In the Premier League, the clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United is shaping up to be a pivotal encounter, particularly for both teams seeking to break their winless streaks. The match is set to kick off at 10 AM ET on Saturday at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, and fans can follow the action through NBCSN or stream it live on Peacock.
As Wolves approach this matchup, they remain in search of their first league victory of the season. The team showed promise in their previous outing, managing a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, which might boost their confidence. Manager Rob Edwards aims to capitalize on this momentum, hoping to secure a more substantial points haul against West Ham, who are managed by their former boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
West Ham, too, finds itself struggling, having entered this match on an eight-game winless streak in the league, including a disappointing home record that shows three draws and a loss in their last four matches. This run follows a difficult period earlier in the season when they only earned one point from six games between mid-September and late October.
In terms of team news, Wolves face notable challenges with several players sidelined, including Toti Gomes, Tawanda Chirewa, and Emmanuel Agbadou due to injuries and international duty for the AFCON tournament. Just one player is questionable for Wolves: Santiago Bueno, who is dealing with a knock. On the other hand, West Ham will be without goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (back injury) and will also miss two players due to international duty. They do have concerns over Jean-Clair Todibo, who is questionable due to a groin issue.
Looking ahead to the match, it’s a crucial day for Wolves, who have seen their hard work in previous matches not translate into points. A tough challenge lies ahead, especially with West Ham’s key players Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta showing signs of returning to form. Given the current circumstances, a draw seems a plausible prediction for this matchup, though both teams will undoubtedly aim for all three points to lift their spirits and positions in the standings. A final score of 1-1 appears likely, reflecting the tensions and stakes in this January encounter.