Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to host Burnley at Molineux Stadium on Wednesday evening in the second round of the EFL Cup.
Both teams will be eager to secure a win, with Wolves seeking their first victory of the 2024-25 season, while Burnley aims to bounce back from a recent defeat.
Match Preview
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers Recent Form
Wolves have had a challenging start to their 2024-25 campaign, suffering defeats in both of their opening Premier League matches.
They lost 2-0 to Arsenal in their opener and were humbled by Chelsea in a 6-2 loss at home. The team will be looking to improve their form and secure their first win against Burnley, whom they have beaten only once in their last nine encounters.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Injury News
Wolves will be without Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic due to long-term cruciate ligament injuries. Gonzalez is expected to be out until April 2025, while Kalajdzic could return in late October.
Manager Gary O'Neil might rotate the squad following the disappointing defeat against Chelsea, with key players like Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen expected to remain in the lineup.
Burnley
Burnley Recent Form
Burnley started their season strongly with wins against Luton Town (4-1) and Cardiff City (5-0) in the Championship.
However, their momentum was halted by a 1-0 loss to Sunderland in their last match. This defeat highlighted the squad's lack of depth, an issue manager Scott Parker is looking to address before the transfer window closes.
Burnley aims to return to winning ways against Wolves and continue their push for a return to the Premier League.
Burnley Injury News
Burnley faces a significant injury list with Aaron Ramsey, Ameen Al Dakhil, Hannes Delcroix, Hjalmar Ekdal, Jordan Beyer, Mike Tresor, and Nathan Redmond all expected to be unavailable.
Due to their limited squad depth, Burnley might field a similar side to the one that played against Sunderland.
Players To Watch
Wolverhampton Wanderers Player To Watch
Matheus Cunha has been one of the standout performers for Wolves despite their poor start to the season. He will be a key player for Wolves in their bid to overcome Burnley and advance to the next round of the EFL Cup.
Burnley Player To Watch
Jay Rodriguez is expected to lead the line for Burnley.
With his experience and goal-scoring ability, Rodriguez will be crucial to Burnley’s hopes of pulling off an upset at Molineux.
Prediction
Given Wolves' stronger squad depth compared to Burnley, who have lost 16 players during the transfer window, the hosts are favourites to win this match.
We're predicting Wolves to secure the win a narrow victory, with a scoreline of 2-1.
Burnley 
