GOAL FESTIVAL AT MOLINEUX: KUDUS AND LARSEN IN A STAR DRIBBLER DUEL

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Wolverhampton Wanderers – West Ham United

April 1st, 2025

Molineux Stadium promises another goal feast. Wolverhampton Wanderers are, along with Tottenham, the team entertaining spectators the most this season - their matches have already seen 98 goals (40 scored, 58 conceded). If at least two goals are scored in Tuesday's match against West Ham, Wolves would reach the 100-goal threshold in their matches faster than any time since 1985, when they achieved this in the third division. In the top flight, it would be the quickest achievement of this milestone since the distant 1967-68 season.

The home team is experiencing a significant upturn in form. The Wolves have earned 10 points in their last six Premier League games, which is the same number as in their previous 12 matches combined. They now have a chance to win two league games in a row, which would be the third time this season - they previously achieved this in November (against Southampton and Fulham) and in December (against Leicester and Manchester United).

West Ham will want to continue their excellent record against this opponent. The Hammers have won seven of the last nine league encounters, the same as in the previous 23 matches combined. Moreover, the Londoners won 2-1 at Molineux last season and could win at this stadium twice in a row for the first time since 1920-1922.

Interestingly, West Ham has recently had an exceptionally good record in midweek matches. Graham Potter's men have won all three previous league duels played on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. If they win now, they would record four such consecutive victories for the first time since May 2021.

However, Potter's team has suffered from offensive impotence since his January arrival at the helm. No team in the Premier League has produced fewer shots per game than West Ham (9.3, tied with bottom-placed Southampton), and only Leicester (2) and Ipswich (8) have scored fewer goals during this period than the Hammers (9).

Potter himself has an interesting record against Wolves. After failing to win any of the first five mutual encounters, he has won both of the last two, both with identical 3-0 scorelines - first with Brighton in April 2022 and then with Chelsea in October of the same year.

The key man for the hosts will be Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen, who scored two goals in the last match against Southampton, ending a seven-match goalless streak. Larsen specializes in runs into the penalty area - he has already made 94 this season, which is at least 11 more than any other player in the league.

West Ham's offensive ace Jarrod Bowen made club history after assisting Tomáš Souček in the match against Everton. With 35 Premier League assists, he has equaled club legend Mark Noble at the top of the Hammers' historical charts.

The match will also offer an extraordinary performance by two of the league's best dribblers. Ghanaian winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham has attempted 162 take-ons this season (70 successful), ranking him second in the entire Premier League. Only Jérémy Doku from Manchester City has more attempts (167) and successful dribbles (88). Interestingly, 62 of Kudus's take-ons were performed in his own half, which is at least 12 more than any other player in the league.

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data.