Ricner-Bellegarde, who shouldn’t be getting into the starting XI, anyway.
Given the stature of the occasion, Molineux News is predicting a lineup that constitutes Wolves’ best.
Vitor Pereira takes a gamble on form at the back
In goal, Sam Johnstone retains his place. He has been a revelation since stepping in for Jose Sa, and deserves the minutes.
Just one change at the back from Brighton, with Emmanuel Agbadou returning to the lineup in place of Santiago Bueno. Agbadou was brilliant for Ivory Coast over the break, even bagging himself a goal.
Pereira dropped him for good reason, but he needs to be on form for Wolves if they are to push on, and now feels like the perfect time to put trust back in the big centre-half.
Ladislav Krejci, Jackson Tchatchoua and Hugo Bueno keep their places.
A quality midfield three in the making
The midfield three that faced Brighton should remain unchanged.
Joao Gomes and Andre, who will be fresh after an uneventful stint with Brazil, are no-brainers to be included. They are as balanced a midfield duo as you will find in the Premier League.
With them, Marshall Munetsi gets the nod. Changing from a back five to a back four allows for one extra body in the middle, and the Zimbabwe international — excuse the phrasing — is some body to add in.
He can be a box-to-box midfielder, using his superior physicality to cover every blade of grass and allow the Brazilian duo to stay central and dictate the play.
There’s shades of Newcastle in this midfield three, and they could be massive for Wolves.
A new face in the front line
This is where Pereira needs to be brave. The selections he has made of late haven’t had the desired impact on Wolves’ attacking play.
This new formation requires the forwards to create the width instead of the wing-backs, and that needs to be factored into the decision.
Jorgen Strand Larsen is still struggling with pain in his Achilles, but he has been starting for club and country despite that. He will lead the line, with Jhon Arias to one side, and for the first time this season, Rodrigo Gomes gets a chance in attack.
Arias has looked better in recent games, and it’s only a matter of time before it clicks for him. Gomes, on the other hand, has been one of Wolves’ best players in the minutes he has gotten, but those minutes have been few and far between.
The 22-year-old is electric at his best, and he has popped up with two goals from wing-back already. It’s high time he was unleashed higher up the pitch.
Predicted XI vs Sunderland: Johnstone; Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci, H.Bueno; Andre, J.Gomes, Munetsi; R.Gomes, Strand Larsen, Arias.