Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 33.
Team analysis: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Vitor Pereira inherited a defensively leaky Wolves side that were languishing in 19th place in mid-December.
Conceding at a rate of 2.5 goals-per-match, a relegation battle loomed, but the astute Portuguese head coach wasted no time in steadying the ship.
He has effectively halved that to figure to 1.3 conceded per game across the four months that have since elapsed, and Wolves now have a defensive platform that has seen them win eight of their 16 matches under Pereira.
They head into Sunday's match at Manchester United on a run of four successive victories, their longest top-flight winning sequence since 1972.
Wolves now sit 14 points clear of the relegation zone and a win this weekend could secure their Premier League status.
How has Pereira improved performance levels?
Tactical stability has been at the heart of Wolves’ progress under Pereira.
Previous head coach Gary O’Neil tinkered with the side’s shape on a regular basis in search of a winning system as Wolves struggled to keep opponents at bay early in the campaign.
Prior to his departure, O'Neil landed on a 3-4-2-1, and crucially, that is the formation that has since featured in all 16 matches under Pereira.
Wolves' formations under O'Neil 24/25
| Formations under O'Neil | |
|---|---|
| 4-2-3-1 | 4 |
| 4-4-1-1 | 2 |
| 4-1-4-1 | 3 |
| 3-5-2 | 1 |
| 3-4-2-1 | 6 |
Wolves' formations under Pereira 24/25
| Formations under Pereira | |
|---|---|
| 3-4-2-1 | 16 |
By sticking with the same system, Pereira has simplified matters for the players and given those in possession of a starting berth the opportunity to nail down a regular spot in positions which do not change from week to week.
For the playing squad there is more clarity now than during the first half of 2024/25.
Progress without the ball
The often-panicky Wolves that we saw earlier on in the campaign has been replaced by a calmer, more measured approach.
Clearly well-drilled in training, we are seeing less positional confusion and certainly a greater togetherness when they do not have possession.
Pereira’s detailed tactical work has borne fruit with his team keeping their shape and making fewer erratic decisions.
There has been a major reduction in the number of shots Wolves face too since Pereira's appointment, leaving their goalkeeper far less exposed.
The data below tells the tale of a team that is far less anxious when having to defend.
Wolves' defensive stats: O'Neil v Pereira compared*
| Per game | O'Neil | 2024/25 | Per game | Pereira |
| 14.6 | 233 | Shots faced | 11.1 | 177 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | 91 | Shots on target faced | 3.6 | 58 |
| 1.5 | 27.6 | xGA | 1.5 | 23.2 |
| 2.5 | 40 | Goals conceded | 1.3 | 21 |
*16 matches played under each
A better back three
Wolves have also landed on a new look, but well-balanced centre-back trio who all seem comfortable playing together as unit.
Pereira immediately switched the roles of Matt Doherty (wing-back to centre-back) and Nelson Semedo (centre-back to wing-back) - and both men seem happier in their current positions.
While Toti Gomes has remained as the left-sided centre-back, on his inside, January arrival Emmanuel Agbadou has made a huge difference as a dominant central defender.
Agbadou has proved to be the type of physically dominant defender that was sorely needed, having won 65.79 per cent of his duels and made 6.41 clearances per 90 minutes in his 10 starts so far.
Agbadou's defensive stats 24/25
| % Success rate | |
| Tackles | 71.4 |
|---|---|
| Duels | 65.8 |
| Aerial duels | 58.1 |
The 27-year-old Ivorian has also brought an element of calm to Wolves when they are playing out from the back too.
No one at Molineux averages more passes than his 48.05, and if there is a forward pass available, he will always choose the positive option.
Composure has grown under Pereira
It could in part be a by-product of their uplift in results, but there is no question Wolves’ new head coach has instilled more self-assurance on the ball.
His players look less rushed, better poised than they did previously, moving the ball around with greater confidence.
They are never in a rush to create a chance, preferring measured build-up play to direct attacks, which have dropped off significantly since Pereira took over.
Wolves' attacking stats: O'Neil v Pereira compared
| Per game | O'Neil | 2024/25 | Per game | Pereira |
| - | 46.3% | Possession | - | 48.4% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63.1 | 1,009 | Succ. passes ending in final third | 77.1 | 1,233 |
| - | 81.0 | Passing accuracy | - | 83.2 |
| 1.4 | 22 | Build-up attacks | 2.1 | 34 |
| 2.1 | 33 | Direct attacks | 1.3 | 21 |
| 7.4 | 118 | Passing sequences (10+ passes) | 10.1 | 161 |
*16 matches played under each
Wolves hold onto the ball for longer periods, increasing their passing sequences and patient attacks.
Shortening up their play, the accuracy of their passing has also improved.
This helps them pin opponents back inside the defensive third more often, and with a big aerial threat like Jorgen Strand Larsen waiting for deliveries to be sent into the box, that is a strategic switch that suits their main striker.
Fixing set-piece frustrations
A flood of disastrous set-piece concessions proved difficult for O’Neil in the early stages of the season.
His mix of zonal and man-to-man marking was fine in its set-up but a lack of determination to win duels inside their own box cost Wolves far too many goals.
In total, 16 goals were leaked from dead-ball situations in their first 16 matches.
As you can see from the numbers below, Pereira has worked incredibly hard to fix this issue.
Wolves' set-pieces under O'Neil and Pereira
| Per game | O'Neil | 2024/25 | Per game | Pereira |
| 0.1 | 2 | Set-piece goals (exc. pens) | 0.3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 16 | Set-piece goals conceded (exc. pens) | 0.3 | 5 |
When he first arrived at Molineux he told the assembled media, “We will work on set-pieces every day. I know a way to improve this with work.
“We need to be more aggressive, more proactive and not wait in the zone. We need to be more aggressive in the duels, man-to-man.
“We need to open our body to see the movements, because if we close the pitch with bad body movement, we cannot see the pitch and it means we cannot anticipate the movement.”
True to his word he has delivered on that promise, using a mixed zonal/man-to-man framework that is not too different from his predecessor.
A major improvement has followed with only five set-play goals conceded under Pereira.
Adapting strategies
One of his greatest attributes is the way Pereira adjusts his tactics depending on the opposition's qualities.
Under his tenure they may not have altered their formation, but the team has developed different ways of playing.
This has come across in their most recent outings.
At Ipswich Town, Wolves took the initiative, dominating the game by moving the ball around at speed, yet last time out at home to Tottenham Hotspur they sat off in a compact shape before waiting to hit them on the break.
There is more roundedness and tactical flexibility.
With striker Strand Larsen in great form, netting five in his last four appearances, and Pereira’s imprint suiting the players, Wolves will fancy their chances against Man Utd.
Across the last 10 matches, only Liverpool and Newcastle United have picked up more points, so a trip to Old Trafford will be relished.
