Bottom-placed Wolves welcome sixth-placed Newcastle to Molineux on Sunday afternoon, January 18, 2026, in a crucial relegation battle for the hosts. Rob Edwards' side sit rock-bottom with just seven points from 21 matches, while Eddie Howe's Magpies have climbed the table with three consecutive league wins.
Wolves have shown signs of life under Edwards, remaining unbeaten in four matches to start 2026. They claimed a valuable 3-0 victory over West Ham on January 3 before holding Everton to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. Before that, they secured a point at Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on December 30 and hammered Shrewsbury Town 6-1 in the FA Cup. Their December record was dire, however, with five losses and just one draw from six league matches. Edwards has emphasized the need for his players to stay grounded despite the recent upturn, saying, "We're under no illusions just because we've got a couple of results, we haven't cracked it, far from it."
Newcastle arrive in excellent form, having won their last three Premier League matches. They dispatched Crystal Palace 2-0 on January 4, then survived a thriller against Leeds United with a 4-3 victory on January 7. Their December was mixed, including a 3-1 win over Burnley on December 30, but they lost 1-0 at Sunderland and drew 2-2 with Chelsea. A 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg on Monday tested their squad depth. Newcastle's defensive injury crisis has forced Howe to adapt, with Fabian Schar out for three months following ankle surgery and Dan Burn nearing a return from rib injury.
Ahead of the match, Howe acknowledged Wolves' threat, stating they possess a "counter-attacking threat" and play a "fluid style." He described them as "very good away from home" and "dangerous opponents," while stressing the importance of the fixture: "We can't drop too many points... This is going to be a massive game." Edwards praised young midfielder Mateus Mane as a "shining light" and told his squad after the West Ham win: "That was for the fans. They have had such a difficult time. I know it's only one win, but that is for them."
Newcastle won the previous meeting between these sides 1-0 at St James' Park on September 13, 2025. Overall, the Magpies have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning six of the last eight Premier League encounters with two draws. Wolves have struggled to find answers against Howe's side, and their current league position suggests they need to break this pattern urgently to boost their survival hopes.
My model backs Both Teams to Score at 2/3 (1.67 decimal) with a 59.62% probability. I predict a 2-1 Newcastle victory, with expected goals projecting Wolves at 1.26 and Newcastle at 1.68. Both teams have found the net in recent matches despite their respective challenges, with Wolves scoring in three of their last four and Newcastle netting in every game since December 30. The xG gap reflects Newcastle's superior quality, but also suggests Wolves can threaten at home against a depleted defence.