Unbeaten Start to 2026 Could Extend as Wolverhampton Hosts Magpies
Wolverhampton Wanderers will look to maintain their impressive momentum when Newcastle United arrives at Molineux on Sunday afternoon in a Premier League matchup that showcases the dramatic turnaround in the hosts’ season.
After a disastrous first half of the 2025-26 campaign, Wolves have emerged from the tunnel with renewed vigor heading into the new year. The Black Country club has been unbeaten across their last four matches, including three Premier League games where they’ve already scored 10 goals—a stark contrast to their goal-scoring struggles in 2025. A commanding 6-1 rout of Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup, coupled with victories and draws in the league, has transformed the narrative around Rob Edwards’ squad.
Newcastle Face Mounting Injury Concerns
Newcastle United arrive at Molineux sitting ninth in the Premier League standings with 32 points from 21 matches, but the Magpies are dealing with significant roster depth issues. Defender Fabian Schar underwent surgery on an ankle ligament injury and will miss the next three months, while Jacob Murphy remains sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City. Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, and Tino Livramento are also unavailable, with William Osula and Dan Burn approaching return but likely unavailable for this fixture.
Wolves, meanwhile, have an almost full squad following Emmanuel Agbadou’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations, giving Edwards plenty of selection options as he looks to field his strongest XI.
Historical Advantage Favors Magpies
Historically, Newcastle United has dominated this fixture. The Magpies have won three of their last five meetings, including a 3-0 victory over Wolves just two weeks ago on January 15. However, form in January 2026 suggests Wolves could make this competitive. Jorgen Strand Larsen leads the hosts with six goals this season, while Harvey Barnes has netted 11 for Newcastle, establishing both teams as genuine attacking threats.
With Wolves’ unbeaten streak and renewed confidence against Newcastle’s injury-depleted squad, Sunday’s clash at Molineux presents a genuine opportunity for the hosts to pull off an upset and continue their remarkable turnaround.
