Wolverhampton Wanderers are entering their upcoming Premier League fixture with a strong sense of confidence, despite the formidable challenge posed by Arne Slot’s league-leading Liverpool.
Vitor Pereira’s side has been in excellent form lately, securing back-to-back victories across all competitions while maintaining two clean sheets. With Liverpool still reeling from their unexpected FA Cup exit at the hands of Plymouth Argyle, there is a glimmer of hope that Wolves could pull off an unexpected result.
While few would expect the Old Gold to come away with anything from the intimidating fortress of Anfield, Pereira will be holding onto the hope of a surprise outcome, especially if key players like Matheus Cunha and other stars are firing on all cylinders.
Key Players Driving Wolves’ Success This Season
Cunha has been the standout performer for Wolves, continuing to lead by example with his crucial goal in their comfortable FA Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers. His strike brought his season tally to an impressive 12 goals from 25 appearances, a figure that further alleviates any concerns about his commitment to the club, especially after he signed a new contract at Molineux until 2029 in early February.
However, it could be argued that Wolves are overly reliant on the former Atletico Madrid forward, particularly given the injury struggles of Jorgen Strand Larsen. The next most potent attacking threat for the team has been left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, an attack-minded defender who has registered an impressive three goals and five assists in the Premier League this season.
While Pereira will undoubtedly appreciate having such an attacking option down the left, there’s a sense of frustration at Molineux that an ideal partner for Cunha—who is now outshining Aït-Nouri—was allowed to leave the club in 2022.
The Departure of Wolves’ “Magician”
Over the past couple of years, Wolves have endured the painful loss of several key players, including Ruben Neves, who moved to Saudi Arabia for a substantial fee. Other notable departures, like Pedro Neto and Diogo Jota, saw the club lose some of its brightest talents to bigger Premier League clubs. One of the most stinging losses, however, was Morgan Gibbs-White’s move to Nottingham Forest.
Though Wolves managed to sell their homegrown star for a hefty £42.5 million, it was still a bittersweet departure, especially considering his performances on loan at Sheffield United, where he was directly involved in 22 goals. Forest made a bold move to secure the England international, a decision they are likely to look back on with pride.
Looking back at his time at Molineux, Gibbs-White only contributed four goals and assists combined in 88 appearances, so it seemed logical for the club to cash in on him. However, it’s now clear that Wolves underestimated his potential, as he has emerged as a standout Premier League talent.
Cunha vs Gibbs-White: A Comparison for 2024/25
Here’s a closer look at their respective performances so far this season:
Looking at these stats, it’s clear that Gibbs-White could have been an ideal partner for Cunha in the Wolves attack had he remained at the club. The former Wolves “magician” now boasts nine goal contributions in the league this season, following his recent goal in Forest’s resounding 7-0 win over Brighton.
Wolves’ current reliance on Cunha means they need more firepower moving forward to avoid relegation, and there’s an increasing sense that they could have done with more attacking support—something they lost when Gibbs-White moved on. This won’t be the last time Wolves regret letting a player like him slip away, as the talented midfielder continues to thrive under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo at Forest, while his old team fights to stay afloat.
Wolves must regret selling big-money “magician” who’s now outperforming Ait-Nouri – opinion
