by Wolves vs Crystal Palace: Winless Wolves Face Crystal Palace in Do-or-Die Premier League Clash
23 Nov, 2025On Saturday, November 22, 2025, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club will host Crystal Palace Football Club at Molineux Stadium in a match that could define their season — or end it. With zero wins in 11 Premier League games and eight points adrift of safety, Wolves aren’t just struggling; they’re teetering on the edge of relegation. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, riding a three-game unbeaten run and boasting the highest win rate against Wolves in Premier League history, arrive as clear favorites. This isn’t just another fixture. It’s a survival referendum for Wolves, and a chance for Palace to cement their mid-table credibility under new manager Oliver Glasner.
Wolves: Desperation at Molineux
Wolverhampton Wanderers haven’t won a single league game since the season began. Their record: 0 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses. They’ve scored just 10 goals in 11 matches — fewer than half of any other team in the top flight. Their home form offers a sliver of hope: they’ve failed to score only once at Molineux, averaging 1.75 goals per game there. But that’s cold comfort when the defense has conceded 24 goals — the third-worst in the league.Enter Rob Edwards, the new manager who took over after the international break. He’s won his first league game at three of his last four clubs. That’s encouraging — but Wolves aren’t just any club. They’re the only team in the Premier League without a win. The pressure isn’t just on the pitch; it’s in the stands, in the boardroom, and in every training session. Fans are silent. The atmosphere at Molineux has turned from electric to expectant — not of goals, but of survival.
Crystal Palace: Quiet Confidence, Deadly Efficiency
While Wolves flounder, Crystal Palace have quietly built momentum. Their last three matches? A 2-0 win over Brentford, a 3-1 away win at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League, and a 0-0 draw with Brighton — all without dominating possession. In fact, Palace have the second-lowest average possession in the Premier League at just 42%. Yet they’ve scored 15 goals in 11 games. How? Efficiency. They’ve converted 1.38 expected goals from 10 shots against Brighton, while Brighton managed 0.33 xG from seven attempts. That’s not luck. That’s precision.
Historically, Palace have owned Wolves. Of their last nine Premier League meetings, Palace have won seven. Their overall win rate against Wolves? 57% — the highest against any opponent they’ve faced more than 10 times. That’s not coincidence. It’s pattern. And it’s not just recent history. In four of the last five clashes, both teams scored and over 3.5 goals were found. High-scoring, chaotic, unpredictable — but always with Palace coming out on top.
Predictions: The Odds Tell the Story
Every major prediction service is aligned. Dimers.com, after running 10,000 simulations, gives Palace a 50.4% chance to win, Wolves just 24.6%. Their most likely score? 1-1. But that’s a hopeful outlier. Scores24.live forecasts a 2-1 Palace win. Footballpredictions.com leans even harder: 2-3. And Goonersguide.com and Sports Mole both predict 0-2. The betting markets agree: Palace are -125 favorites. Wolves are +380 underdogs. The over/under is 2.5 goals — and every expert says yes.
Even the most optimistic Wolves fan has to admit: Palace’s form, history, and tactical discipline make them the team to beat. Edwards might inspire a defensive resilience, but Wolves lack the attacking threat to punish Palace’s low-block defense. And Palace? They’ve shown they don’t need to control the ball to control the game.
Why This Match Matters Beyond the Table
If Wolves lose, they’ll be 10+ points from safety with just 27 games left. Relegation math becomes brutal. Even a draw would be a moral victory — but not enough to change the narrative. For Palace, a win would be their fourth in five matches across all competitions. It would validate Glasner’s philosophy: low possession, high intensity, clinical finishing. It would also extend their dominance over Wolves to eight wins in ten meetings.
And here’s the twist: Wolves’ best chance might lie in Palace’s recent draw against Brighton. That 0-0 result ended a three-match winning streak. Could complacency creep in? Possibly. But Palace’s squad depth and Glasner’s rotation strategy suggest they’re built for consistency, not streaks.
What’s Next? The Ripple Effect
Wolves’ next three fixtures after Palace? Away at Liverpool, home to Tottenham, then away to Manchester United. A loss here makes those games nearly impossible. A win? Suddenly, survival isn’t fantasy — it’s a fight. For Palace, a win keeps them in the hunt for European qualification. A draw? Still acceptable. A loss? A rare stumble, but not a crisis.
The real story? Rob Edwards is being judged not just on tactics, but on psychology. Can he lift a team that’s lost belief? Or will Palace’s momentum — and history — crush it?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Crystal Palace so successful against Wolves despite low possession?
Crystal Palace thrive on counterattacks and set pieces, exploiting Wolves’ high defensive line and lack of defensive cohesion. They’ve converted 1.38 expected goals from just 10 shots against Brighton, showing elite finishing efficiency. Their 57% win rate against Wolves is the highest against any team they’ve faced over 10 times — a testament to tactical discipline and psychological advantage.
What happens if Wolves lose this match?
A loss would leave Wolves 10+ points from safety with only 27 games remaining. Historically, no team has avoided relegation from such a deficit after 12 games. Even a draw would barely slow the bleeding. Their next three fixtures — Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United — become virtual knockout matches.
Is Rob Edwards the right man to save Wolves?
He’s won his first league game at three of his last four clubs, suggesting he can turn teams around. But Wolves aren’t just any team — they’re the only winless side in the Premier League with a leaky defense and no attacking spark. Edwards has time, but not much. His ability to instill belief — not just tactics — will determine whether this is a rescue mission or a final chapter.
Why do prediction services keep favoring Crystal Palace?
Because the data doesn’t lie: Palace have won 7 of the last 9 Premier League meetings, scored in 4 of the last 5, and have a higher xG per shot than Wolves. Their form is better, their defense is tighter, and their mental edge over Wolves is undeniable. Even Dimers.com’s 50.4% win probability for Palace reflects a near-certainty — not just a preference.
Can Wolves still avoid relegation?
Mathematically, yes — but realistically, no. Teams that have been winless after 11 games since 2010 have all been relegated. Even if Wolves win every remaining game (impossible), they’d need 18 wins to reach 54 points — a record no team has matched from such a deficit. Survival now depends on Palace slipping up — and they’ve shown no signs of it.
What’s the most likely outcome of this match?
The most probable result, according to Dimers.com and multiple analysts, is a 1-1 draw — but even that’s only a 12% chance. More likely: a 0-2 or 1-2 win for Crystal Palace. Both teams to score is a 78% probability across all models. Expect Palace to win, Wolves to fight, and Molineux to fall silent.