Premier League: Hungry Wolves Await in-Form Spurs

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur

It’s a famous old top flight fixture and when Wolves welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Molineux on Saturday we’ll see some Premier League entertainment at its finest.   

They aren’t the best in the league by any stretch, but this is a fascinating clash between two teams separated by 11 places in the league table and each with a clear objective. Wolves are currently 15^th and only three points above the drop zone, but they have been on a steady upward trajectory since the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as head coach.

Meanwhile Spurs are in a Champions League spot and head coach Antonio Conte will be desperate to hang on to it, while his team is still in two cup competitions, the FA Cup and the Champions League. 

Wolves are after safety while Spurs are searching for long awaited glory, and that makes this a high stakes clash for both.   

Talking Points

Lopetegui’s January deals paying off

Wolves have a tough game away to Liverpool on Wednesday but they have picked up seven useful points from the last four games, including a 3-0 win over Liverpool at home, another win over Southampton and a 1-1 draw away to Fulham last time out. The only blemish came in a surprise 1-0 defeat to lowly Bournemouth.

Pablo Sarabia scored his first goal since his January switch from Paris-Saint Germain to give Wolves a deserved lead against Fulham last week. The 30 year old started and finished off a flowing move and that will give him the confidence to kick on. He’s a player with real pedigree, starring at Sevilla and in Paris and he has nine goals in 26 appearances for Spain.

Sarabia is another quick and skilful forward to work alongside the talented duo of Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence who have scored five goals each, and Lopetegui will be looking for big contributions from all three in the coming months. At the back, the signing of centre back Craig Dawson was a shrewd move; the former West Brom and West Ham star is a proven Premier League defender and a leader on the pitch, with an added attacking threat at set pieces.   

The Premier League 2023 betting odds are getting increasingly confident that Wolves will avoid the drop with five teams at shorter odds to fall into the second tier. Their current uptick in form and some smart January recruits should see them over the line a little before the nail-biting climax.    

Kane back to his best for Spurs

Tottenham recovered from a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Leicester City and a setback in the Champions League clash with AC Milan which they lost 1-0, with consecutive 2-0 victories at home to West Ham and Chelsea in the league. Those two derby wins took Spurs ahead of Newcastle United and into the Champions League places.   

The clash with Chelsea was a grudge match and Harry Kane lifted the roof by scoring his 18^th goal of the campaign to seal the points. He also bagged the winner when Tottenham upset title favourites Manchester City earlier last month and his all round play has been fantastic in recent weeks. Kane is quite unique as a goal scorer in that he willingly goes deep and has an amazing array of passing skills. His strike partner Heung-Min Son has been a little off the pace this season but he bagged in the win over the Hammers which will have done his confidence no harm at all. In midfield, the injured Rodrigo Bentancur is a big miss for Spurs but Oliver Skipp has stepped up so far in a deep lying role alongside Pierre Emile Hojbjerg.   

Newcastle are four points back but with two games in hand, so Spurs need some Premier League 2023 results from elsewhere to go their way. The Magpies are away to Manchester City on Saturday so they may not have to wait long; then it is up to them.    

But before they meet Wolves, Tottenham have a tough test on Wednesday night in an FA Cup clash away to Championship high flyers Sheffield United.

History

Wolves were one of the 12 founding members of the football league, way back in 1888, and these two famous clubs were in their heyday sixty odds years ago. Tottenham were champions of England in 1961 while Wolves were top dogs in 1958 and 1959.

They have been mainstays of the Premier League in recent years and both sets of fans are dreaming of glories past, though it’s the North Londoners who have been the closest in recent years finishing as runners up in the 2019 Champions League. 

Spurs have won ten of the last 18 encounters while Wolves have won five and there have been three draws.

Wolves’ last victory at home to Tottenham came way back in 2010.  In terms of recent results the visitors are in better shape with four wins and two draws from the last six, while Wolves have won two, drawn one and lost three. 

In terms of recent results the visitors are in better shape with four wins and two draws from the last six, while Wolves have won two, drawn one and lost three. 

Betting Tip

The hosts are at SBOTOP odds of 2.81 to win this match with Spurs at 2.20 and the draw at 3.16. I’m going to take a punt on Lopetegui’s men on the basis that they are improving, they are at home, their new signings are bedding in nicely and, every now and then, Spurs throw one in!   

 

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