Burnley have gotten off to an awful start in the Premier League this season. In the club’s quest to make it to the Europa League Group Stage for the first time in their history, they knew there would be trade-offs. It’s not easy to travel to far-flung locations across the continent and still be competitive in a league as tough as the Premier League, and they burned the candle at both ends. Unfortunately, their gamble didn’t pay off, and now the club finds itself near the bottom of the table and they weren’t able to qualify for the Europa League either. They will look to start righting the ship against Wolverhampton this week.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 16, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Burnley +452
Wolverhampton -142
Draw +256
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
Odds Analysis
Coming into the year, Wolverhampton were considered one of the dark horses to make it into European play next season. Wolves spent a lot of money to ensure their survival and finish in the top half of the table this offseason, and the results have started to come in.
Wolves started the season with a disappointing draw against Everton. The Toffees are a good team, but the Wanderers were up a man for 50-plus minutes and could only manage a point. Things got worse the next week against Leicester City though, with Wolves losing 2-0 in a game where they had the better chances.
However, things turned around after that. They secured a crucial point against defending champions Manchester City three weeks ago, and last week they finally picked up their first win by beating league-worst West Ham in extra time.
Burnley have played more matches than anyone else in the Premier League so far, and they needed the international break more than any other club. They played home-and-homes with Aberdeen, Istanbul Basaksehir, and Olympiakos in order to try to qualify for the Europa League, but fell to Olympiakos and that dashed their chances.
The Clarets have only picked up a point in Premier League play so far this season. That came in their season opener on the road in Southampton, as Burnley and Southampton played to a 0-0 draw. Since then, they have lost by multiple goals to Watford, Fulham, and Manchester United. Now that they are out of international play, the time has come to turn things around.
Key Injuries
The grueling travel caught up with Burnley in terms of injuries too. Nick Pope, Steven Defour, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson have all been ruled out for this game after picking up knocks during the first month-and-a-half of the season. Anders Lindegaard is doubtful with a thigh injury, while Robbie Brady and Stephen Ward are questionable with lower-body injuries too. Ben Gibson is considered probable to play though.
Things are much better for Wolves on the injury front. Raul Jimenez is considered questionable and will be a game-time decision, while Ivan Cavaleiro has a chance to see action on Sunday.
Player to Watch
Adama Traore was the hero of the day for Wolves in their first win of the season. He came over from Middlesbrough in early August, so it took him a bit to break in with his new club. Traore has looked sharp as a substitute though and scoring the extra time goal likely earned him a start this time around.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Burnley will turn it around and finish in the middle of the table, but the Clarets need a little more time. They lost a number of starters in their bid to make it into European play, and they will be healthy in another week or two. Wolves will take advantage and grab their second win of the year.
English Premier League Odds: Wolverhampton 2, Burnley 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
