One of the Premier League’s biggest hatchet men vs its most fouled player, the Newcastle defender who the data – not just the tape measure – says is head and shoulders above his opponent tonight, and round three of a mismatch between a winger and full-back . . .

Eddie Howe's side are looking to make it nine wins in a row in all competitions when they take on Wolves tonight, and there could be some interesting battles all over the pitch.

While Newcastle vs Wolves has thrown up no end of drama in recent years, these three head-to-heads in particular hopefully point to the Magpies maintaining their winning momentum at St James’ Park tonight.

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Bruno Guimareas vs Joao Gomes

There have been 18 bookings dished out over the past five meetings between United and Wolves. But Bruno’s battle with Gomes in central midfield promises to deliver even greater fireworks. Being rivals and team-mates with the Brazil national team is reason enough for the battle between Newcastle’s talisman and the ball-winning Gomes to be feisty. But their respective numbers in domestic football this season make it an even tastier prospect.

In short, Bruno has won comfortably more fouls than anyone in the Premier League. But Gomes’ 2.51 fouls committed per 90 minutes make him the fourth “dirtiest” player in the top flight. But two other key statistics point to a more even battle in central midfield tonight. For while Gomes’ appetite for the midfield battle is such that he has also made the most successful tackles – 61 - of any Premier League player in 2024-25, Bruno has been dispossessed more than anyone in this season’s top flight.

Dan Burn vs Jorgen Strand Larsen

As with every other outfield Premier League opponent, Burn will look down on Wolves striker Strand Larsen. But the data comparison between the two men puts the gap between them at more than just the two extra inches which separate them in height.

Wolves’ attacking play often focuses on Strand Larsen, given he stands 6ft 4in. But 6ft 6in Burn looks safely equipped to deal with that, having averaged 3.53 successful aerial duels per Premier League game this season compared with the Norway international striker’s 2.48 per game. Need a better measure of this match-up? Burn has won the third-most headers of any Premier League player this season, while Strand Larsen ranks just 16th.

Better still for the boy from Blyth? His 60.8% winning header average towers above Strand Larsen, at just 35.4%.

Anthony Gordon vs Matt Doherty

Doherty has happy memories of St James’ Park, after scoring the last-gasp winner in Wolves’ 2-1 win on Tyneside in December 2018. But his recollections of playing against Gordon are far fresher – and far more painful. Recent numbers seemingly favour Gordon, whoever he is up against. He has registered either a goal or an assist in each of his last eight games.

But he has particular reason to fancy himself against Doherty – who will almost certainly end up feeding across to cover Gordon tonight while teammate Nelson Semedo pushes forward. Twice, the two have met on the international stage this season. Twice, Gordon has emphatically got the better of Doherty – in England’s 2-0 and 5-0 Nations League victories over Ireland.

Doherty was also at fault when Harvey Barnes skipped inside – as Gordon loves to do – from the left wing to score Newcastle’s winner at Wolves in September. And Gordon’s league data this season also points to him enjoying himself tonight. With 1.36 successful dribbles completed per 90 minutes, he should cause a real headache for Doherty, who is only averaging 1.12 tackles won per 90.