The Dissection: Crystal Palace vs. Wolves

#1 Between the two camps

With Craig Dawson being the only senior player unavailable for selection due to groin difficulties keeping the defender out of the lineup for the duration of the season, Wolves’ injury troubles are looking much better going into their final two games of the season. Pedro Neto did not travel to Manchester last weekend even though he had resumed full training. However, this weekend might mark the winger’s first outing in gold and black since he was substituted at halftime of the 2-1 victory over Fulham in early March. Mario Lemina, who was sidelined at the Etihad in the second half because of a stiff hamstring, is anticipated to be healthy.

Oliver Glasner is lacking a few players due to injuries, but he still has a wide range of alternatives for the visit to Molineux, particularly in the attacking areas. After leaving the game during the 4-0 victory over Manchester United on Monday, Will Hughes is questionable. Sam Johnstone, the goalkeeper, is also out due to elbow surgery, therefore Dean Henderson will continue to start in goal. Rob Holding and Matheus Franca are gone for the remainder of the season, while neither Jefferson Lerma (thigh) nor Cheick Doucoure (calf) are anticipated to be healthy before Saturday.

#2 Entering the scene

A fortnight ago, Wolves achieved a 2-1 victory against Luton Town at Molineux, earning all three points before they suffered greatly at the Etihad last Saturday when Erling Haaland scored four goals in a Manchester City rampage. After three straight losses at Molineux, the Old Gold’s eighth home victory of the year came to an end with that victory.

Wolves’ previous three: W 2-1 Luton Town (H) – L 0-1 Bournemouth (H) – L 1-5 Manchester City (A)

Crystal Palace, one of the best teams in the Premier League, has won their last five games at the highest level. Following a strong start to the season with 12 points from their first eight games, Palace has only lost three times in the league since Glasner took over in February. In their last five games, the team has defeated Manchester United, Liverpool, West Ham United, and Newcastle United.

Palace’s previous three games: D 1-1 Fulham (A) – W 2-0 Newcastle United (H) – W 4-0 Manchester United (H)

#3 Since the previous instance

Wolves 2 Crystal Palace 3 | September 3, 2023

When the teams met earlier in the season at Selhurst Park, a determined Wolves team found it too late to rally against Crystal Palace, as the Eagles took all three points in an exciting second half filled with goals and action. Odsonne Edouard had given the hosts the lead with their opening attack after the half, but Hee Chan Hwang came off the bench to tie the score for Wolves. Late in the game, Matheus Cunha of the visitors cut the Palace deficit in half, but it was too little, too late for the Old Gold. Eberechi Eze and Edouard’s second goal seemed to give Palace an unstoppable lead.

Silva, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Lemina, Gomes, Neto, Hwang, Cunha, and Silva make up the Wolves starting lineup.

Fabio Silva, a member of the Wolves team that began play in September, is presently playing in the Scottish Premiership on loan at Rangers, while Dawson will be sidelined due to injury on Saturday. All eleven members of the Palace team are still with the Eagles; but, due to injuries, Johnstone, Lerma, and Doucoure will not play at Molineux, while neither Ward, Guehi, Ayew, Schlupp, nor Edouard began Monday night’s game at Old Trafford.

Johnstone, Ward, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell, Lerma, Doucoure, Ayew, Eze, Schlupp, Edouard are the players lining up for Palace.

#4 In the press

Although the players and Gary O’Neil may enjoy a stress-free last two games of the season, radio WM commentator Mike Taylor fears that pressure inside Molineux may start to build ahead of the next campaign.

“Wolves can be quite confident of the reception their fans will give them on Saturday when they play their home fans for the last time this season. Fans who feared the worst in August were quickly reassured after a season where they have not only averted “disaster,” but have shown that they are capable of battling even the most popular teams in the Premier League. But O’Neil will not permit the players to take it as a mark of honor. The string of performances in March and April that saw Wolves stray from the European locations, which momentarily

appeared doable, hurt O’Neil and his team – cruelly, considering the preseason anticipations. However, Wolves’ last home game will not be burdened by the pressures of playing against teams lower in the Premier League, as O’Neil pointed out. After the last games, when we see how Wolves respond to O’Neil’s wish that they be better prepared to handle the demands of the league next season, the true pressure inside Molineux may begin to mount.

Oliver Glasner, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian, may have to fight to hold onto two of his Crystal Palace stars this summer, as potential suitors are vying for both Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. With an inventive 3-4-2-1 configuration that has allowed Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze to thrive in attack after missing significant portions of the season due to injury, Glasner looks to have the recipe for success. However, it is still unclear if Palace will be able to hold onto “an amazing group,” as the manager of Eintracht Frankfurt who led the team to Europa League victory in 2021 put it. Eze and Olise, who attracted Manchester City’s attention the previous season, inked new contracts in the previous 12 months, albeit it’s likely that they have release clauses. though more than £60 million. The construction of the new main stand is scheduled to start in the summer, some six years after Palace was given planning permission. At least one star may have to be sold in order to finance a redevelopment that might cost more than £150 million to raise capacity to 34,000.