Wolves vs West Ham prediction - Premier League: A "relegation battle" at Molineux
The clash between Wolves and West Ham in the Premier League is crucial for the relegation battle, as both teams are languishing at the bottom of the table.
At 10:00 PM on January 3rd, 2026, Wolves will host West Ham at Molineux Stadium in a match dubbed a "relegation battle". This is a clash between two teams currently in the relegation zone, where every mistake could cost them their place in the Premier League at the end of the season.
22:00 on January 3rd - Premier League Round
Currently, the home team Wolves are in a critical situation. After 19 matches, they have yet to taste victory, managing only 3 draws and suffering 16 defeats. With just 3 points, Wolves are at the bottom of the league table and a considerable distance from safety.
On the other side of the pitch, West Ham are not doing much better, sitting in 18th place with 14 points. The London team has only managed 3 wins since the start of the season. The upcoming match is an excellent opportunity for West Ham to gain points and escape the relegation zone, as their opponent is currently in terrible form.
Current rankings
| Team | Location | Point | Form (last 5 matches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham | 18 | 14 | 0 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses |
| Millennium | 20 | 3 | 0 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses |
Performance analysis and statistics
Wolves: A crisis with no way out.
Particularly worrying for Wolves fans is their team's extremely low scoring rate, averaging only 0.6 goals per game (11 goals in 19 matches). Conversely, their defense is the biggest "punching bag" in the league, having conceded 40 goals, an average of 2.1 goals per game. At their home ground, Molineux, Wolves have also yet to win a single match.
West Ham: Seeking Stability
Despite being at the bottom of the table, West Ham still showed a certain superiority over their opponents. They scored 21 goals and possessed a more effective attack than Wolves. However, their defensive ability remains a major weakness, having conceded 38 goals. Notably, West Ham have shown considerable resilience away from home, with 4 draws this season.
History of confrontations
In their last five encounters, Wolves have actually had the better record with three wins and two losses. Most recently, in August 2025, Wolves defeated West Ham 3-2. This historical factor could be the only psychological boost for the home team to believe in a positive outcome.
Force situation
Both teams entered this match with significant personnel losses:
- Wolves:The list of absentees is extensive, including J. Bellegarde, Toti (hamstring injury), D. Bentley (ankle injury), L. Chiwome (knee injury), R. Gomes (groin injury), and M. Munetsi (calf injury). Additionally, E. Agbadou is on international duty, while S. Bueno's availability remains uncertain.
- West Ham:Goalkeeper L. Fabianski is absent due to a back injury. A. Wan-Bissaka and M. Diouf are unavailable due to international duty. Centre-back J. Todibo's participation is in doubt due to a minor collision.
Analysis and predictions
Based on their current form, West Ham are considered more likely to win or at least draw. Predicted odds show a 45% chance of the away team winning, equivalent to a 45% chance of a draw, while Wolves' chances of winning are only 10%.
With both sides having shaky defenses, the match could see many goals, but Wolves' deadlock could see them sink further to the bottom of the table. A draw or a win for West Ham is the most likely scenario at Molineux this time.
Team lineup updated at 21:23 03/01/2026
Official lineup
Millennium
Diagram: 3-5-2
CoachJamie Collins
Starting lineup:
- 1. José Sá (G)
- 4. Santiago Bueno (D)
- 15. Yerson Mosquera (D)
- 37. Ladislav Krejčí (D)
- 38. Jackson Tchatchoua (M)
- 10. Jhon Arias (M)
- 8. João Gomes (M)
- 36. Mateus Mané (M)
- 3. Hugo Bueno (M)
- 14. Tolu Arokodare (F)
- 11. Hee-Chan Hwang (F)
Substitutes:
- 31. Sam Johnstone
- 6. David Möller Wolfe
- 26. Ki-Jana Hoever
- 2. Matt Doherty
- 7. André
- 28. Fer López
- 23. Tawanda Chirewa
- 9. Jørgen Strand Larsen
- 30. Enso González
West Ham
Diagram: 4-2-3-1
CoachNuno Espirito Santo
Starting lineup:
- 23. Alphonse Aréola (G)
- 2. Kyle Walker-Peters (D)
- 15. Konstantinos Mavropanos (D)
- 3. Max Kilman (D)
- 30. Oliver Scarles (D)
- 27. Soungoutou Magassa (M)
- 32. Freddie Potts (M)
- 20. Jarrod Bowen (M)
- 18. Mateus Fernandes (M)
- 7. Crysencio Summerville (M)
- 9. Callum Wilson (F)
Substitutes:
- 1. Mads Hermansen
- 5. Igor Júlio
- 58. Airidas Golambeckis
- 63. Ezra Mayers
- 24. Guido Rodríguez
- 28. Tomáš Souček
- 40. George Earthy
- 55. Mohamadou Kanté
- 19. Pablo Felipe
