Wolves v Leicester preview
Tuesday 25 September 2018 19:55, UK
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is likely to make changes for Tuesday night's Carabao Cup third-round clash at home to Leicester.
Nuno has picked the same starting line-up for all six Premier League matches this season so the third-round tie is an opportunity to give other players some more game time.
Matt Doherty and Conor Coady were the only first-team regulars to play at Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round. The likes of Adama Traore, Romain Saiss, Leo Bonatini, Leander Dendoncker and Kortney Hause should be among those to start against the Foxes.
Leicester boss Claude Puel will also take the opportunity to rest several key players. He hinted last week that central defender Harry Maguire was due a break, while goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Jamie Vardy are also expected to be left out.
It could be a chance for £19million summer signing Caglar Soyuncu to make his debut for the Foxes. Midfielder Matty James remains sidelined with an Achilles problem and is Leicester's only injury absentee.
Opta stats
This will be the 112th meeting between Wolves and Leicester in all competitions - but this is the first in the League Cup.
Wolves have lost just two of their last 16 home games against Leicester in all competitions (W9 D5), winning the most recent game in September 2012 in the Championship.
Wolves haven't conceded a single goal in their five League Cup matches under Nuno Espirito Santo - they conceded in each of their 12 matches prior to this run (26 goals conceded in total).
Leicester have won nine of their last 11 away League Cup games (D2) - they were eliminated in the two drawn matches, going out on penalties to Cardiff City in 2011-12 and Hull City in 2015-16.
Wolves have won their last six home League Cup matches, winning each match by a single goal margin.
Claude Puel has won six of his eight League Cup matches (D1 L1), his only defeat in this run coming in the 2017 final against Manchester United with Southampton.
Goodman's prediction
There has been a lot of talk about how poor Manchester United were at the weekend, but people are forgetting that they were made to look poor by a very good team in Wolves.
I covered this fixture in the Premier League in August. Leicester won it but Wolves were the better team that day and lost to two unfortunate goals. The only negative from this season so far is that they haven't been ruthless enough in front of goal, but I still fancy them to sneak this one.
Don Goodman predicts: 1-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
