West Ham vs Wolves Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
By David Ford
Saturday sees West Ham take on Wolves at Molineux in what is a huge tie at both ends of the Premier League table.
It's not been an easy season for West Ham, who find themselves outside of the relegation places on goal difference, having only won two of their last ten Premier League matches since the turn of the year. The Hammers do still have to face Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, but also play a number of their relegation rivals.
Wolves were in patchy form before the suspension of the Premier League, and the break may have come at the ideal time for Nuno Espirito Santo. Europa League commitments had started to take their toll in the top flight, with a 0-0 draw with Brighton before their trip to Olympiacos an evident example.
The Wanderers remain two points behind Manchester United in fifth in the chase for Champions League football, but only three ahead of ninth placed Arsenal, so can't afford to rest on their laurels any longer.
Where to Watch
When Is Kick Off? Saturday 20 June
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (BST)
Where Is it Played? London Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK), fuboTV (US)
Referee? Anthony Taylor
Team News
West Ham had a few injury concerns before the suspension, but Jack Wilshere, Ryan Fredericks and Andriy Yarmolenko should all be available for selection. Wilshere hasn't been seen in a West Ham squad since a 2-0 defeat at Everton on 19 October and, though unlikely to start, could provide something different from the bench should the Hammers need him.
Fredericks will probably slot straight back into the side. He's been used as an attack-minded full back often by manager David Moyes this season and his return will be a welcome boost, especially with Angelo Ogbonna likely to miss the game with a knee injury.
Wolves have a clean bill of health. Key man Adama Traore has used the lockdown period to shake off any remnants of a shoulder injury he picked up, while wing back Jonny has shaken off the injury that saw him miss four games before the break.
Predicted Lineups
West Ham: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Cresswell; Anderson, Noble, Rice, Fornals; Antonio, Haller.
Wolves: Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny; Traore, Jimenez, Jota.
Head to Head Record
West Ham and Wolves have rarely found themselves in the same league throughout their histories, but they've still managed to rack up 64 fixtures over the years. The head to head is fairly even, with West Ham winning 29, Wolves 21, and 14 draws in total.
The Premier League had to wait until August 15 2009 to witness the first clash between the two sides, with the Hammers running out 2-0 victors at Molineux. Since then, however, Wolves have been the dominant force in the top flight, coming away with three points in four of the seven clashes. West Ham won two and the points were shared on one occasion.
Wolves are on a bit of a hot streak against the Hammers right now, winning all three matches since their most recent promotion in 2018, a run that should continue into the next game.
Recent Form
West Ham have not had a happy 2020 so far. After a 4-0 win against Bournemouth on New Year's Day, they had to wait until 29 February to taste victory again with a 3-1 success at home to Southampton. That win did boost them to 15th in the form table, but much like their league position it's by virtue of goal difference that they aren't 18th.
The Irons' saving grace is their home form. From the five home games they've played in 2020, the only loss they've suffered was a 2-0 reverse against Liverpool. Two wins and two draws in their other games show the importance of home form going into the relegation run-in.
After Sheffield United slipped up in their game in hand, Wolves have the chance to jump above them in the table and keep the pressure on fifth place - should that become a Champions League position. Wolves were unbeaten in five Premier League matches before the suspension, but disappointing 0-0 draws against Brighton, Leicester and United put a dampener on that record.
With no distractions until after the season finishes, a repeat of the performance they put in at Tottenham would certainly be too much for West Ham to handle.
Here's both sides' results before the suspension.
West Ham
Arsenal 1-0 West Ham (7/3)
West Ham 3-1 Southampton (29/2)
Liverpool 3-2 West Ham (24/2)
Manchester City 2-0 West Ham (19/2)
West Ham 3-3 Brighton (1/2)
Wolves
Olympiacos 1-1 Wolves (12/3)
Wolves 0-0 Brighton (7/3)
Tottenham 2-3 Wolves (1/2)
Espanyol 3-2 Wolves (27/2)
Wolves 3-0 Norwich (23/2)
Prediction
West Ham will be reliant on their home form if they are going to avoid relegation this season, but the absence of Ogbonna at the back will be a major factor against Wolves. Only three teams have conceded more than the Hammers this season, and that's with their star defender in the side.
If Wolves can start the game strongly and get Traore, Jota and Jimenez on the attack as much as possible, they should be able to blow the Irons into the Thames.
It may take this one a while to get going, but it's difficult to see any result other than three points heading back to the Black Country with the team in gold.
Prediction: West Ham 0-2 Wolves