Wolverhampton-West Ham is a match valid for the 20th day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 16:00: statistics, TV, formations, predictions
In the Saturday afternoon of direct clashes between teams that are doing their best to move away from the relegation zone there is also the unexpected one between Wolverhampton and West Ham. Unexpected because at the start of the season it was really hard to imagine that Wolves and Hammers would find themselves in such a precarious position at the end of the first half of the season, having been built to try and reach Europe.
Penultimate and with only 14 points in the league table is Wolverhampton, who last November turned to former Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui to help them get out of the difficult situation they were in during the last days of Lage’s management. The first problem to solve, for the Spanish coach, is that of goals. Nobody in the Premier League has scored fewer than Wolves, who have barely scored 11 in 18 matches. Something, in this sense, is beginning to be glimpsed: since returning from the World Cup break, Wolverhampton have almost always found the path to goal in the six matches played, with the exception of the one against Manchester United. They did so twice in the third round of the FA Cup against Liverpool (2-2), in a match the black-and-golds might well have won had it not been for a controversial refereeing decision.
Two teams in trouble
In contrast, Wolves were eliminated from the League Cup this week after losing on penalties to Nottingham Forest (it had ended 1-1 in the 90 minutes).
Paqueta
West Ham, on the other hand, used the FA Cup to break their fast of victories, considering that after the stop David Moyes’ men suffered two defeats in the derbies against Arsenal and Brentford and drew 2-2 with Leeds. In the cup, Benrahma’s goal ten minutes from the end was enough to take revenge on the Bees, who had won 2-0 at the London Stadium on 30 December. Now a shake-up is needed as soon as possible in the league, where West Ham have lost five of their last six matches.
The Prediction
Wolverhampton, unlike their next opponents, played an extra game in the week and could pay for the effort against the fresher and more rested West Ham. But neither do the Hammers – who have only collected five points away from home – give too many guarantees this year, which is why we expect a game low on emotion, with less than four goals in total. The first half could end in a draw.
Wolverhampton-West Ham’s likely line-up
- WOLVERHAMPTON (4-3-3): José Sa; Semedo, Kilman, Collins, Bueno; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves, Moutinho; Adama Traoré, Cunha, Podence.
- WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Kehrer, Dawson, Aguerd, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma; Antonio.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
