Not since 2004/05 in the Championship have Wolves suffered the ignominy of failing to win any of their opening seven league games, and having picked up just one point so far (D1, L6), boss Gary O'Neil is facing intense scrutiny.
That horrific run of results was bookended by what O'Neil described as the "worst game" he's been involved with as a coach", when a 5-3 defeat to Brentford left his side with plenty to ponder over the international break.
Another failure to triumph would represent Wolves' longest wait for a first league win in any season since the 80s, and that is a frightening prospect as they welcome four-time consecutive Premier League champions Manchester City.
Wolves vs Manchester City: Match Preview
Concerningly, all of Wolves' home league games ended in defeat despite scoring in each and they're now on the verge of losing four straight home league games to open a season for the first time in club history.
Claiming that unwanted history seems likely given that City travel here unbeaten in 30 league games (W24, D6), their joint-longest run in their league history. That's not to mention the fact that City head here having won seven of the last eight H2H encounters, a positive feeling which may be bolstered further by Pep Guardiola squashing rumours of him making a sensational exit from City during the break.
Playing away from home causes no issues for City usually, especially seeing as 14 of their current 30-game unbeaten run of league games came on the road (W12, D2). Each of the last seven victories in that sequence came by multi-goal margins whilst five also saw them keep a clean sheet. And another rip-roaring success can't be ruled out, as prior to their shock 2-1 loss here last season, City had scored 11 goals across their three prior Molineux visits.
Match Stat
Manchester City have scored in both halves in five of their seven league games this season, a Premier League high.
Our Tip
Manchester City to either win or draw
Liverpool vs Chelsea: Match Preview
Arne Slot's first few months at Liverpool could hardly have gone better, but the Dutchman will be on high alert since their only defeat of the season came immediately after the last international break. That 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest hasn't prevented his troops from sitting pretty atop the Premier League standings heading into the weekend, an achievement driven by boasting the league's best defence with only two goals conceded.
Six successive wins across three competitions since that defeat means the Reds are well poised to welcome an inform Chelsea to Anfield, with a victory here promising to deliver just the fifth time Liverpool have won seven of their opening eight matches of a top-flight season. Defeat to Chelsea has been rare lately since Liverpool have lost just two of the last 17 H2Hs (W9, D6), and no occasion has proven too big as that run includes four wins in cup finals!
Chelsea will arrive in a vein of form worthy of upsetting the odds, as their 1-1 draw to Liverpool's bogey team Forest last round followed a five-game winning streak across three competitions. They've been particularly powerful on their league duties in recent months, having fallen to defeat just twice in their last 22 Premier League games (W13, D7).
The Blues will also have no problems with leaving Stamford Bridge, as they boast a perfect three wins from their three road trips this Premier League season and could go four for four from the start of a league campaign for just the third time in their history. History also potentially awaits Enzo Maresca, who could become just the fifth manager to be victorious in their first four away Premier League games, with the latest entrant being his counterpart Arne Slot after Liverpool's win at Palace.
Match Stat
Only two of the last 11 H2Hs produced more than 2.5 goals.
Our Tip
Under 3.5 goals
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest: Match Preview
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, a return of ten points after seven Premier League games (W2, D4, L1) is more than respectable for Nottingham Forest. A full pre-season under Nuno Espírito Santo looks to have helped them on their way, but in the midst of a three game winless league run (D2, L1), there are signs that Forest's momentum is starting to slow a little.
Stretching that winless run with a draw isn't beyond the realms of possibility given five of their last six games against Crystal Palace have ended level, with Forest winning the anomaly. It's arguably playing at home that will be Forest's biggest psychological hurdle to overcome here, as they're winless in seven at the City Ground in all competitions (D3, L4) - the last time they endured a longer wait for a home win was an eight-game run in 2012, one that included a 1-0 defeat to Palace!
Victories have become something of a rarity for Palace of late, as they're without a league win this season (D3, L4). That came as a surprise to most after they ended the previous campaign with six wins from their final seven games (D1), but as boss Oliver Glasner reportedly retains the support of the players, there appears little sign that the Austrian boss is coming under any immediate pressure.
Fixing a long-standing issue on the road would certainly help alleviate any early relegation fears, with Palace winning just two of their last 16 Premier League away games (D6, L8). A ten-match winless run in top-flight H2Hs dating back to 1991 (D6, L4) would suggest that not only are their away day woes likely to continue, but also that opening up a league campaign winless in eight matches for the first time since 1992/93 is a distinct possibility.
Match Stat
The designated away side has scored exactly once in seven of Forest's eight games this season.
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