WATCH FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AHEAD OF IPSWICH V WOLVES
TEAM NEWS
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna says late decisions will be made on several players, including Leif Davis and Omari Hutchinson, who missed Wednesday’s win at Bournemouth due to injuries. McKenna, who hasn’t named the same line-up twice this season, is still without Wes Burns, Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, and Arijanet Muric.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has confirmed there are no new injury worries for his team. He has stuck with the same starting XI for the past three games. Top scorer Matheus Cunha remains suspended, serving the final game of his four-match ban.
VITOR PEREIRA
Pereira reported no fresh injury concerns and also confirmed Goncalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes, who were not involved in the win over West Ham, are fit.
On whether his side is now safe from being dragged into the relegation battle: “It’s not over until the end. I’ve said it before – it’s a league that can surprise you. Ipswich have the quality to fight for a lot of points. I feel my team is confident and consistent. For sure, we will compete. I never prepare my team to go to a game for a draw. We just want the three points.” “
However, he added that the battle to avoid relegation will not be won even if Wolves win against Ipswich and move 12 points clear of safety.
On the potential of midfielder Joao Gomes who signed a new five-year contract earlier this week: “He is young, he has shown humility and he wants to learn and help. Tactically and technically, he can improve, but he has the spirit. He will have a fantastic career.”
Pereira also had praise for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who scored the winner against the Hammers: “My striker must be a fighter and the responsibility is not only to score goals. He has this spirit and this character. I like him.”
Pereira praised his counterpart Kieran McKenna’s “fantastic work” at Ipswich, saying he had built a team with tactical ideas and good players.
He also described Ipswich striker Liam Delap as a “strong player”, adding the Wolves defence must be fully focused to keep him quiet.
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Head-to-head
Ipswich won 2-1 at Molineux in December and are vying to complete a first top-flight double against Wolves since 1983/84.
The last top-flight meeting between the sides at Portman Road was on 26 December 1983, when Paul Mariner, Kevin O’Callaghan and Steve McCall scored in a 3-1 win for the Blues.
Ipswich Town
Wednesday’s victory at Bournemouth ended a winless run of 10 top-flight matches (D2, L8). They have not won consecutive Premier League matches since a four-match streak in January and February 2002.
Ipswich’s only win and sole clean sheet at home in the top flight this season came in the 2-0 victory against Chelsea on 30 December. Just seven of their 20 points have been won in Suffolk.
The Blues have lost eight of their last nine Premier League home games, including all five since the turn of the year.
The only time in their history they have lost six consecutive league matches was between September and November 1963.
They have lost 10 of 15 league fixtures at Portman Road this season, three short of the club record set during relegation from the Premier League in 1994/95.
Ipswich have made a league-high 90 changes to their starting line-up this term and are one of two clubs, along with Brighton, yet to name an unchanged team in the top flight.
Liam Delap’s 11 Premier League goals represent 36.7% of his side’s total – only Alexander Isak (41%), Mohamed Salah (39%) and Erling Haaland (36.8%) have higher figures in 2024/25.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Vitor Pereira’s side have earned 13 points from seven Premier League games since the start of February – only Liverpool, with 20 points, and Arsenal, with 14, have better records.
Wolves have named the same starting line-up in three consecutive league games for the first time since a run of four in September 2021.
They are vying to win three consecutive top-flight away fixtures for the first time since a four-match streak between December 2021 and February 2022.
Wolves have won six of their past eight league matches against newly promoted sides, although their one defeat in this run came against Ipswich at Molineux in December.
Jorgen Strand Larsen has three goals in the past two games. He had failed to score in his previous nine appearances in all competitions.
The Norwegian is just the third player to score at least 10 goals in his first Premier League campaign for Wolves, alongside Raul Jimenez in 2018-19 and Steven Fletcher in 2010-11.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Nick Hopton, Nick Greenhalgh. Fourth official: Sam Barrott. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
MATCH INFO
This one is a 3pm kick off on Saturday 5th April at Portman Road.