Wolverhampton Wanderers

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who is looking most likely to be playing their football outside the top flight next season?

It is bad news for fans of the teams who made their return to the Premier League this campaign.

According to the Opta Supercomputer's simulations, Southampton - rooted to the bottom of the table on just six points - are all but guaranteed to be playing Championship football again next term with a 99.47% chance of being relegated.

The picture is also not a rosy one for Leicester City and Ipswich Town supporters, who occupy the other two relegation spots. The Supercomputer does not see too much change there - the Foxes and the Tractor Boys having a 74.61% and 70.81% chance of relegation respectively.

It is better news for Wolves under new head coach Vitor Pereira, with Wanderers now having only a 39.21% chance of a Championship return, while Everton fans will be pleased to see they have just a 12.52% chance as they hope to see Premier League football in their new stadium next season.

Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford can all breathe easier with Opta predicting just a 1.68%, 0.81% and 0.72% chance of relegation respectively.

And what about Manchester United after new boss Ruben Amorim declared them to be facing a relegation battle? Well, it is good news for Red Devils fans as the chance of them actually playing Championship football next campaign is just 0.11%.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira believes Matheus Cunha must learn from the mistake which saw the forward hit with a two-game ban.

The 25-year-old was also given an £80,000 fine after an altercation with a member of Ipswich's security staff at the final whistle, following the late defeat by the Tractor Boys last month.

He will miss Monday's visit of Nottingham Forest and the FA Cup third-round trip to Bristol City on 11 January.

"He knows it was not a good reaction but I look for a player not only as a player, but as a human being and even me, I make mistakes," said Pereira.

"He knows he made a mistake, he knows not to do it again and to keep the emotional balance and move forward.

"We need to be ready to play with or without Cunha. We have players with different skills and qualities but we will be ready."

Shorn of 10-goal Cunha, Wolves go into the weekend sitting 17th in the Premier League and could be second bottom by the time they kick off on Monday if results go against them.

Victory for Ipswich at Fulham on Sunday would drop Pereira's side back into the bottom three before kick off at Molineux.

Meanwhile, sporting director Matt Hobbs is working on new signings - Lens defender Kevin Danso is a target - but Pereira remained coy on possible incomings this month.

"We are working in the market like the other teams. We are trying to understand what my players can give to me for the way I want to play," he said.

"It means this is a time to look for targets but I speak about my players - I cannot speak about other players."

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Pereira said his side must adapt without top scorer Matheus Cunha, who was handed a two-game ban for his actions at the end of their game against Ipswich: "We need to be ready to play with or without Cunha. We play as a team. I think we have players with different skills and qualities - but we will be ready."

• He did not condemn his striker for his actions: "He knows that it was not a good reaction but I look for a player not only as a player, as a human being. Sometimes even me, I make mistakes. He knows that he made a mistake. Now is to not do it again [and] to try to keep the emotional balance and move forwards."

• On Wolves' plans for the January transfer window and speculation around Lens defender Kevin Danso: "We are working in the market, like the other teams. I am trying to understand what my players can give to me. This is a time to look for targets but I [will only] speak about my players. I cannot speak about players in the other teams. Until now our squad is short but I prefer to have a short squad because I like to see players from the academy. We are looking for talents. It is important to bring [in] but I am happy with my team."

• He also insisted former skipper Mario Lemina has a role to play, despite not featuring in a matchday squad under him: "He is our player in this moment - it means he is in my plans at this time."

• On wing-back Matt Doherty playing in the back three: "I want to play with three defenders, not three centre backs. My defenders, I hope in time, have the freedom to attack the lines, attack the opposing players [and] to open space for other players. It means sometimes I need him open as a full back [and] other times closing as a centre back."

• On his style and how close the squad are to that: "I am trying to understand the roles [in which] they feel comfortable to do it. It means this moment is a moment to study. I like to do something in my teams to create diversity of movement. Sometimes with a left foot on the right side and the opposite. The same for the forwards, [with] the men close to the striker. [I want] to change them because when they change the space, they start to do different things. This is the variability I want to see in my team."

• On how he compares with his Nottingham Forest counterpart and Portuguese compatriot Nuno Espirito Santo: "I have known him for a long time since he worked in Portugal. He and his staff are doing fantastic work - consistent, quality. It means that he is one of the top coaches here in England but I am what I am. I know what I want for my career and I will try to get it."

• With Forest competing at the top of the Premier League, Pereira said Wolves must be at their "best level" on Monday: "The results are telling us they are a strong, very consistent team. Very fast in counter attack, very dangerous when other teams lose balls and they are ready to go fast with quality. [They have] very good quality in transition."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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With the immediate sense of crisis having been dispelled by seven points from the first three games since Vitor Pereira's appointment, there are short and long-term ways to answer this question.

Two years ago, when making a change of coach to rescue their season, Wolves committed significant sums in the January window to strengthen Julen Lopetegui's hand.

How much they are prepared to spend this time we will soon know, but they would benefit from using January to rebalance a squad that emerged lopsided from August. At a club seeking to be more prudent, signing an additional midfielder and goalkeeper late in the summer felt indulgent - no matter their pedigree - given most observers felt Wolves' defensive stocks were low following the sale of Max Kilman.

If the re-purposing of Matt Doherty as a centre-back - the most significant tactical change so far under Pereira – becomes regular, maybe that can be avoided, but signing at least one defender would appear necessary.

Further ahead, success this year could be defined as finishing 17th, but here we reach the key issue. Recent missives from club chairman Jeff Shi, while doubtless well-meant, have done little to repair strained relations between Wolves' owners, Fosun and supporters. This is sad, because in the early years after their takeover Fosun were adored. They encouraged supporters to dream big, and started to make those dreams real. Whatever the reason, the outlook has changed.

Is merely existing in the league, as frugally as possible, enough? And enough for who? The idea that a club should be financially "self-sustaining" is not unreasonable. Most other businesses ultimately have to be.

But, in a sport where economics often appear to defy the financial gravity that governs the rest of the world, it is devilishly difficult - and few manage it.

Signing players before they are ripe for the first team, with a view to long-term profit, is financially smart, but in football you also have to make it work today.

Pereira's predecessors have made their frustrations clear. So have supporters. It would be a success for Wolves if 2025 is the year when the owners, the football management and the supporters can all unify around one agenda again.

Is that even possible now?

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Nottingham Forest at 20:00 GMT on Monday on BBC Radio WM

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Wolves have lost just one of their past 12 league games against Nottingham Forest - winning five and drawing six - and are unbeaten in all five against them in the Premier League.

Wolves and Tottenham are interested in 26-year-old England defender Ben Godfrey after he has fallen out of favour at Atalanta. (Rudy Galetti), external

Meanwhile, Spurs are stepping up their interest in England and Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, 31. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

We asked what Wolves' New Year resolutions should be.

Here are some of your replies:

Joe: Stay calm. Stay stable. We're fighting for survival. Let's survive and go again next season. Good results can come from this team and this manager, but easy does it.

Matt: Please learn how to defend set-pieces. Over 20 goals conceded this season from set-plays - totally unacceptable if we want to stay in the Premier League.

Nathan: Keep hold of the squad we have, bring in a couple of decent, experienced players (particularly in defence) and keep playing the way Vitor Pereira has got them playing!

David: Please buy a centre-back, two ideally. Not too much to ask when we needed cover before we even sold Kilman.

Gareth: It should be to ditch the self-sustainable model until such time as the club is actually geared up to operate in that way and be competitive on the pitch.

Wolves are weighing up a bid for Millwall's 25-year-old English defender Japhet Tanganga in January. (Express), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Matheus Cunha's ban might not be ideal but it could have been a lot worse for Wolves.

The two-game suspension handed out by the Football Association for his altercation with a member of Ipswich's security staff this month could even be viewed as lenient.

He will miss Monday's visit of Nottingham Forest and the FA Cup third round trip to Bristol City.

There was a large chance Cunha would have been rested for the game at Ashton Gate and he has been available to face Leicester, Manchester United and Tottenham since the incident. The ban appears to have fallen in Wolves' favour.

The goals against Leicester and United helped Wolves to six crucial points and they are only losing him for one game in their battle against the drop.

Hwang Hee-Chan's resurgence in the last two games, with his first goals of the season, at least gives new boss Vitor Pereira another option in his absence.

Cunha's goals and influence have been crucial to Wolves this season and to only lose him for one league game can play into their hands in the survival fight.

Wolves have made 26-year-old Lens and Austria defender Kevin Danso their top centre-back transfer target for January. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves are keen on Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez and Lens' Kevin Danso as they look to improve their defensive options.

The centre-backs are high on Wolves' wanted list for January with new boss Vitor Pereira, who has taken seven points from his opening three games in charge, eager for reinforcements.

Wolves are 17th in the Premier League and have conceded 42 goals in 19 games, the joint-worst defensive record in the division along with Leicester.

Ordonez, 20, and Danso, 26, have been tracked for a while and the club's interest pre-dates Pereira's arrival, after he replaced Gary O'Neil earlier this month.

Austria international Danso, who was in the academies at MK Dons and Reading, also spent time on loan at Southampton in 2019-20 and joined Lens from Augsburg in 2021.

Ordonez, an Ecuador international, has been at Club Brugge since 2023 after starting his career at Independiente del Valle.

Pereira said following Sunday's 2-2 draw at Tottenham that he wanted to add to his defensive options.

He said: "We're playing with three at the back and I don't want three centre-backs, I want just one central defender and a full-back left or right. But it's a position that we need to bring someone in with some expertise."

Christmas is boxed off.

We're almost through the confusing days before New Year and January is within touching distance.

And we need your help - what is Wolves' New Year's resolution?

It could be a new player to sign, a tactical system to implement, an off-the-pitch matter or something else entirely.

Let us know

Image source, PA Media

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Vitor Pereira's unbeaten start as Wolves boss:

"It's very early days - Ruud van Nistelrooy got off to a great start at Leicester and had them out of the relegation zone but [Pereira] does come with good pedigree.

"We had a Wolves fan on before Christmas saying the squad was a lot better than Gary O'Neil had made them look. The one person who's coming out of this looking really bad at the moment is O'Neil because the turnaround has been so rapid, and the transformation of certain players has been stunning.

"Those teams that have been in the Premier League for a little bit longer just have that little bit more quality and that little bit more experience of the top flight. So a manager coming into that situation with Wolves was always a lot more favourable than coming into the situation at Leicester with the squad they have.

"They've put in a bit of a gap now - we were talking about them definitely going down two or three weeks ago, but now they've given themselves a real opportunity [of staying up]."

Listen to more analysis on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Wolves, which finished in a 2-2 draw.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Paul: While Spurs play this system, they will finish in the bottom half of the table. Ange Postecoglou didn't start with our best midfielder - he has no tactics with our other subs. Far too much space for the opposition, and Spurs players not doing enough work off the ball.

Dave: Just not quite good enough. The usual stand-out performance from Dejan Kulusevski and good work from Brennan Johnson and others - but overall we look tired and there's not much joy out there. Please, Mr. Levy, give Postecoglou a late Christmas gift of some new talent in January. Some new blood plus fit-again A-players will have us up the table and finishing strong. And it'll bring back the joy... please!

Ricky: The story of our season and a half under Postecogliu. We can't defend and when we don't convert the numerous chances that we create, we are unable to adapt our tactics so we can still close a game out. European qualification via the league is surely now beyond our grasp and likewise winning a cup with the brand of football he plays. Graham Potter, are you free?

Ian: I think we have made progress under Postecoglou, we play exciting football and the game management side will come. We've had a bad run of injuries and some of the squad not playing up to full potential. Given time I think he can get this right so that every year we are in the mix and winning trophies in an manner that we can enjoy.

Wolves fans

Nathan: We have our fight back. We have our composure back. We look like a team again and it's great to see again! Thank you, Vitor Pereira!

Dave: Very good point at Spurs. Joao Gomes was outstanding and the best player on the pitch. Matt Doherty excelled in defence and Goncalo Guedes looked very sharp when he came on. Spurs weren't great but a point away to one of the so-called 'big six' is not to be sniffed at.

Lee: Battled well and deserved a point. Andre and Gomes were excellent in midfield and we looked dangerous going forwards throughout. If we can add a solid centre-back who will organise and attack the ball from set-pieces, we should start to climb the table. Well done, Wolves.

Steve: What a game! Excellent performance by both teams but Wolves had the edge as they continue to regain confidence and show heart. The honeymoon is over but Wolves continue to make great strides forwards. Match by match, I have more belief.

Kelly Somers introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest

• West Ham United 0-5 Liverpool

Newcastle United are interested in £25m Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, but they face competition for the 20-year-old Uzbekistan international from Premier League rivals Wolves, Leicester City, Manchester City and Tottenham. (Chronicle), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Matheus Cunha has been Wolves' talisman this season.

Cunha has been involved in 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances, scoring seven and assisting four.

He is also the first Wolves player to score as many as 16 top-flight goals in a calendar year since John Richards netted 18 in 1980.

Some fans wondered whether Wolves been become a little over reliant on the Brazilian this season.

Encouragingly, under new boss Vitor Pereira, there have been signs the load will be spread around should Wolves be forced to cope without him during an enforced period of absence.

Cunha is facing a potential ban after being charged for misconduct by the Football Association following Wolves' 2-1 defeat by Ipswich earlier this month.

Cunha was also withdrawn during the half-time interval against Spurs with a hamstring injury.

"I think it's not bad," Pereira said. "But he complains about some pain. He said 'coach, it's best to stay out' and I respect the player."

Whether it is injury or suspension, Pereira's Wolves should be able to cope.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira to BBC MOTD: "I can't explain the feeling but it's amazing.

"It was a tough game. The game was very intensive because they press a lot. In the first half we had some problems. But, we competed and in the second half they dropped the block a little bit.

"We started to play a bit with the ball and created some problems. In the end one point is not too bad.

"It was the first time with goals against. It was the first time I saw the spirit to fight for a good result and to turnover the result. This is the spirit I want. I am very happy with them - personality, we took a lot of risks."

On the injury to Matheus Cunha: "Some problems in the hamstrings. This is not a squad with a lot of solutions. I think it is not serious bit he complains about some pain. I spoke to him and he said it is better to stay out and I respect the players."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are six games in the Premier League on Sunday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Leicester v Man City (14:30)

• Crystal Palace v Southampton

• Everton v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Bournemouth

• Tottenham v Wolves

• West Ham v Liverpool (17:15) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here