Crystal Palace vs Wolves Preview

• Draw or Palace win
• Over 2.5 goals

Crystal Palace enter their penultimate Premier League match of the season with a sense of elation few clubs can match. The Eagles secured their first-ever major trophy with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at the weekend, etching their name into English football history and guaranteeing European football for the first time in the club’s modern era.

Understandably, the emotional and physical toll of that victory may have a lingering effect. Manager Oliver Glasner even cancelled training in the days following the Wembley triumph to allow his players to recover. That may have kept the party going just a little longer, but the Austrian boss will now need to ensure his side are mentally reset to finish their Premier League campaign strong.

A return to Selhurst Park for the first time since that achievement will be greeted by a rapturous home crowd, and the Eagles will look to channel that energy into a winning performance. However, their record at home against mid-table and top-half opposition leaves a lot to be desired.

Excluding games against the current bottom four, Palace have won just two of their 13 home league games this season (D6, L5). That said, they have historically finished the season well at home, losing just one of their last 12 final home matches in a league campaign (W8, D3).

Wolves Out to Spoil the Party

Wolves arrive in south London with pride and positioning on the line. A top-half finish is mathematically out of reach, but securing a strong 11th or 12th-place finish would mark a respectable first campaign under Vítor Pereira. Their motivation may also stem from ending an unwanted run of eight consecutive defeats in their final away league game of the season, a record that stretches back to their promotion in 2018.

Their recent record against Crystal Palace, however, offers little encouragement. Wolves have lost each of their last four Premier League visits to Selhurst Park, and have not won in this part of south London since their return to the top flight. Their general struggles in the capital have also become glaringly apparent, with Wolves failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 23 Premier League games in London (W4, D6, L13).

That defensive vulnerability is reflected in this season’s record, particularly on their travels to London clubs, where they have conceded at least twice in each of their six visits (W1, D1, L4). With Palace’s attacking players now brimming with confidence following their FA Cup win, this could prove a challenging assignment for Pereira’s men.

One subplot worth noting is the tactical familiarity between the two managers. Pereira’s Fenerbahçe side met Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League group stage, with both encounters ending 1-1. That could lend an intriguing tactical layer to this mid-table match-up, even if the stakes are mostly symbolic.

Players to Watch

For the hosts, few players have been as influential in recent weeks as Eberechi Eze. The playmaker netted the decisive goal at Wembley and has been in fine form throughout the spring, directly contributing to several of Palace’s recent wins.

He’ll be particularly excited about this opponent, having scored a joint career-high four Premier League goals against Wolves, including a brace in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Wolves will hope Jørgen Strand Larsen can lead the line effectively again. The Norwegian striker has hit a rich vein of form, scoring in five of his last seven appearances, including the equaliser in the 2-2 draw between these sides in the reverse fixture.

With Wolves expected to sit deep and hit on the break, his presence up front will be crucial if they are to capitalise on any Palace lapses.

Hot Stat

The team scoring first has gone on to win seven of Wolves’ last eight away league games (W4, L4), highlighting the importance of a fast start and how momentum often dictates their results on the road.

Prediction

With Palace still basking in the glory of their historic cup success and now playing in front of a jubilant home crowd, they should have just enough motivation to edge a Wolves side that has struggled on the road, especially in London. However, a post-cup hangover is not out of the question, and if Wolves can grab the first goal, they may just hold out.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Wolves

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Crystal Palace v Wolves, 2024/25 | Premier League