On a mission to win their first-ever major honour, Brighton & Hove Albion will welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to The Amex for a third-round clash in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
The Seagulls are coming into this match following an unbeaten start to the fresh Premier League campaign, whilst Wolves are struggling to click into gear in the top flight so far.
Match preview
© Imago
Despite enjoying nearly 70% possession and creating the majority of the clear-cut chances at The Amex on Saturday afternoon, Brighton were unable to make their dominance count as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils against newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Regardless of the disappointment of failing to earn a third maximum from a quartet of top-flight contests in 2024-25, the Seagulls are still one of five sides in the division who remain unbeaten after four gameweeks, keeping company with title chasers Manchester City and Arsenal.
Collecting a healthy tally of eight points from their opening four Premier League battles, Brighton are currently occupying sixth position in the top-flight table, four points behind Pep Guardiola's Citizens, who are the only outfit to still have their 100% record intact.
Representative of their humble past in terms of competing in the upper echelons of the English game, the Seagulls are still on the hunt for their first piece of major silverware, although Wednesday's hosts did manage to reach the final of the FA Cup during the 1982-93 season.
After the four-goal demolition of a feisty Crawley Town outfit at The Amex last month in this competition, Brighton are striving to avoid back-to-back third-round exits in the EFL Cup, with a solitary strike from Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson dumping Roberto De Zerbi's troops out at this stage last season.
© Imago
Defying pre-season expectations during the summer of 2023, Gary O'Neil guided Wolverhampton Wanderers to a comfortable top-flight finish last season, placing 20 points above Luton Town in 18th, but the 2024-25 campaign arguably presents a harder assignment as the Black Country side attempt to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Wolves remain as one of six clubs who are yet to enjoy their maiden victory of the Premier League term after a heartbreaking defeat to Newcastle United at Molineux on Sunday afternoon, when last-gasp efforts from Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes overruled Mario Lemina's first-half opener.
Ahead of an EFL Cup-flavoured trip to the South Coast on Wednesday, Wanderers worryingly sit 18th in the top-flight rankings after the collection of just a single point so far this season, with only newcomers Southampton and helpless Everton managing fewer points to date.
As is the case with hosts Brighton, O'Neil's Wolves eased past the attentions of EFL opposition in the second round to book their spot in the third-round draw, with a brilliant brace from Portuguese attacker Goncalo Guedes sealing a 2-0 success over Championship favourites Burnley.
Wednesday's visitors to The Amex possess relative pedigree in this competition, with the most recent of their two EFL Cup triumphs arriving back in 1980, when the West Midlands side beat 1979 winners and European champions Nottingham Forest in the final in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- L
- L
- W
- D
- L
Team News
© Imago
Brighton are likely to remain without the services of Joao Pedro on Wednesday night, with the forward recovering from a slight niggle picked up whilst on international duty with Brazil.
As a result, record signing Georgino Rutter could be handed his second Seagulls start in the space of five days, whilst Evan Ferguson is set to receive game time off the bench.
Carlos Baleba impressed massively in the engine room for Brighton on the weekend but should be rested here, especially considering the hosts' current injury woes in midfield.
Veteran James Milner is expected back at some point in October from a hamstring issue, whilst summer arrivals Mats Wieffer and Matt O'Riley are also taking up beds in the medical room.
Wolves could be without the services of Andre and Rayan Ait Nouri on the South Coast, with the pair both forced off due to knocks during the defeat to Newcastle.
Guedes should be promoted from the bench to replace Jorgen Strand Larsen, with new signing Carlos Forbs and Tommy Doyle also pushing for starts on Wednesday.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Lamptey, Webster, Igor, Samuels; Weir, Ayari; Peupion, Enciso, Adingra; Rutter
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Lima, S Bueno, Dawson, Doherty; Lemina, Doyle; Hwang, Sarabia, Bellegarde; Guedes
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
With a mounting injury list, Brighton are likely to rest the majority of their key players from the start on Wednesday, handing Wolves a glimmer of hope as they aim to progress into the fourth round.
That being said, the Seagulls have home advantage and should be able to book their spot in the next stage against a visiting side who have not won on their travels since February.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
