Wolves are set to receive a significant advantage before their upcoming match against Spurs on Saturday. Ange Postecoglou faces the challenge of regrouping his team after their tumultuous 4-1 loss to Chelsea. In a dramatic turn of events, Tottenham’s undefeated start to the Premier League season came to an end, knocking them off the top spot, courtesy of reigning champions Manchester City.
The turmoil began when Cristian Romero was shown a red card for a reckless foul on Enzo Fernandez inside the penalty area, just half an hour into the game. Destiny Udogie also received his marching orders later in the second half due to a second bookable offense, rendering both players unavailable for the trip to Molineux.
Adding to Tottenham’s woes, defender Micky Van de Ven and attacking midfielder James Maddison had to leave the field due to injuries before halftime. There are concerns that Van de Ven’s hamstring injury may be a significant issue, while Maddison’s ankle problem will undergo assessment in the coming days. Both players have played pivotal roles in Tottenham’s impressive start under their new manager, Postecoglou. Van de Ven had not missed a single minute of play for Spurs in all competitions since joining from Wolfsburg in the summer.
Maddison, on the other hand, has been directly involved in eight goals, contributing three goals and five assists to the team’s success. Tottenham’s problems were further compounded as Richarlison announced that he would undergo surgery for a long-standing pelvic injury.
Injuries and suspensions have severely depleted the Spurs’ squad, with Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, and Manor Solomon already absent. Ben Davies is also uncertain for the upcoming weekend, potentially leading Postecoglou to deploy Emerson Royal as an unconventional center-back alongside Eric Dier, as he was forced to do against Chelsea. Brennan Johnson is expected to step in as a natural replacement for Richarlison, but Maddison’s absence may leave a significant void in the team’s creativity in the Black Country.
While Tottenham’s sudden issues will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge for Postecoglou, they will serve as a boost for Gary O’Neil and Wolves. Wolves have shown resilience in their recent matches at Molineux, going unbeaten against Manchester City, Villa, and Newcastle. They will be eager to secure back-to-back home wins over Tottenham for the first time since 1969.
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