Wolverhampton Wanderers will host West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, January 6, 2026, looking to build momentum following a hard-fought draw against Manchester United earlier in the week. The match promises to be pivotal for both teams, who find themselves battling in the relegation zone of the Premier League.
Wolves have received a boost with the return of Andre, who is back from suspension, while Santiago Bueno is expected to recover from the injury that kept him out on Tuesday. Despite the encouraging news, they will be without Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Toti, while Emmanuel Agbadou continues his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. Tawanda Chirewa, whose Zimbabwe exited the tournament, is set to return to Molineux.
On the West Ham side, coach Nuno Espirito Santo is hoping to assess Jean-Clair Todibo, who is dealing with a groin issue. The Hammers will welcome Igor Julio back to the squad after he missed the last match due to facing his parent club Brighton & Hove Albion, although they will still be without El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who are also at AFCON.
In terms of performance, Wolves are looking to capitalize on their recent draw at Old Trafford, which marked their first point in the league after a series of disappointing results. The team had been close to breaking their losing streak in previous matches against top teams, and the point against Manchester United has given them hope as they seek to climb out of the relegation zone. West Ham, on the other hand, also finds itself in a similar predicament after a 2-2 draw against Brighton, and both teams know that a victory could be crucial.
Historically, Wolves have had success against West Ham at Molineux, winning six of their eight encounters at home since their return to the Premier League in the 2018/19 season. The last such victory in January 2019 featured a standout performance from Raul Jimenez, who scored twice, highlighting Wolves’ ability to perform on home turf.
As both sides prepare for what promises to be an intense clash, there is optimism for Wolves as they aim to secure a much-needed victory to bolster their chances of survival in the league. With a mix of returning players and a solid home record, the team will be eager to turn their fortunes around against fellow relegation battlers West Ham United.