Diogo Jota hat-trick gives Wolves win over Leicester in seven-goal thriller
Wolverhampton Wanderers may have feared the worst when their 2-0 first-half lead turned into 2-2 after the break as Leicester City came back into the game, but, in a thrilling game, the home side had the final laugh, winning 4-3.
The Premier League match’s most spectacular moment, from a wide selection, was reserved for Diogo Jota when he scored his third goal and won the game in the 93rd after Leicester had brought it back to 3-3 with minutes to spare through Wes Morgan.
Claude Puel’s job has been under increasing pressure and Morgan’s 87th minute header to seemingly salvage a point may have offered him some respite from difficult questions, but Wolves’ ability to calve open their visitors for a fourth time late in the game will certainly drag his future back into the spotlight.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League encounter between Wolves and Leicester City, brought to you from the Molineux Stadium.
Team news will be in at around 11:30am, with kick-off an hour later at 12:30pm to start the first of eight Premier League games this afternoon.
Six at the top, seven at the bottom, but a defining feature of the 2018/19 Premier League season thus far has been the return of a proper melee in the middle, the most consistently inconsistent of the 20 sides in the league jostling for position as they chase seventh place, and thus the right to be known as 'best-of-the-rest.'
Just six points separate seventh and thirteenth in the mound of mediocrity otherwise known as mid-table. Two of the primary protagonists in this purgatory parable battle at Molineux this afternoon to kick-start the weekend's Premier League action.
Wolves vs Leicester gets underway in about an hour and 20 minutes, which means team news is not too far away at all...
Willy Boly's suspension leads to a reshuffle from Nuno Esparto Santo. Leander Dendoncker showed promise after being forced into the left centre-half berth after Boly was sent off against Liverpool on Monday, but he is named in midfield with the similarly versatile Romain Saiss starting at the back.
Ruben Vinagre replaces Matt Doherty at wing-back, with Jonny Otto switching sides to accommodate the naturally left-sided Portuguese youngster.
The headline team news for Leicester is the inclusion of Harvey Barnes, recalled after starring on loan at West Brom during the first half of the season. The three-man defensive midfield that has drawn criticism in recent weeks is ditched by Claude Puel, with Ricardo Pereira deployed further up the pitch and Danny Simpson included at right-back. Demarai Gray also returns.
Claude Puel's Leicester may be eighth in the Premier League table, but the Frenchman is by no means a popular figure at the King Power Stadium.
His side followed disappointing exits from both cups, the second at the hands of lowly Newport County, with a poor home defeat to ten-man Southampton last time out, and the players were booed off.
Leicester will be keen to get back on track today.
Harvey Barnes is a figure of intrigue today. The Leicester academy graduate tore things up in this part of the world on loan at West Brom, earning his recall to his parent club with nine goals in 26 appearances for Darren Moore's Championship high-flyers.
Just 21, this is Barnes' first Leicester start. With James Maddison's form having taken a downturn and Marc Albrighton not providing the creativity of yesteryear, there is an opportunity for Barnes to seize a starting spot with a strong showing this afternoon.
Less than two weeks left in the January transfer window, and with many Premier League clubs surprisingly reserved thus far there could be a flurry of late activity.
For news, rumours and all the done deals, there's no place better to follow the transfer action than The Independent's transfer live blog:
Unlike his opposite number today, Nuno Esparto Santo remains a popular figure at Wolves. His commitment to playing football has caught the eye, and while their recent Premier League results haven't wowed, the Portuguese manager will be confident of a home victory today.
On to the pitch come the players, with a pair of big centre-halves leading the way in captains Wes Morgan and Conor Coady.
Fireworks and flames to greet them. Perhaps a bit much for a 12.30 Premier League kick-off, though it will warm those at Molineux on a bitter mid-January day.
A very early booking for Nampalys Mendy after a poor pass from Barnes allows Raul Jimenez to nip in.
Jimenez knocks the ball beyond Mendy who has no choice but to bring the Mexican down. 88 minutes to survive on a booking for Leicester's defensive midfielder.
Ruben Neves charges onto a loose ball 25 yards out and unfurls the most beautiful of curling efforts that seems destined for the top corner, but a flying Kasper Schmeichel tips over the bar to his left.
Leicester clear the corner to Demarai Gray who has teammates ahead of him, but takes too long and Leander Dendoncker firmly dispossesses him.
Leicester's players had gone forward with reckless abandon and thus Joao Moutinho is in acres of space down the right, and eh chooses to curl in a cross.
There is just one teammate waiting, but Diogo Jota times his run expertly to stud the ball home from six yards out.
Rui Patricio miscontrols a pass back and then takes an age to decide to launch clear, in which time Jamie Vardy has closed him down and pounces on a second loose touch form the goalkeeper.
Patricio just about does enough to twice prevent Vardy rounding him, and eventually earns a goal kick.
Demarai Gray swings a corner in towards the sizeable dome of Harry Maguire, and Rui Patricio again doesn't deal with it effectively. Maguire wins the header powerfully above Patricio, but can't direct it on target.
Referee Chris Kavanagh gestures that he may have given a foul had Maguire not headed over the bar, but perhaps a let off for Wolves.
Leicester are again wide open down the right with Ben Chilwell too far forward as Wolves look to profit.
Harry Maguire steps in on the edge of his own box and makes a good tackle, but the subsequent collision with the Wolves player has done a little damage.
Wolves vs Leicester City kicks off at 12:30pm (GMT) on Saturday 19th January.
Where can I watch it?
Wolves vs Leicester City will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Main Event and Premier League channels from 11:30am (GMT).
Sky subscribers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app.
Highlights will be shown at 10:20pm on BBC One.
Player to watch…
Ruben Neves: The 21-year-old has been a standout performer in Wolves’ midfield this season. Neves, who has nine international caps for Portugal, scored a trademark long-range winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup, and his partnership with compatriot Joao Moutinho has been a driving force in Wolves’ excellent season.
Ruben Neves has been integral to Wolves' success this season (AFP/Getty)
