As the winter chill settles over Molineux Stadium, a Premier League battle with contrasting motivations is set to unfold. On Saturday, January 31, 2026, the league’s bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers host the resurgent AFC Bournemouth.
For Wolves, this is a desperate fight for survival, a chance to close an 11-point gap from safety and spark a miraculous escape.
For the visiting Cherries, it’s an opportunity to solidify their mid-table standing and prove their recent giant-killing form can translate to consistent results away from home.
The stage is set for a tense, pivotal encounter in the season’s narrative.
Team form and head-to-head analysis
Wolves’ season has been a story of profound struggle. With just one win in 23 league games and a paltry eight points, they find themselves adrift at the foot of the table. Their primary issue is painfully clear: they have scored only 15 Premier League goals, the lowest in the division.
The team’s top scorer across all competitions, Jørgen Strand Larsen, has found the net just once in the league.
Recent form, however, offers the faintest glimmer of hope. Before a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, Wolves were on a four-match unbeaten run, including an FA Cup rout of Shrewsbury and a commendable 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
Most notably, they have kept clean sheets in their last two home games after a long period of conceding. This suggests a defensive resilience that manager Rob Edwards will hope to build upon.
Bournemouth arrives in the Midlands in buoyant mood. After an 11-game winless run, they have taken seven points from their last three matches.
Most impressively, their last two league wins, against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, were secured with 90th-minute or later winning goals, showcasing a newfound fighting spirit and belief.
Forward Amine Adli, who scored the dramatic winner against Liverpool, has called on his team to “maintain high standards” against the league’s bottom side.
Their attacking prowess is undeniable; they’ve scored 38 league goals, more than double Wolves’ tally. However, a significant weakness looms: their away form.
Bournemouth has won just one of their 11 Premier League away games this season (D5 L5) and has conceded a league-high 30 goals on the road.
Head-to-head record
History leans towards the visitors. Bournemouth has won the last three Premier League meetings at Molineux.
Furthermore, they have lost only two of their last 19 league games against sides in the relegation zone (W13 D4). The reverse fixture in August 2025 ended in a 1-0 victory for Bournemouth.
Team news and predicted lineups
Both squads are dealing with significant injury lists.
Wolves will be without defender Toti Gomes and midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde due to injury. Defender Jackson Tchatchoua is also suspended for this match.
Bournemouth’s absentee list is considerably longer. Key players ruled out include Marcus Tavernier, Tyler Adams, Justin Kluivert, David Brooks, and Ben Doak.
This strips manager Andoni Iraola of several important attacking and midfield options.
Based on the latest squad information and recent setups, the teams could line up as follows:
Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-5-2): José Sá; Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Ladislav Krejci; Hugo Bueno, João Gomes, André, Jhon Arias, Matt Doherty; Mateus Mané, Hwang Hee-chan.
AFC Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Djordje Petrović; Adam Smith, James Hill, Marcos Senesi, Adrien Truffert; Alex Scott, Lewis Cook; Álex Jiménez, Eli Junior Kroupi, Amine Adli; Evanilson.
Match prediction and betting insights
This match presents a classic clash of narratives: a team fighting for its life at home against a more talented but travel-sick opponent.
The most likely outcome is a narrow Bournemouth victory or a draw. Bournemouth’s superior firepower and psychological edge in this fixture are major assets.
However, their dreadful away record and lengthy injury list, combined with Wolves’ improved defensive solidity at Molineux, make this far from a foregone conclusion.
1. Double chance: Wolves Win or Draw (1X): Given Bournemouth’s away woes and Wolves’ need to scrap for every point, backing Wolves not to lose offers good value.
2. Total goals: Under 2.5 Goals: Historically, meetings between these two have been tight. Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in seven of their last ten clashes. Wolves struggle to score, and while Bournemouth can attack, a disrupted lineup might affect their fluidity.
3. Player to score: Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth): With Wolves having conceded a league-high nine goals from outside the box, watch for Bournemouth’s long-range specialists. Kroupi is one of their most prolific distance shooters.
Predicted final score: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 – 1 AFC Bournemouth.