Southampton vs Wolves preview

Team news, key stats and prediction ahead of Southampton vs Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

• Premier League Table | Fixtures | Top scorers
• Find out more about Sky Sports

Team news

Wolves are set to be without forward Ruben Vinagre, who picked up a hamstring injury in the midweek defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, Diogo Jota and Willy Boly are closing in on a return to action after calf and ankle injuries respectively, but this will be a game too soon for the pair.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Yan Valery, who has been suffering from a virus, is his only absentee, but the full-back is expected to return to training at the end of January.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

How to follow

Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on Saturday on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.

• How to watch Premier League highlights
• Live football on Sky Sports this week

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Opta stats

• Southampton have won three of their five Premier League meetings with Wolves (D1 L1), winning both home matches in 2003-04 and 2018-19.
• Wolves have lost their last five away top-flight visits against Southampton, a run stretching back to October 1980.
• Southampton have won four of their last five league games (D1), as many as they had in their previous 22 in the competition (W4 D6 L12).
• Only Liverpool (30) and Manchester City (22) have won more points over their last 10 Premier League matches than Southampton (20).
• Wolves haven't lost three consecutive away league matches since March 2016 in the Championship under manager Kenny Jackett.
• Wolves have conceded the first goal in a league-high 15 different Premier League games this season, including each of the last six in a row.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Charlie Nicholas' prediction

Wolves like the open play, while Southampton like to play away rather than at St Mary's. Danny Ings is in the form of his life at the moment. Tottenham are talking about him currently, but he is in the happiest period of his life; he is guaranteed to play every weekend and is scoring, why would he be interested in moving?

He has only been at Southampton for a short period and he is doing the business. If he is wanted, Southampton just need to show him some respect and he will stay. He has been there and done the whole sitting on the bench thing. The energy and drive is back at Southampton.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has such a small group but he does not want to take a risk as the purchases have not been the best or worked out. Southampton are a bit like Watford, perhaps not as good but they may feel as good as Watford. Wolves are sitting seventh, but Southampton have jumped up to 12th in the table.

If they beat Wolves, they go level with them. It is a remarkable table and league this season. For that reason I cannot separate them.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)

Super 6: The Saints go Marching on…

Southampton have picked up 13 out of a possible 15 points from their last five matches, while 31 per cent of Super 6 contestants are predicting a tight 2-1 win for the hosts at St Mary's. How will this one unfold, with £250k at stake? Play for free.

New Year, same Super 6!

FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot for the sixth time this season.