Two Premier League clubs deeply entrenched in relegation battles and operating under the guidance of newly appointed managers are set to clash at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, as Leicester City prepares to host Wolverhampton Wanderers in a crucial encounter with significant implications for their respective league positions. Gary O’Neil was dismissed from his managerial position at Wolves last weekend following the team’s fourth consecutive defeat, prompting the club to swiftly appoint Vitor Pereira, formerly of Al-Shabab, as his successor in an attempt to reverse their declining fortunes. The Premier League landscape was significantly impacted by the events surrounding Wolves last weekend, encompassing their late collapse against Ipswich Town, the ensuing tumultuous scenes immediately following the final whistle, and the subsequent dismissal of O’Neil the following day, creating a sense of instability within the club.

O’Neil was granted a final opportunity by the Wolves board to rectify the team’s performance and steer them away from the relegation zone; however, he was unable to achieve this objective, ultimately conceding a 94th-minute goal that resulted in a 2-1 home defeat against the newly promoted Ipswich Town, further exacerbating their precarious situation. Following the conclusion of the match, for the second consecutive game, physical altercations erupted on the pitch involving Wolves players, leading to a red card for Rayan Ait-Nouri and a potential ban pending confirmation from the Football Association for Matheus Cunha, further compounding the club’s disciplinary issues. This incident followed Mario Lemina’s outburst at West Ham United, which resulted in him being stripped of the captaincy; however, it remains uncertain whether this decision will be reversed with Pereira now assuming control and expected to be present on the sidelines for the crucial trip to Leicester.

The newly appointed Portuguese manager, Vitor Pereira, will be tasked with ending a concerning streak of four consecutive defeats for Wolves, with the last three of these losses occurring against teams currently situated in the bottom seven of the league table, highlighting the team’s struggles against fellow relegation contenders. Everton’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Wolves contributed significantly, representing 29% of their total goal tally thus far this season, while West Ham’s victory not only secured crucial points for themselves but also alleviated pressure on their own manager’s position. Furthermore, Wolves inadvertently handed Ipswich Town only their second victory since their return to the top flight, further underscoring the team’s vulnerability.

With another newly promoted team, Leicester City, awaiting them, Wolves will be determined to avoid losing consecutive games against such teams for the first time in over four decades, while also aiming to recoup the three-point advantage they conceded to Ipswich last weekend. Only Barnsley in the 1997-98 season and Sheffield United a year ago have conceded more goals than Wolves’ alarming tally of 40 in the opening 16 games of a Premier League season, with a concerning 16 of those goals originating from free kicks and corners, highlighting a significant defensive weakness. Looking to exploit this defensive vulnerability will be Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City, who will be seeking to recover from a humbling 4-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United last week.

The Dutch manager, Van Nistelrooy, enjoyed an encouraging start to his tenure at Leicester, securing four points from his initial two games against West Ham and Brighton, elevating the team to 14 points; however, there were underlying warning signs that should have been apparent prior to their comprehensive defeat at St James’ Park. Van Nistelrooy has implemented a more attacking and expansive style of play compared to his predecessor, Steve Cooper, with his team scoring five goals in two home games thus far, compared to only six goals in six games under the previous management; however, the victory over West Ham was a narrow escape, and Leicester required two very late goals to salvage a point against Brighton, indicating potential vulnerabilities that Wolves will aim to exploit.