Wolves vs Crystal Palace: Edwards Debut Preview

Wolves vs Crystal Palace: A New Dawn at Molineux

The Premier League stage is set at Molineux as newly appointed Wolves boss Rob Edwards prepares for his first game in charge against a resilient Crystal Palace side. This crucial encounter marks a fresh chapter for Wolves, who are still searching for their first league win of the season, while Palace arrive in the West Midlands with an unbeaten run extending across competitions.

Team News: Edwards Makes Bold Changes

Rob Edwards has signaled his intentions with four changes to the starting XI for his managerial bow. David Moller Wolfe, Emmanuel Agbadou, Marshall Munetsi, and Tolu Arokodare all come into the side, with Santiago Bueno, Hugo Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde dropping to the bench alongside Fer Lopez. The Wolves XI features Johnstone; Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci, Toti; Wolfe, Andre, Joao Gomes; Munetsi, Strand Larsen, Arokodare, with Sa, Hoever, and Hwang among the substitutes.

Edwards confirmed absences for Dan Bentley (ankle), Matt Doherty (knee - nearing return), and Rodrigo Gomes (groin - out until January). Internationals returned unscathed, providing a full squad to work with.

Palace Boosted by Guehi Return

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glaser welcomed back defender Marc Guehi after his England layoff due to a foot injury. The centre-back missed last month's draw with Brighton but has completed three full training sessions and starts alongside Lacroix. Yeremy Pino also comes in, with Jaydee Canvot and Jefferson Lerma benched. Palace's XI reads: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz; Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Pino, Sarr, Mateta, with Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure both unavailable.

Key Stats and Form Guide

Wolves enter on the back of five consecutive defeats, with their last home win coming in a 3-2 thriller against Burnley. Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen (3 goals) will look to build on his tally against Palace's solid defence, led by Dean Henderson's league-high 8 clean sheets. Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta (8 goals) poses the main threat, while Jefferson Lerma (3 assists) provides creativity from midfield.

Palace arrive unbeaten in four matches (3 wins, 1 draw), though they've lost their last two away league games at Everton and Arsenal. Their 17 points from 11 games see them sit 10th.

Historical Echoes

When these teams met in October 2020, Wolves' 2-0 victory under Nuno Espírito Santo saw them briefly go joint-top of the Premier League. Rayan Ait-Nouri's debut goal that night set the tone for a dominant display - a stark contrast to Wolves' current struggles. Can Edwards recreate that magic?

What to Expect

Edwards will prioritize defensive solidity after conceding 12 goals in their last five games. Palace's counter-attacking threat, featuring Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha, could exploit any gaps. Expect a tactical battle where Wolves' pressing will meet Palace's disciplined structure.

[IMAGE_1: Rob Edwards on Wolves touchline during first match]

[IMAGE_2: Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi heading the ball]