Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Dec 20 – Can Winless Wolves Finally Break Their 16-Game Curse?

The atmosphere at Molineux is thick with tension as two sides battling the drop prepare for a crucial six-pointer. Wolverhampton Wanderers are in a full-blown crisis, anchored to the bottom of the table and fresh off a defeat that extended their winless start to a staggering 16 games. Rob Edwards is under immense pressure to turn his “attacking” philosophy into points.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Match Details at a Glance

Injury News and Suspensions

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Rob Edwards’ attempts to fix the defense are being hampered by availability issues. Goalkeeper Daniel Bentley is out until late December with an ankle injury, leaving the gloves to Johnstone. The defensive line is further disrupted with Yerson Mosquera listed as suspended, a massive blow given the team’s fragility. In midfield, Marshall Munetsi (calf) is sidelined until the end of the month, while Rodrigo Gomes is a long-term absentee with a groin injury not expected to heal until February 2026.

Brentford

Keith Andrews has his own fitness concerns to manage. The most significant loss is Fabio Carvalho, who is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury, robbing the side of vital creativity. Midfielder Joshua Dasilva remains unavailable until early January, and winger Reiss Nelson is doubtful with a knock, potentially limiting the visitors’ options on the flanks.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Head-to-Head Records

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Form Guide

Wolverhampton Wanderers

To say Wolves are struggling would be the understatement of the season. Sitting rock bottom with zero wins from 16 attempts, the Old Gold are in freefall. Since taking charge, Rob Edwards has lost all five of his matches. His attempt to implement a high-pressing, possession-based style has so far resulted in disjointed performances where the defense is left exposed and the attack lacks bite.

Brentford

The Bees are having a turbulent campaign of their own, currently residing in 15th place. Under Keith Andrews, they have moved towards a more pragmatic, defensive-first approach. While this has made them tougher to beat at home, their away form remains a significant weakness. They tend to surrender possession and rely on structure, but lapses in concentration have cost them points on the road.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Key Battles

Jørgen Strand Larsen vs Nathan Collins

Based on the players available, a pivotal duel will be the physical battle between Wolves’ target man and Brentford’s central defender. Strand Larsen is the focal point of Edwards’ attack; he needs to hold the ball up and bring others into play to relieve the pressure on his defense.

Facing him is Nathan Collins, a player who knows Molineux well. The former Wolves man is the anchor of the Bees’ defense. He will look to aggressively engage Larsen, preventing him from turning. Collins excels in the air, but he must be careful not to get drawn too far up the pitch by Larsen’s movement, which would open gaps for runners like Hwang.

Hwang Hee-chan vs Aaron Hickey

 On the flank, the energy of Hwang Hee-chan will be pitted against the discipline of Aaron Hickey. Hwang is one of the few players in the home squad capable of a moment of magic.

Hickey, however, is a astute defender who rarely dives in. His role will be to contain Hwang and force him backward. The Scotsman also offers a threat going forward, and if he can pin Hwang back into his own half, it will severely blunt the hosts’ attacking transition.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Tactical Outlook

Rob Edwards is expected to persist with his brave, some might say naïve,attacking philosophy. Expect Wolves to line up in a shape resembling a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3, trying to dominate the ball and press Brentford high up the pitch. The midfield duo of Andre and Gomes will be tasked with recycling possession, while full-backs like Doherty will push high to provide width.

Keith Andrews will likely set Brentford up to absorb this pressure. A compact 5-3-2 or 4-5-1 low block is the probable strategy. The plan will be to frustrate the home side, force errors in midfield, and launch rapid counter-attacks through Thiago and Lewis-Potter. Set pieces will also be a major weapon for the visitors, targeting the fragile confidence of the Wolves’ zonal marking system.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Possible Playing Squad

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI:

Johnstone (GK), Møller Wolfe, Krejci, Agbadou, Mosquera, Doherty, Andre, Gomes, Gomes, Strand Larsen, Hwang

Brentford XI:

Kelleher (GK), Hickey, van den Berg, Collins, Kayode, Henderson, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Ouattara, Thiago

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford Match Prediction

Logic dictates that a team with zero wins in 16 games is hard to back, especially one with a defense as generous as Wolves’. The Molineux crowd is desperate, but desperation often leads to mistakes. Rob Edwards’ style requires confidence, a commodity currently out of stock in the Black Country. However, given the Bees’ own struggles on the road, they might lack the killer instinct to run away with it. Expect a scrappy, tense affair where the fear of losing outweighs the desire to win for the hosts.

Score Prediction

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Brentford; The hosts scrape a point to stop the losing streak, but the wait for a win continues as Brentford’s pragmatism earns them a draw.

Disclaimer: This Football prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.