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Football betting tips: Premier League
2pts Nelson Semedo to commit 2+ fouls at 11/10 (Sky Bet)
Crystal Palace have made a steady start to the season, picking up four points from three games. Their sole win so far came at relegation second-favourites Sheffield United, and they now host another team expected to be in and amongst the scrap to avoid the drop.
Wolves did get their first win - and first clean sheet - last time out, beating Everton 1-0, with that being their first away win since February, when they beat Southampton.
Palace improved their attacking figures after the re-appointment of Roy Hodgson, and while I personally don't think that will continue over the full season given they faced a very kind schedule, this is a game where we could see a more attack-minded approach.
Wolves have also shown a different mindset under Gary O'Neil in taking the game to teams, which has led to plenty of chances at either end.
While the betting markets suggest otherwise, goals could well be on the cards at Selhurst Park.
What are the best bets?
I did therefore toy with backing Over 2.5 Goals at a price of 5/4, but I'm not sure I trust this Palace attack as much as at the back end of last season, because after all, they head into this game without Michael Olise, who is out injured, and Wilfried Zaha is no longer an Eagle.
Those two were huge creative forces for Hodgson's men and contributed plenty, so I need to see more before getting too involved in goals when Palace are playing.
One star player who is still at the club is Eberechi Eze, and his play this season - mainly positions he is taking up - contributed to the selection in this preview.
We are taking NELSON SEMEDO TO COMMIT 2+ FOULS at an odds-against price.
The main reason being that the Portuguese full-back has averaged 2.3 fouls per game so far this campaign, and the second reason being that Eze has been drifting to the Palace left - the area of the pitch Semedo will be occupying.
Eze has been fouled 2.3 times per game so far this season, and won 1.5 fouls per game last season, so he can cause Semedo some major issues on Sunday.
BuildABet @ 9/1
- Nelson Semedo to commit 2+ fouls
- Eberechi Eze 1+ shot on target
- Mario Lemina to be carded
- Over 1.5 Goals
The case for SEMEDO has been made above, and his teammate MARIO LEMINA looks primed for a booking against a tricky opponent. He's been booked twice already this season.
EZE has averaged 0.7 shots on target per game last season and so far this season, and against a weaker opponent, should test the goalkeeper in a game with a few goals.
Score prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Wolves (Sky Bet odds: 7/1)
Team News
Crystal Palace are set to be without Michael Olise (thigh) and summer signing Matheus Franca (lower back), who have been ruled out of this game along with Will Hughes (knee).
Matheus Nunes’ departure for Manchester City means that Wolves have one less midfielder to choose from going forward, while South Korean forward Hwang Hee-Chan misses out due to a thigh problem.
Predicted line-ups
Crystal Palace: Johnstone; J Ward, Anderson, Guehi, Mitchell; Lerma, C Doucoure; Schlupp, Eze, J Ayew; Edouard
Wolves: Jose Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno; Neto, J Gomes, Lemina, Hwang; Cunha, F Silva
Match facts
- Since Roy Hodgson's return to Crystal Palace, the Eagles have outshot their opponents by 85 (202 shots, 117 faced), the fourth best differential in the Premier League in that time.
- No player has had more shots in the Premier League this season than Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze (16), although he has failed to score with all 16 attempts.
- Since their return to the Premier League in 2018, Wolves have only lost more league games against Liverpool (9), Manchester City (7) and Manchester United (6) than they have against Crystal Palace (5).
Odds correct at 1000 BST (01/09/23)
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