Son Heung-min (31, Tottenham) and Hwang Hee-chan (27, Wolverhampton) will face off on the English Premier League (EPL) stage prior to being called up to the national soccer team. As both players are showing off their improved skills this season, expectations are growing ahead of the 'Korean Derby', which will be held for the first time in a long time.
The two players' teams, Wolverhampton and Tottenham, will face off in the 12th round of the 2023-24 EPL season at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, at 9:30 pm (Korean time) on the 11th. Wolverhampton, ranked 14th this season with 3 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses (12 points), is determined to achieve a victory with the support of its home fans and lay the foundation for a leap forward to the mid-to-upper ranks. The away team, Tottenham, which is in second place with 8 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss (26 points), lost to Chelsea (1-4) on the 7th, ending its undefeated streak at the beginning of the season, and it is difficult to overcome the shock of losing the lead to Manchester City (27 points). It's urgent.
Coincidentally, the role of spearhead of the two teams desperate for victory is played by Korean players from both teams. Son Heung-min has scored 8 goals (1 assist) in 11 games this season and is tied for second place in EPL scoring along with Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). He is showing performance that is comparable to that of the 2021-22 season, when he was the league's top scorer.
If Son Heung-min scores two or more goals, he will reach double-digit click here scoring marks for the eighth consecutive season in the EPL. It is a record achieved by only six players throughout the history of the league, including Wayne Rooney (11 seasons), Frank Lampard (10 seasons), Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero (9 seasons), Thierry Henry, and Sadio Mane (8 seasons). In this case, his total EPL score, which is currently 111 goals, also increases to 113, and he jumps to joint 22nd place with Raheem Sterling (Chelsea).
Hwang Hee-chan's momentum is no less than that of Son Heung-min. 강남오피 He scored 6 goals (2 assists) in 11 games this season, being the team's leading scorer and tied for 6th in league scoring along with Alexander Isaac (Newcastle) and Brian Mbomo (Brentford). He has been recording offensive points for the past 6 consecutive games, and if he adds a goal or assist against Tottenham, he will equal the club's highest record (7 games) set by Henri Camara in 2004.
Both teams are likely to miss key players, so the burden on both players is heavier. Wolverhampton's Hwang Hee-chan's attack partner, Pedro Neto, is unable to play because he was injured immediately after the Newcastle game (2-2 draw) on the 28th of last month. Tottenham is suffering from serious aftereffects from the previous match against Chelsea. It is unclear whether midfielder James Maddison, who is receiving attention as a 'soul mate' along with Son Heung-min this season, will play after injuring his ankle against Chelsea. Central defender Mickey van der Pen, who was also injured, and Christian Romero and Destiny Udoggi, who were both sent off with a red card, are also unable to play.