Wolverhampton Wanderers fans are bracing themselves for another high-stakes Premier League showdown as Brighton & Hove Albion visit Molineux this Sunday, October 5, 2025. With Wolves still searching for their first league victory of the season and Brighton boasting a formidable record at this ground, the stage is set for a match loaded with tension, history, and perhaps a few surprises.
For Wolves, the story of the season so far has been one of near-misses and adaptation. The Old Gold, under the guidance of Vitor Pereira, have endured a tough start—winless in their last ten Premier League matches, with just two draws and eight losses. Their last outing, a 1-1 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur, offered a glimmer of hope, not least because of the sparkling performance of summer signing Jhon Arias.
Arias, who arrived from Brazilian side Fluminense on a four-year deal, has taken time to adjust to the unique rigors of English football. But the Colombian winger’s recent display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a breakthrough. He created three chances, completed a team-high 50 passes, and registered the most shots for Wolves. His efforts earned him the man-of-the-match award—a first in his Premier League career and a moment he described as special for both himself and his family.
“I feel good. I feel better with the team, with the ideas of the coach. I think my best version is coming and it’s important for me,” Arias told the official Wolves website. “I think in the last week, I feel I’m playing better with my teammates, with the league. It’s a different league, so I’m still working to be better, for better performances, and to help my team.”
His adaptation hasn’t been without challenges. Arias admitted, “It’s different. Different intensity, the duels, I think it is very different. The weather is different. So, for me, I know it’s normal, the adaptation to this league, to this country, the language, but I feel better and I am going the correct way.”
Wolves’ attacking woes have been well documented. Arias, despite his promise, has yet to register a goal involvement in six Premier League appearances. But optimism is in the air. Many pundits, including Chris Sutton, have tipped Arias to score his first goal for Wolves against Brighton, believing that his recent momentum could translate into a breakthrough in front of the home crowd.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Wolves have lost their first three home league matches this season—a worrying trend that threatens to see them become the first top-flight side to lose their opening four home games in consecutive seasons. Their struggles at Molineux are compounded by a history of difficulty against Brighton, who have won their last four league visits to this ground. In fact, only against Grimsby Town and Wolves themselves have the Seagulls ever managed five or more successive away wins in their league history.
Brighton, managed by Fabian Hurzeler, arrive in the West Midlands with their own ambitions. Sitting tenth in the Premier League as of early October, the Seagulls have already claimed notable scalps, including a victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and another over Manchester City. Yet, their form against teams outside the European qualification spots has been less convincing. “There’s also a little bit of truth so we have to face both parts. We know that we have to have a different approach,” Hurzeler admitted ahead of the match. “We know that on Sunday we have to play with the same intensity as we played last week. It starts in the head and with the mindset—how you approach, how you prepare.”
Brighton’s attacking prowess is not in doubt. The Seagulls have scored 24 goals across all competitions this season, and their average of 1.9 goals per game against Wolves is their joint-best against any Premier League opponent they’ve faced more than twice. Only against West Ham have Brighton scored more Premier League goals (31) than they have against Wolves (27).
Still, Brighton’s defensive record has been patchy. They’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 league matches, and that came in a 2-0 win at Wolves in May 2025. In fact, they’re one of just four teams yet to keep a clean sheet this term, joining Wolves, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United in that dubious category. All signs point to a match where goals could flow freely.
On the disciplinary front, expect referee Jarred Gillett to be busy. The last five Premier League meetings between Wolves and Brighton have averaged 5.4 cards per 90 minutes. The infamous 4-1 loss for Wolves in August 2023 saw six bookings for each side, with Matheus Nunes earning two yellows and a red. With both teams desperate for points, tempers could flare once again.
Wolves’ lineup remains a puzzle, with Pereira making more changes to his starting XI (24) than any other Premier League manager this season. In their last match against Spurs, nine alterations were made—the earliest point in a season a team has made so many changes. This unpredictability could either be a blessing or a curse as the team seeks a winning formula.
For Brighton, Danny Welbeck is the man to watch. The experienced forward scored in his 17th different Premier League campaign during the Seagulls’ recent win over Chelsea. Welbeck’s six goals against Wolves are his joint-most against any opponent in the competition, making him a perennial threat to the Old Gold defense.
As for the odds, the Opta supercomputer gives Brighton a 49% chance of victory, with Wolves at 27.1% and a draw at 23.9%. The consensus among pundits leans toward another Brighton triumph, but with Wolves showing signs of life and Arias hungry to make his mark, the match is anything but a foregone conclusion.
“We need to win for our confidence, for our fans, for our family. So, I want to win Sunday,” Arias declared, underlining the sense of urgency at Molineux. With both sides having something to prove and history suggesting another eventful encounter, all eyes will be on the West Midlands as Wolves and Brighton battle for three crucial points.
Whether Arias delivers on his promise and Wolves finally break their winless streak remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—the Molineux faithful can expect a dramatic afternoon as the Premier League action unfolds.
