Wolverhampton Wanderers host West Ham United at Molineux Stadium on Saturday as both sides look to kickstart their 2026 campaigns, Softfootball reported. Wolves ended 2025 with a spirited 1-1 draw at Manchester United, halting an 11-match losing streak, but remain 15 points adrift of safety.
West Ham, meanwhile, played out a dramatic 2-2 draw with Brighton in midweek and sit just four points shy of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Wolves will be keen to capitalize on the visitors’ eight-game winless run, but their frail defence has already conceded 40 goals this season. Bruno Fernandes inspires Man United to a 4-1 win as Wolves’ misery deepens, while Wolves later earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Softfootball reported that both teams are eyeing vital points to improve their Premier League survival hopes, and West Ham posted that they are beginning the year with playing Wolves on their official X handle.
Team News
Wolves will be without Santiago Bueno, Toti Gomes, Rodrigo Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Marshall Munetsi, and Daniel Bentley. Matt Doherty, Yerson Mosquera, Ladislav Krejci, Jackson Tchatchoua, and Hugo Bueno are expected to start in defence, while Jhon Arias and Mateus Mane could support Joao Gomes in midfield.
West Ham are almost fully fit, missing only Jean-Clair Todibo, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman expected to partner in central defence.
Possible Lineups
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa; Mosquera, Doherty, Krejci; Tchatchoua, Arias, J Gomes, Mane, H Bueno; Arokodare, Strand Larsen
West Ham United: Areola; Waker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Magassa, Potts; Bowen, Fernandes, Paqueta; Wilson
Softfootball Prediction
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-2 West Ham United. Wolves have often performed better than their results suggest and could challenge West Ham, but their defensive frailties make a draw the most likely outcome in a close contest.
