With both team struggling in the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers and visitors West Ham United will not want to compound a miserable start to 2025-26 by losing in the second round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday at Molineux.
After two matchweeks in the Premier League, Wolves are 19th with no points following their 1-0 loss against Bournemouth on Saturday, while West Ham are 20th with no points after they were beaten 5-1 by Chelsea at home on Friday.
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Wolves vs West Ham United prediction: Struggling hosts meet vulnerable visitors
Key stats
- Wolves have failed to score in their two league games this season, taken the second fewest touches in the opposition box of any team in the top flight (33) and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six league matches.
- West Ham United have only prevented their opponents from scoring in one of their 11 most recent Premier League outings.
- The Hammers have won just two of their past 11 competitive matches, a period in which they lost seven times while conceding at least two goals on six occasions.
Correct score prediction: Wolves 1-2 West Ham United
It is difficult to separate the two sides given both have been poor for some time, but given West Ham will be facing less pressure as they are playing away from home, they could emerge as narrow victors on Tuesday.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Wolves predicted to win by the bookmakers
- HOME: 13/10 (2.3) – 43.5%
- DRAW: 13/5 (3.6) – 27.8%
- AWAY: 9/5 (2.8) – 35.7%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Wolverhampton Wanderers are the expected winner of this clash, with a probability of 43.5%, but the bookmakers believe that West Ham have a fair chance of advancing into the next round of the EFL Cup.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: West Ham in front
When the two clubs last faced each other in April, Wolves emerged as 1-0 winners, but West Ham had triumphed in their prior three meetings with Tuesday's hosts.
Three of the teams' clashes in that time were decided by one goal, with West Ham winning 2-1 twice, and Wolves did not score more than one goal in any of those four fixtures.
England Premier League 01/04/25
Wolverhampton
West Ham
England Premier League 09/12/24
West Ham
Wolverhampton
Elite Club Friendlies 28/07/24
Wolverhampton
West Ham
England Premier League 06/04/24
Wolverhampton
West Ham
England Premier League 17/12/23
West Ham
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Wanderers preview: Goalscoring woes without Cunha
Wolves were a threat against most teams last season thanks to the danger posed by attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha, but the Brazilian's transfer has blunted the team's attack, with the club only producing one shot on target against Bournemouth.
Centre-back Toti Gomes was dismissed due to a last-man challenge against the Cherries, and since he is suspended for the Old Gold's next game, perhaps Santiago Bueno will feature in the backline on Tuesday.
Predicted lineup: Johnstone (GK), Doherty, Mosquera, Bueno, Hoever, Bellegarde, Andre, Bueno, Munetsi, Kalajdzic & Arias
England Premier League 10/05/25
L
Brighton
2
Wolverhampton
0
England Premier League 02/05/25
L
Man City
1
Wolverhampton
0
England Premier League 26/04/25
W
Leicester
0
Wolverhampton
3
England Premier League 20/04/25
W
Man Utd
0
Wolverhampton
1
England Premier League 13/04/25
W
Tottenham
2
Wolverhampton
4
West Ham United preview: Graham Potter in danger?
West Ham United manager Graham Potter is under severe pressure, with the Hammers boss having only won five of his 21 games in charge, losing 11 of those matches.
Potter will likely field a strong XI considering he may need to win to save his job, but with midfielder Tomas Soucek underperforming, Freddie Potts could come into the starting lineup.
Predicted lineup: Hermansen (GK), Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd, Wan-Bissaka, Ward-Prowse, Potts, Diouf, Paqueta, Bowen & Fullkrug
England Premier League 11/05/25
W
Man Utd
0
West Ham
2
England Premier League 04/05/25
D
Tottenham
1
West Ham
1
England Premier League 26/04/25
L
Brighton
3
West Ham
2
England Premier League 19/04/25
D
Southampton
1
West Ham
1
England Premier League 13/04/25
L
Liverpool
2
West Ham
1
Player to watch: Jarrod Bowen
When West Ham have encountered difficulties, they have often been able to rely on the output of Jarrod Bowen, who scored the winning goal in the Conference League final in 2023.
The Englishman is yet to score or register an assist this term, but he did find the back of the net six times in his final eight matches of 2024-25, while creating a further three goals in that period.