The Premier League returns to our screens this weekend with a series of intriguing games, but arguably no one game is more interesting than Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur. These two teams have been in very different positions over the course of the last few decades, but in a lot of ways, they’ve been able to mirror one another. Both have had enough quality to thrive in their respective leagues, but both have also been guilty of building their fans up before knocking them down courtesy of their inability to execute on the pitch. It’s a double edged sword, really.

The nature of the Premier League means that one or two slip ups could cost you dearly, especially if you’re in a position where you’re getting complacent. While we don’t think either one of these teams falls into that category it’s certainly something worth thinking about, given the trajectory of the two sides thus far in the campaign. Nevertheless, it’s time to look ahead and focus on the future, and we can’t do that without first examining everything about Wolves and Spurs ahead of what should be, in our mind, one of the more entertaining technical clashes of the season.

Nuno Espirito Santo has done wonders with this Wolves team over the course of his tenure at Molineux, and it seems to have come in two stages. The first stage saw him guide them out of the Championship (in the right direction this time), whereas in the second stage, he was able to efficiently transform them into a club that belongs in the top flight of English football once again. You could argue that there’s still a long way to go and you could argue that it’s all down to money, but at the end of the day Nuno is the one who was tasked with getting the best out of these players – and he’s done so magnificently.

Mauricio Pochettino, on the other hand, seems to have accomplished something that Nuno is probably aiming for with Wolves. He has turned Tottenham back into one of the top clubs in England and while the pieces were already being put in place for that before he arrived, he has certainly kept the ball rolling. Some believe that there’s a chance he could jump ship to another major European club in the next few years, but we tend to believe that he wants to see out his ‘mission statement’ so to speak with Spurs, which could mean a league title before all is said and done.

Wolves have had an interesting last six games to say the least, fluctuating between being one of the best teams in the league and one of the least efficient. They kicked off this run with a really strong 1-1 draw against Manchester United, in a game some will say they could’ve – and probably should’ve – won. They were then knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Leicester City who appear to have their number, but back to back victories over Southampton and Crystal Palace eased any worries they may have had. Alas, losses to Brighton & Watford in consecutive weeks has brought them back down to earth ever so slightly.

Tottenham’s run over their last six games began with a thoroughly entertaining 4-2 loss against Barcelona, which showcased the best and the worst of Pochettino’s side. They were able to bounce back with narrow triumphs over Cardiff and West Ham, though, but the warning signs were certainly still there – especially after a disappointing 2-2 draw against PSV in the Champions League. They then lost to Manchester City on Monday Night Football but they did manage to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating West Ham again, so perhaps everything is starting to look up.

These two teams are no strangers to one another with Spurs leading the overall head to head standings 46-27, with 20 draws thrown in there for good measure. They’ve been waging war since way back in 1908, with their most recent encounter being a 1-1 draw back in January 2012. However, despite Tottenham’s perceived dominance, Wolves did manage to do the double on them during their last return to the Premier League back in 2009/10 which is a stat that is definitely worth keeping in mind.

We aren’t expecting to see all too many changes for either team, but when it comes to Wolverhampton Wanderers, they could have some thinking to do. While their defence and midfield will likely stay the same for the most part, it feels like some alterations need to be made in order for them to re-discover their goalscoring edge. Raul Jimenez will likely keep his spot but Cavaleiro is desperate to come into the starting XI, with Jota and Costa both competing for a place alongside Raul.

Tottenham fans will be happy to know that they’re on the verge of getting back to full strength, which can only be a good thing as we gear up for a busy winter period. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen both impressed during the week and will be looking to make an impact at Molineux which, in itself, should be a fairly terrifying prospect for Nuno’s men. Harry Kane will also come back into the starting XI, as they continue to try and manage the resources they have – although Son Heung-min will be eager to keep showcasing what he can do on a week to week basis.

Wolves vs Tottenham Betting Prediction

Despite Spurs being the favourites in this one it feels like Wolves are going to try and dictate the pace, which is something they’ve been able to accomplish against some notable teams this season. Courtesy of the loud home crowd as well as their technical prowess in the middle of the park, we think they’re going to wind up taking the lead within the first 20 minutes. Alas, instead of pushing ahead and trying to build on their lead, they’ll make the crucial mistake of sitting back which will allow waves and waves of pressure from the visitors.

We can see a scenario in which Tottenham equalise not too long after the restart, immediately switching the momentum to Pochettino’s side – and let’s face it, when a team of that quality is on the ball, there’s no real way of stopping them. They’ll have to be persistent because Wolves are a tough team to break down defensively as we’ve seen for weeks now, but we think they’ll manage it in the end by grabbing a late winner within the last 15 minutes. That’ll leave us with a 2-1 victory for Tottenham, but all in all, both teams should come out of it with some pride.

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