Wolves v Spurs Premier League Preview

Losing to Manchester City is no shame and Spurs must nip any signs of a setback in their battle for a top 4 finish in the bud when they head to Molineux to face Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers. Spurs are now 5 points behind the league leaders after a 0-1 loss at Wembley on Monday night.

Wolves took to the Premier League like a duck to water in a fairly strong start for a newly promoted team. They drew with Everton and Manchester City in their first three games and went on to pick up 13 points from a possible 15 in the next 5 games, drawing only with Manchester United in that run. The neutrals have found Wolves exciting to watch and fans were beginning to dream of finishing in the European places at the end of the season but the last two games have ended in losses, bringing Wolves back down to earth.

Nuno Espirito Santo made a first change to his Premier League line up for the first time this season last week in their loss to Brighton. That change might have been necessitated by the 0-2 loss to Watford in a poor showing but it failed to reinvigorate his side who still slumped to 0-1 defeat at the Amex Stadium. Wolves have failed to score more than 2 goals in any game in the league this season and haven’t scored a first half goal since the opening day 2-2 draw with Everton. You suspect they will need to end both streaks to win on Saturday.

Spurs are currently 5th on 21 points and have won two of the last three games in the league despite not playing particularly well. Spurs rarely play badly when they face a big team and will have to put this tie in a big match category because Wolves have drawn with City and United this season and playing an expansive style of football that has seduced many. Pochettino will be glad to have Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen back in the fold as well Heung Son Min finding his scoring boots.

Much of Spurs failure this season can be put down to the team not taking many of the chances they have created. To have his creative axis back and in form could not have come at a better time as they soon face London derbies at home to Chelsea and away to North London Rivals, Arsenal. They are also facing a make-or-break phase in the Champions League. Pochettino is well aware of the depth issues with the squad and had to send out his B team in the midweek Carabao Cup tie with West Ham.

There have been 93 competitive meetings between these two sides with Spurs winning on 46 occasions. Wolves have won 27 times.

Team News

Eriksen and Alli are back from long-term injuries and were substitutes on Monday as well as playing some minutes in midweek. They are both in line for a start. Jan Vertonghen remains out till December while Danny Rose is a doubt.

Wolves are injury free for this weekend’s game and Nuno Espirito Santo will have the full depth of his squad to pick from.

Verdict

The race for top 4 this season promises to be unforgiving. Spurs can’t afford to drop more points after losing their last league game. Wolves face Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea over the next 5 games and will look to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle but Spurs should still be too powerful for Wolves even at the Molineux.