Under-the-radar Wolves to continue their ascent
Selhurst Park will be the venue on Saturday afternoon in the Barclays Premier League when Crystal Palace take on Wolverhampton Wanderers. The hosts shocked the world when they went to the Etihad Stadium and came away with all three points and a clean sheet against Manchester City last weekend, and whilst they've only won two of their opening 10 matches in the division, they've also lost precisely the same amount. The visitors meanwhile have looked a different side with the return to form and fitness of talisman Raúl Jiménez, and could seriously jeopardise the hosts' fine record. Read our preview here:
A new Olise of life
Head coach Patrick Vieira was nominated for October's Manager of the Month on Thursday morning, and he has quietly set about his task, easing fears at the present moment of any possible slip into the relegation zone. Additionally, he sought many younger faces in the summer transfer window to augment his quest to make the overall squad far younger than the aging one he inherited from the outgoing Roy Hodgson. Part of that strategy has seen them acquire some of the most promising talents in the EFL, and former Reading attacking midfielder Michael Olise certainly fits that description. Whilst not a certainty to start on Saturday, the 19 year old has acquited himself well in his six games in the top tier, possessing many attributes that make him effective in the final third. Christian Benteke also looks revitalised, and will compete with Odsonne Édouard for the central role alongside Wilfried Zaha. Remarkably, Eberechi Eze could make the matchday squad just six months after rupturing his Achilles tendon
Hwang-ling for goals
Wolves' head coach Bruno Lage will continue to be without Jonny and Pedro Neto for his side's journey to the capital, but the West Midlands outfit have won four and drawn one of their last five matches in the league, with striker Jiménez the central (but far from only) component. Though on the right flank Trincão hasn't had a goal or assist to show for his efforts, his positivity and teamwork have been intrinsic to their rise up the standings, whilst in goal, José Sá has cut an impressive figure. Perhaps the most noteworthy player in 2021/2022 in old gold has been RB Leipzig loanee Hee-Chan Hwang. The South Korean international has hit four goals in just five starts, and his impressive individual skill and vision have seen him more often than not positioned expertly to either stroke home or keep up the danger in the opposition penalty area.
Get the Lage in
Both teams are playing exciting football at present and defying expectations. Crystal Palace will be bolstered further when Eze makes his return, whilst Lage has proven that the squad he took over from Nuno Espirito Santo didn't need a massive overhaul. They look the stronger at present, and Casumo have odds of 3.05 for an away win to take back up the road to Molineux.
