Predictions Premier League - Wolves vs Crystal Palace

Premier League - Wolves vs Crystal Palace
Match Time: 11-05-2024 22:00 Saturday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Wolves

As suspended Wolves boss O'Neil took his seat in the Etihad stand for the showdown with Man City, he was powerless to prevent the indomitable Erling Haaland from ripping his troops to shreds, as the Nordic powerhouse had already assured himself of another match ball by the half-time whistle.

Hwang Hee-chan's 12th of the season at least gave the visiting faithful something to cheer, but Haaland completed his four-goal haul within just a minute of the restart, before Julian Alvarez also got in on the act to condemn the visitors to their 16th loss of the top-flight campaign.

While lamenting the award of City's first penalty of the match, O'Neil was under no illusions that his side were made to pay for some "terrible" mistakes at the home of the champions as their springtime plateau continues; it is just one win from their last nine across all competitions and three defeats from their last four.

Thankfully for the Old Gold, who sit 12th in the table and can still force their way into the top half during the final stages of the season, their safety was guaranteed some time ago, but their downturn in fortunes quickly put paid to any fleeting European hopes.

Edging out Luton Town 2-1 at Molineux on April 27 did at least snap a four-game losing run on their own patch for Wolves, who have now conceded eight penalties in the top-flight campaign and have been behind at half time on 13 occasions; only Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town have a worse record in that regard.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace did not need a 12-yard attempt to obliterate a meek Man United side at Selhurst Park on Monday evening, where some atrocious Red Devils defending allowed Michael Olise to draw first blood before the revived Jean-Philippe Mateta put the Eagles two goals to the good.

As Erik ten Hag's tepid troops failed to muster up any kind of a response - despite the best efforts of their vocal fans - Oliver Glasner's men showed no mercy in the second half, where Olise completed his brace after left-back Tyrick Mitchell had also got in on the act.

Tearing Man United to shreds saw the Eagles complete their first-ever league double over the 20-time English champions, who became Palace's fourth victims from their last five matches during an extremely promising spell of end-of-season form, in which Liverpool, West Ham United and Newcastle United have also been put to the sword by Glasner's men.

Optimism for 2024-25 could hardly be higher for the 14th-placed visitors, who will rise at least one place above upcoming hosts Wolves should they come up trumps at Molineux, and recent history certainly favours the crop from the capital.

Indeed, Palace have prevailed in four of their last five showdowns with their hosts in the Premier League, including a pulsating 3-2 September success when Roy Hodgson was at the helm, although the one aberration in that sequence was a 2-0 Molineux beatdown just over 12 months ago.

Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Crystal Palace