Match Overview
Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome West Ham United to Molineux Stadium for a Premier League meeting with important points on the line. Wolves aim to arrest a difficult home spell, while West Ham look to turn steady away performances into a result. The reverse cup meeting in August 2025 went Wolves’ way, highlighted by a J. Strand Larsen brace in a 3-2 win. Cold, wet conditions are expected, adding another layer to an already competitive matchup.
- Fixture: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United
- Competition: Premier League
- Venue: Molineux Stadium
- Date: 03-01-2026
- Kickoff: 15:00 GMT / 15:00 UTC
Predicted Lineups
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- S. Johnstone
- L. Krejci
- Hugo Bueno
- S. Bueno
- E. Agbadou
- André
- João Gomes
- Y. Mosquera
- Fer López
- J. Strand Larsen
- J. Tchatchoua
West Ham United
- A. Areola
- M. Kilman
- J. Todibo
- E. Diouf
- K. Walker-Peters
- Mateus Fernandes
- Lucas Paqueta
- F. Potts
- S. Magassa
- J. Bowen
- C. Summerville
Injury & Suspension Report
Wolverhampton Wanderers
None.
West Ham United
None.
Head-to-Head
These sides have been closely matched historically. Across 60 meetings, Wolves have 24 wins and West Ham 25, with 11 draws. Their last ten clashes have averaged 2.5 goals per game, pointing to a balanced contest where chances typically arise for both.
Match Analysis & Prediction
Wolves enter with a clear objective: improve at home. They have lost their last five league matches at Molineux, scoring only four times in that run. The data also points to issues when facing similarly ranked opponents, conceding around three goals per game while scoring two. With no listed absences, selection stability should help, and J. Strand Larsen’s two-goal display in their August cup meeting is a reminder of the cutting edge Wolves can produce when service into the box is consistent.
J. Bowen’s five away goals this season have been key to Wolves’ disciplined and industrious performances on the road.
For West Ham, Jarrod Bowen remains the headline threat away from home, with five goals across 11 away appearances. Their recent travel form reads two defeats and three draws in five, with five goals scored, and they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Fulham last time out. Against similarly placed opposition, West Ham’s profile is encouraging: two wins and one loss, averaging just over two scored and a little more than one conceded, suggesting a side capable of managing tight margins and capitalizing on moments.
The midfield battle is pivotal. Wolves’ trio options of André, João Gomes, and Y. Mosquera point to a compact, ball-winning approach designed to quicken transitions toward Fer López and the front pairing of Strand Larsen and J. Tchatchoua. West Ham can counter with technical control through Lucas Paqueta, supported by Mateus Fernandes, F. Potts, and S. Magassa. At the back, the visitors’ unit of M. Kilman, J. Todibo, E. Diouf, and K. Walker-Peters offers athletic coverage against Wolves’ direct runs and crosses, an area where Wolves must raise tempo to disrupt rhythm.
Wolves and West Ham clash in a gritty Midlands derby where the Molineux faithful demand steel and tactical grit.
The tone is likely to be disciplined rather than expansive, with both teams weighing risk carefully. Wolves’ recent home output suggests patience and accuracy in the final third will be essential, while West Ham’s away record indicates they are difficult to put away despite mixed results. With the historical balance between these clubs and a recent trend of moderate scoring, expect a game decided by set-piece execution and transition efficiency.
Prediction: A tight encounter with limited margins. A 1-1 draw feels the most likely outcome.