West Ham United FC vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

West Ham United FC vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Match Prediction & Analysis

This game has some very interesting talking points. His Spanish compatriot, Julien Lopetegui, is one of the shortest serving managers, appointed as David Moyes’ replacement, less than a year after he left Wolves. Hei is now just the second manager to face Wolves in the Premier League having previously managed the club in the competition after Nuno Espírito Santo (W1 D2). 

Danny Ings and Jarrod Bowen did have chances to get something out of the game, but to no avail. The Hammers had 31 shots, 10 on target against Leicester. This cannot be repeated at the London Stadium. The goals have been running dry and star man Michael Antonio will be ruled out after getting into a deadly accident. The striker is still in stable condition, but it adds to Julien’s worries. It’s time for this side to show some character and turn the tide. 

Last time out, Everton had not scored in four games. But they did against Wolves. Gary O’Neil’s brand of football lacks one thing i.e. a tight-knit backline. The floodgates open too easily even for lower scoring teams. They have now conceded 36 goals in 14 games. 

Although they do score a fair amount of goals themselves. Matheus Cunha and Strand Larsen need to step up and be O’Neil’s saving grace. A win here for Wolves may not take them out of the relegation zone, but it’ll add some belief. The squad has the quality, if certain cogs within the machine are taken care of, they could get back on the rails and secure a spot for next season, which seems to be the current target. 

Head to Head Record - Both teams have played 58 games. West Ham have won 24, Wolves have won 23, with 11 games ending in a draw. 

Current Standings - The Hammers sit in 14th with 15 points. Things could turn even more sour for West Ham if results go in favour of Everton and Leicester. Wolves are in a distraught position, languishing in 19th with 9 points. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

West Ham United FC Preview

West Ham have won their last four Premier League home games against Wolves, keeping a clean sheet each time. This will be positive news for the Hammers, playing a team that’s lower in the pecking order. The East London club are in dire need of amassing points. 

West Ham have won their last six Premier League home games played on a Monday, netting 2+ goals each time. Monday night football is sometimes a welcomed gift when results go your way. West Ham benefited without having kicked a ball. All three teams above the Hammers i.e. Man United, Newcastle and Spurs lost their games. West Ham have issues that need quick rectification. 

They have conceded 71 goals in 33 Premier League games so far in 2024 – it’s their most league goals conceded in a single calendar year since 1976 (73 in 38 games). Despite Wolves’ current predicament, they love scoring goals. Julien’s men will have to be wary of that, if they are to get something out of this. 

Against no side has West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen scored more Premier League goals than Wolves (5 – level with Brentford) with four of his five strikes against them coming at home, also his joint-favourite opponent to face at the London Stadium in the competition. 

Injury - Jean-Clair Todibo and Antonio are to miss out through injury. 

West Ham Probable 11 - Fabianski (GK), Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Wan-Bissaka (DEF), Alvarez, Soler, Bowen, Soucek, Kudus (MID), Ings (FWD).

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Preview

Wolves won their first four Premier League games against West Ham following their return to the division in 2018, but have since lost six of their last eight against the Hammers (W2). Times are now different with every team fighting for the smallest duels. The team from the midlands don’t particularly feature well on a Monday night, unlike their London rivals. Each of Wolves’ last five Premier League games played on a Monday have come away from home (W2 D1 L2), with Gary O’Neil winless in his three such games in charge of the Wanderers (D1 L2). 

But on a brighter note, Wolves have won four of their last six Premier League games in London (L2) after going winless in 14 straight away trips between February 2022 and December 2023 (D3 L11). This season, they left London with nothing to show after a dismal loss against Arsenal. But then went to Fulham at the end of November and annihilated the Cottagers by 4 goals. They could add to that, with a statement win at the London Olympic Stadium. 

But a leaky defence is what’s causing chaos within the squad. They have now conceded more goals than any other Premier League side this season, shipping 36 times in their 14 games. Their last two games have seen them lose 4-2 to Bournemouth and 4-0 to Everton. 

In last season’s Premier League, Wolves’ José Sá had the best goals prevention numbers of any keeper based on Opta’s expected goals on target faced metric (8.2 – 65.2 xGoT faced, 57 goals conceded). Based on the same metric this season, the Portuguese has conceded five goals more than expected (16 xGoT faced, 21 goals conceded).

Injury - Gonzalez, Traore, Kalajdzic, Mosquera are all out injured. 

Wolves Probable 11 - Sa (GK), Lemina, Dawson, Bueno (DEF), Doherty, Andre, Gomes, Ait-Nouri (MID), Guedes, Cunha, Strand-Larsen (FWD).

WEST HAM UNITED FC vs WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS FC
Winning Prediction

It’s usually one team versus the other that gets highlighted over a game of football. In this case, it’s about who may get the boot first. Both managers are in a perilous position, sitting at the bottom of the table. West Ham have spent copious amounts of capital. The clock is ticking for Lopetegui who was only brought in this July. There are similarities between both these teams, i.e. they leak plenty of goals, are highly inconsistent, decent going forward. December is always regarded as a tricky month with games coming in thick and fast. One win could change the dynamic and breathe positivity going into the new year. West Ham seem more likely to get something out of this. 

West Ham to Win (2-1)

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