Wolves vs Crystal Palace – Analysis, Prediction, Team News

As part of our midweek Premier League predictions, we take a look at Crystal Palace’s trip to Wolverhampton. Wolves have won 5 of their last 7 home Premier League matches – can they make it 6 from 8? Read on with our Wolves vs Crystal Palace prediction.

Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Wolves:

Might Not Play: Lemina, B. Traore

Will Not Play: Kalajdzic, Chiquinho

Crystal Palace:

Might Not Play:

Will Not Play: Guaita, Ferguson, Clyne, Zaha

Wolves vs Crystal Palace Lineups (Predicted)

Wolves (4-4-2): Sa; Toti, Kilman, Dawson, Semedo; Sarabia, Neves, Gomes, Nunes; Cunha, Costa

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Johnstone; Mitchell, Guehi, Andersen, Ward; Doucoure, Schlupp, Eze; Ayew, Edouard, Olise

Wolves vs Crystal Palace Analysis

Wolves Have Been Good At Home Recently And Must Try To Take The Game To Palace

Wolves are not bad at keeping the ball, having averaged 51 per cent possession this season – compared to Palace with 44.5 per cent. Therefore, with Wolves at home and being more of a ‘ball dominant’ side than Palace, we would expect Wolves to have much of the play and a larger share of possession. How well they use this possession to get into attacking areas and score could be crucial; Wolves have only managed 27 goals this season – fewer than one per game and amongst the league’s bottom-ranked for goals scored.

Therefore, Wolves must try to control the game in midfield. We see Neves returning as Lemina is doubtful. Neves is an excellent passer of the ball and good at dictating the tempo of the game, so he should give Wolves some rhythm in the middle. He and Gomes must receive the ball from Kilman and Dawson and try to play passes which can find spaces between the Palace lines. If they can do that, the front players will have the opportunity to attack the Palace backline.

Sarabia and Nunes are both good out wide. Nunes is often more of a midfielder and will sometimes come narrow to help out Neves and Gomes and make it more of a 4-3-3. However, when Wolves have the ball, Sarabia’s trickery and crossing are big weapons for getting the ball into the box for Cunha and Costa to attack. The two forwards will likely lead the line and offer a very physical presence, height, and ability in the air (and on the ground). Crosses coming into the box from the flanks and the full-backs and wide players getting in behind to offer cutbacks could be crucial, as could Neves’s powerful shooting.

Wolves have plenty of options to change things up. Moutinho is a replacement in midfield. The tricky Neto, Podence and Hwang, and the explosive Adama Traore are attacking reinforcements.

Palace Will Likely Play On The Counter

Palace have taken ten points of the last twelve, with the highlight being that 5-1 hammering of Leeds at Elland Road in Hodgson’s second game as returning manager. Therefore, they will likely look to play on transitions against Wolves – defending in a low block and encouraging Wolves on to them before winning the ball and attacking at pace on turnovers. The back four are all good defenders, and if they form a compact block with Doucoure and Schlupp in midfield, it will free the explosive Eze up to join the attack on the counter.

If Palace can limit Wolves’ space, they can break at pace. Therefore, Ayew, Olise and Edouard in the forward positions must link up well and try to use their hold-up play, dribbling ability and crossing to create chances. Kilman and Dawson are somewhat commanding, tall centre-backs in the heart of Wolves’ defence, so winning things in the air might be difficult. However, when Palace break, there might be a disruption in the Wolves system depending on how fast Neves and Gomes cover and how quickly Sarabia and Nunes get back.

As stated, we see Nunes sometimes coming narrower without the ball to try to give Wolves more protection in midfield, meaning there could be more space on the Palace left. If Ayew can find this space, he can link with Edouard and Mitchell, and they can try to find their way into the box. On other occasions, Wolves might shore up the two sides. In these situations, there should be more space in the middle where the two most prominent danger men, Olise and Eze, can come to and try to play through Wolves.

In general, we expect Palace to use counter-attacks and width often. However, they will also have some minor spells of possession where they try to play through Wolves. Wolves can be dangerous on counters. Hence, though the likely Pattern is Wolves dominating, Palace must be careful not to overcommit, lose the ball, and be countered against themselves. Mateta and Hughes could come off the bench.

Our Prediction

This game is a really difficult one to call. Both of these teams have seen a revival in recent weeks, which has dragged them away from the relegation pack and should see them both safe – even if neither has reached the magical 40-point mark yet, you’d imagine they each have enough of a buffer now. They’ll both likely be fine (though Wolves especially have a tough run-in). It’s hard to see three of the bottom five sides doing enough to catch either.

However, both sides know they are not guaranteed to be part of next season’s Premier League yet. A win for either side in one of the gentler games left for both teams would surely go a long way to ensuring safety. A victory would put Palace on the magic 40 points and Wolves on 37, so this six-pointer is season-defining.

Many people think Wolves will win because of their recent impressive home record (five wins in seven). The game is set up for Palace to counter well, though, and we will predict a scoring draw. If there is a likely winner, it is Wolves for us, so a 1-0 Wolves win would be our second choice. Use this information to help inform your own decision.

Wolves 1-1 Crystal Palace

Wolves vs Crystal Palace Betting Tip – Draw Odds: