Vitor Pereira goes all out in predicted Wolves XI to face Burnley that many won’t expect

One tires from repeating it, but this upcoming Burnley game is one Wolves have to get three points from.

It can’t go on like this, can it? Wolves are still looking for a maiden Premier League win, now over two months into the campaign.

A home tie against newly promoted Burnley is as good an opportunity as Vitor Pereira will get, and it feels like a lot hinges on the outcome of Sunday’s clash.

Pereira has said this is a must-win, a statement that has waned in significance with each passing week. That said, this really is a make-or-break 90 minutes, with the Portuguese’s future undeniably question.

No need to rotate. No need to rest. This is another cup final kind of game, and Molineux News predicts a punchy Wolves XI.

Time for an Emmanuel Agbadou return against Burnley

Two forecasted changes from the back line that lost to Sunderland last weekend.

Sam Johnstone retains his spot as he continues to outshine Jose Sa for a place between the posts.

Hugo Bueno and Ladislav Krejci will be the first names on the team sheet. Despite the latter’s unfortunate spillage in stoppage time at The Stadium of Light, he has that left-sided centre-back position locked down. And Bueno, too, has given Pereira no reason to stop playing him.

Santiago Bueno has been effective for Wolves in recent weeks, but sooner or later, Pereira will want Emmanuel Agbadou back in the side. The Ivorian has been watching from the sidelines for some time now after a dismal start, but this could be a perfect opportunity to bring him back in and start building his confidence again.

As a statement of intent, we think Matt Doherty makes way for the more threatening Jackson Tchatchoua. Wolves know the importance of getting a result at Molineux, and they will want to take the game to The Clarets.

Three becomes two in Wolves’ midfield

On paper, the midfield three of Joao Gomes, Andre and Marshall Munetsi is a recipe for success. They possess complementary skill sets and bring a high level of physicality.

But it just didn’t work against Sunderland. Too often, they were trapped in their own half, unable to play through the opposition.

Gomes put on his worst Wolves performance, and there is a definite case for him being dropped. But for the sake of the system, he and Andre retain their places, forming a double pivot to provide cover for the front four ahead.

Vitor Pereira goes all out in attack

Getting a result is the most important thing heading into the weekend, but how they play also matters.

If Wolves are to scrape a 1-0 win, but be the worse team on the day, it would do little to sway opinion on the struggling manager. Rather, a convincing performance is needed to reassure those at Molineux that this team can turn their season around.

With that in mind, we predict an attacking side deployed to overload the Burnley back line and finally give Wolves fans something to cheer about.

The three who played last weekend get the nod again despite not causing the Black Cats too many problems.

Jorgen Strand Larsen leads the line with Rodrigo Gomes and Jhon Arias to either side again. Then, the big call. Fer Lopez plays in the 10.

The Spaniard has been Wolves’ most potent creator in the limited minutes we have seen and a player of his ability should not be sitting on the bench while his side struggle to create anything.

Wolves would lose some defensive solidity in the middle, but Gomes and Arias are capable defenders who can assume more of the workload.

Predicting Pereira’s choices is a thankless task. Wolves have seen more lineup changes than any other side this season, and it’s almost a guarantee that some — or a lot — of this prediction is wrong. Dropping Munetsi for Lopez would be a bold move, but bold moves are needed in situations like this.

Predicted XI vs Burnley: Johnstone; Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci, H.Bueno; Andre, J.Gomes; Arias, Lopez, R.Gomes; Strand Larsen.