Crystal Palace head to Wolves looking to build on their first Premier League win of the season, and we have all the team news and lineups, as well as a prediction for the match.
Wolves vs Crystal Palace Preview
As Wolves and Crystal Palace prepare for Saturday’s 5:30 pm clash at Molineux, both teams will be looking to extend their recent spells of momentum and edge further away from the dreaded relegation zone.
Wolves’ stirring 2-2 comeback draw against Brighton and Crystal Palace’s Carabao Cup victory over Aston Villa have both provided glimpses of resilience—qualities they’ll need in the fight for points this weekend.
Gary O’Neil’s side staged a memorable late revival at Brighton, turning a bleak 2-0 deficit into an unlikely point. After going two down with just minutes to go, Rayan Ait-Nouri gave Wolves a glimmer of hope before Matheus Cunha’s deflected equaliser sent the away fans into rapturous celebrations.
Despite that comeback, Wolves remain winless in the Premier League this season and sit 19th in the table. Conceding 25 goals—the most of any side in the league—highlights their defensive frailties, although their consistent scoring form offers some encouragement.
Menawhile, Crystal Palace’s recent performances show they are rediscovering their competitive edge under Oliver Glasner. A narrow 1-0 win over Spurs, courtesy of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal, snapped their league slump, and a cup win at Villa Park has given the Eagles a shot at a quarter-final face-off against Arsenal.
With consecutive wins boosting their morale, Palace will be keen to improve their away form, where they have struggled, taking just one point from four Premier League away games this season.
Historically, Palace have enjoyed facing Wolves, winning six of their last seven encounters, including a double last season with a 3-1 victory at Molineux.
Wolves Team News
Gary O’Neil is hopeful that captain Mario Lemina, who was substituted at half-time in the Brighton match with a calf concern, will be fit to lead the team on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who missed the squad last weekend despite training in the lead-up, could return to face his former club, challenging Jose Sa for the starting role after Sa’s costly error allowed Danny Welbeck’s opener.
Wolves remain without a string of key players, including Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Yerson Mosquera, and Boubacar Traore, all sidelined with knee injuries.
Hwang Hee-chan and Bastien Meupiyou are also out, though there’s a chance Hwang could make his return before the international break.
Crystal Palace Team News
Palace face even bigger injury concerns following their midweek win over Aston Villa. Influential playmaker Eberechi Eze sustained a hamstring injury and will miss the next two games, while midfielder Adam Wharton, who has been managing a chronic groin issue, has undergone surgery and is ruled out for approximately four weeks.
Jefferson Lerma, Chadi Riad, Joel Ward, Matheus Franca, and Chris Richards also remain unavailable for the Eagles, although Cheick Doucoure might make his comeback.
Wolves vs Crystal Palace Lineups
Wolves Lineup:
Sa; Bueno, Dawson, T. Gomes; Semedo, Doyle, J. Gomes, Ait Nouri; Sarabia, Cunha, Larsen
Crystal Palace Lineup:
Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Kamada, Hughes, Mitchel; Nketiah, Sarr, Mateta
Wolves vs Crystal Palace Prediction
A win feels like it’s coming for Wolves, with Gary O’Neil’s defensive adjustments providing the stability they need.
Switching to a back five has made Wolves tougher to break down, and that setup should frustrate a Crystal Palace side struggling for creativity and finishing.
Despite their recent wins over Tottenham and Aston Villa, Palace have been the league’s least productive attack this season, with the fewest goals scored, the lowest shot conversion rate, and the poorest-quality chances created.
Interestingly, Oliver Glasner’s Palace often fall on the wrong side of narrow scorelines. This season, in each of Palace’s nine games that ended with a winner, the winning margin has been by just one goal. We’re backing that trend to continue here, but with Wolves edging out a narrow, hard-fought victory.
Prediction: Wolves 2-1 Crystal Palace
