Joao Moutinho, left, is among the new recruits at Wolverhampton Wanders. Getty Images 
Joao Moutinho, left, is among the new recruits at Wolverhampton Wanders. Getty Images 

Premier League preview 2018/19 - Wolves: Flying return to top flight ahead for Championship winners



It was one of the more impressive promotions in memory, secured with 99 points, in the first year of a managerial regime and with a radically different style of play and formation.

Since then, the sense Wolves may be bound for bigger and better things has been amplified by the arrivals of two of Portugal’s Euro 2016 winners, goalkeeper Rui Patricio and midfielder Joao Moutinho.

The Mexico international striker Raul Jimenez is another high-calibre addition, though, for all Wolves’ flair, they may not have a prolific player. Yet they seem to have the structure, the budget and the talent to stay up comfortably.

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Read more

Premier League 2018/19 preview: Team-by-team guide and predictions

Premier League transfer window: all the new signings for 2018/19 season

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Key player: Ruben Neves – It was remarkable that the youngest player to captain a team in the Uefa Champions League operated in the Championship last season. Neves' long-range goals caught the eye but his capacity to control games with his passing proved more important.

It reportedly attracted Liverpool’s interest, but he signed a deal until 2023 with Wolves.

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo – The former Valencia and Porto manager was super-agent Jorge Mendes' first client. The Portuguese connection has now helped him import plenty of his compatriots while Nuno signed a contract extension in June.

The question may be how far he can take a club without a top-10 finish in the top flight since 1980.

Talking point: Can Wolves continue to dominate games at the top level?

Their ambitious brand of football and quality recruitment allowed them to out-pass Championship opponents. Now their two premier central midfielders should be Neves and Joao Moutinho, twin playmakers, but others will have more combativity and physicality in the centre of the pitch.

And the trend is for promoted clubs, even those who survive, to operate with rather less of the ball. So will Wolves change their style or be able to impose it on the elite?

Prediction: 9th.

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

Schedule
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Stage results

1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep  4:39:05

2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08

3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time 

4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t  

5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t  

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t 

7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t

8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t     

9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo  s.t

10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t

Venom

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

Rating: 1.5/5

RACE CARD

6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200

7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m

7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m

8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m

9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m

 

The National selections:

6.30pm Underwriter

7.05pm Rayig

7.40pm Torno Subito

8.15pm Talento Puma

8.50pm Etisalat

9.25pm Gundogdu

Brief scores:

Liverpool 3

Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'

Manchester United 1

Lingard 33'

Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)

MATCH INFO

Sheffield United 3

Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90

Manchester United 3

Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79