Wolves will host Crystal Palace with the bottom-half battlers aiming to return to winning ways and move further away from the relegation zone.
It was not a good weekend for Wolves, who had ambitions to increase the gap to the relegation zone further ahead of the game against Crystal Palace. While they took the lead against Leicester City, goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Timothy Castagne condemned Julen Lopetegui’s men to a defeat.
Six points separate them from 18th-placed Everton, although their defeat and West Ham United’s hammering of Bournemouth will see them start midweek below the Hammers on goal difference. Lopetegui has brought resilience to this side, especially at home, where they have five wins in their last seven games.
Pick ourselves up for the next challenge.
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 22, 2023
Keeping that in mind, Wolves will enter their midweek fixture against Crystal Palace aiming to get a win on home soil and going level on points with Palace. Lopetegui will know the importance of the three points here, as his side then face Brighton, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal among those remaining fixtures.
Roy Hodgson will rue his side’s performances in the goalless draw at home to Everton. Crystal Palace came into the weekend’s game on a three-game winning run and may have sensed an opportunity to collect a fourth victory, but things didn’t go according to plan.
Everton also went down to ten men in the latter stages of the game, and Palace applied pressure to no avail. Despite the dropped points, Hodgson will have been relaxed about their situation as they remain nine points off the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace will also take their decent record against Wolves as encouragement, having won the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park earlier in the season. Like Wolves, the Eagles also have a tough run of fixtures before the season closes, with trips to Tottenham and Fulham among those pending.
Team News & Tactics
Wolves
Julen Lopetegi does have some injury concerns, which could impact his team selection for the Crystal Palace game. Mario Lemina was instrumental in Wolves’ goal against Leicester City and was withdrawn with a hamstring problem. Later, he was seen walking normally, which allayed fears but would have made the manager cautious about using him too much.
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— Wolves (@Wolves) April 24, 2023
Hence, the midfielder remains a doubt against Crystal Palace. Wolves will also have to make do without Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho, while Boubacar Traore needs more match fitness to make the squad. Lopetegui has recently preferred to start Lemina and Joao Gomes in midfield, although if the former does not make it, Ruben Neves should come straight back in the lineup.
Lopetegui could also make some changes following another drab show from Pablo Sarabia and Diego Costa. He could look to bring Daniel Podence instead of Sarabia, while Hwang Hee-chan could replace the Spaniard up front.
Craig Dawson and Max Kilman will continue their central defensive partnership, while Nelson Semedo and Toti Gomes should keep their full-back positions. Meanwhile, Matheus Nunes should continue in the team in his much-changed role from the wide right position.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Jose Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Nunes, Gomes, Neves, Podence; Hwang, Cunha
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace will again be without Wilfried Zaha in their attacking setup. The winger has missed the last few clashes with a groin problem, although Roy Hodgson will hope to have him and Nathaniel Clyne on the training pitch soon.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 23, 2023
Nathan Ferguson seems destined to miss the remainder of the season as he picked up a fresh muscular problem that may prove serious. Meanwhile, Vicente Guaita has returned to fitness but may have lost his place to Sam Johnstone, who could keep his spot between the sticks against Wolves.
Hodgson could ponder making minor tweaks to his side and bringing fresh legs. He has options in Jean Philippe-Mateta and Will Hughes but may retain the same starting lineup. Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi will keep their central defensive places intact, with support from Joel Ward and Tyrick Mitchell as full-backs.
Cheick Doucoure will continue his work at the base of midfield and will have Eberechi Eze and Jeffrey Schlupp on either side. Michael Olise will start on the right side of the attack while Odsonne Edouard continues to lead the line. Andre Ayew will keep deputising for Zaha, having done a good job from the left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp; Olise, Edouard, Ayew
Key Stats
- Wolves failed to win their fifth away win running with their loss to Leicester City.
- Wolves have won five times in their last seven home games in the Premier League.
- Crystal Palace have won their last four matches against Wolverhampton in all competitions.
- Crystal Palace can make it three away wins in a row for the first time since 2019.
- Crystal Palace have scored at least two goals in their last three matches against Wolverhampton in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze appreciation tweet ✨🔥 pic.twitter.com/SHH4xawyUD
— LiveScore (@livescore) April 15, 2023
Eze is the most in-form Crystal Palace player and has been their shining light since Hodgson’s arrival. He was instrumental in the three games under the manager. And while he failed to spark against Everton, the spotlight will again fall on the attacking midfielder.
Between now and the end of the season, Crystal Palace will have to put their best foot forward in the remaining games. In that, Eze will have to play a crucial role and show he has consistency in his locker with a starring performance against Wolves.
Prediction
Wolves 1-1 Crystal Palace
These are teams in relatively good form and coming into this clash with the same objective. Wolves and Crystal Palace remain keen to increase the gap with the relegation battlers further. While Roy Hodgson’s men are in slightly better form than Julen Lopetegui’s charges, this game has all the hallmarks of an entertaining draw.
Lopetegui will hope to recapture their good form at Molineux but will he aware of the resurgent Crystal Palace side and their form. Both sides pick up form and momentum in these closing stages, although this game will likely end in a draw.
