Written-off pack of wolves determined to ruin everyone's day

You must have at least once in your life heard that famous and quite common movie line, usually uttered by a character in a hopeless situation, If I'm going down, I'm taking everybody with me.

Well, in this season's Premier League movie, that role would belong to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Facts first - the Wolves will be relegated.

It was clear back in mid-December, when they were stuck at the bottom of the EPL table with only 2 points from 18 games. At the time, they averaged fewer points per game than that "infamous" Derby County generation from the 2007/2008 season - officially the worst-ever Premier League team, which collected 11 points across the entire season.

Liverpool stunned in injury time in Wolverhampton

Once again, it was evident they'd join the Championship crew next season, but even when a team is relegated, the way it faces its doom matters. Wolverhampton decided to go down in style.

On November 2, the club sacked the manager Vitor Pereira, only 45 days after he had signed a new three-year deal. The Portuguese shortly settled in, taking over the struggling Nottingham Forest last month, and is now fighting a relegation battle he actually can win. The one with the Wolves was headed for disaster.

Anyway, ten days after Pereira's departure, Rob Edwards took the club's hot seat, making a rather peculiar move. Yes, he spent four years at the Molineux Stadium as a player, making 111 appearances, but leaving the soaring Middlesbrough, at that point the second-placed Championship side, to take over a relegation-bound team - a shocking decision for many.

One couldn't exactly call it a good choice or a win-win situation. After all, the popular Boro still hold a promotion spot for the Premier League, being very close to a return to the top flight after 10 years, while the Wolves are going down following an eight-year stint in the EPL.

So, why did Edwards trade a promotion with Middlesbrough for another season in the second tier with the club in free fall, which, by the way, was by no means his fault? That's probably the question only the 43-year-old tactician can answer, but one thing is certain after all - he had a plan.

He knew that being relegated as the worst team in EPL history would be such a blow to Wolverhampton's legacy and the players' confidence that they may not return to the top flight any time soon. He needed to start building a foundation woven with self-belief, quality, and self-assurance, and convince everyone that, despite all the struggles, Wolverhampton belonged to the Premier League.

Gomes Wanderers: Wolves bring in their fourth Gomes

However, his first days in the Wolves' dugout weren't easy. Edwards began his spell at the Molineux with seven consecutive defeats, and the club decided to sell most of their best players, Emmanuel Agbadou (Besiktas, €18 million), Jhon Arias (Palmeiras, €25 million), and Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace, €49,7 million), starting to raise money for the second-division football.

But then, two days before the New Year, the tables began to turn as Edwards' ideas finally started paying off.

Ladislav Krejci scores for Wolverhampton against Manchester United at Old Trafford (©Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The Wolves held out Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, then crushed West Ham 3-0, recording their maiden EPL win of the season on January 3 (?!), drew 1-1 against Everton, and 0-0 against Newcastle, making a four-game unbeaten league run for the first time since May. In the meantime, they demolished the fourth-tier side Shrewsbury in the FA Cup 6-1.

Their confidence was finally high, and although doomed to relegation, they decided to go down in style and ruin everyone's day.

Hence, the true Wolves' "honeymoon" began in February, when everyone counted on easily won vital points against them.

They lost to Chelsea, drew with Nottingham Forest, and cleared another round in the FA Cup (vs Grimsby, 1-0). But the football world started talking about them once they salvaged a 2-2 draw against none other but the table-toppers Arsenal!

They were close to snatching a point at Emirates as well, but a late own goal saved the Gunners' skin. At Molineux, there was no such luck. Despite Arsenal's 2-0 lead, Wolverhampton bounced back in the final half an hour, as the 19-year-old Tom Edozie netted a 94th-minute leveller.

Four days later, they lost to Crystal Palace 1-0, although the clash could have ended much differently if Tolu Arokodare had converted a penalty at 0-0 minutes before the break.

Five days ago, the Wolves recorded their second league triumph of the season against the then-third-placed Aston Villa, reaching 13 points and leapfrogging that poor Derby County in the infamous list of the worst EPL teams. After that, everything was easier, so last night, Liverpool felt the strength of Edwards' wolf pack, falling short in added time, becoming another team (alongside the Villans) whose Champions League plans might have been ruined by the relegation-bound Wolverhampton.

The safe zone is now 12 points away, and only the brave ones dare to dream about survival. For most, Wolverhampton are still being relegated. However, the impression is much different now.

If they are going down, they'll do it their way: in style, with a smile on their face, and knowing that they spoiled some crucial plans of some Premier League giants.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 29

Tuesday

Bournemouth - Brentford 0-0

Everton - Burnley 2-0 (1-0)

/Tarkowski 32, Dewsbury-Hall 60/

Leeds - Sunderland 0-1 (0-0)

/Diarra 70 (p)/

Wolverhampton - Liverpool 2-1 (0-0)

/Gomes R. 78, Andre 90+4 - Salah 83/

Wednesday

22.30: (5.50) Brighton (3.70) Arsenal (1.67)

22.30: (2.10) Fulham (3.50) West Ham (3.80)

22.30: (1.40) Man.City (4.70) Nott.Forest (8.00)

23.15: (2.60) Newcastle (3.60) Man.Utd. (2.70)

Thursday

23.00: (2.45) Tottenham (3.40) Crystal Palace (3.05)

***odds are subject to change***