Kick-off: 1500, 14/01/2023
Stadium: Molineux
Wolves and West Ham are both rated better teams than their lowly Premier League positions suggest and each has started to turn things around.
Wanderers have looked much more solid since Julen Lopetegui took charge, while the Hammers have had two decent results this month.
We’re struggling to split this pair, so 23/10 for a Molineux stalemate is our first Wolves vs West Ham prediction.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Odds
Wolves will consider themselves unlucky not to have progressed in both cup competitions over the past week.
They were denied a late decider by a VAR technicality when drawing 2-2 at Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.
Wanderers then thought they should have had a penalty in a 1-1 EFL Cup stalemate at Nottingham Forest before faltering in a shoot-out.
Lopetegui said: “I’m disappointed we lost and didn’t go to the semi-final. We had more chances than Nottingham but it is about the goals.”
On the rejected penalty appeal, he added: “Maybe I have to learn about the rules. It was very clear to me but the referee is the only one with the power to say yes or no.”
In the Premier League, Wolves returned from the World Cup break with a win at Everton, before losing narrowly to Manchester United and then sharing the spoils at Aston Villa.
Although still second from bottom, those results suggest they can climb away from danger.
Young French midfielder Rayan Ait Nouri has caught the eye getting forward of late and is 4/1 to score at any time in the Wolves vs West Ham odds.
Last Wolves EPL line-up: Jose Sa, Collins, Kilman, Bueno, Neves, Podence, Semedo, Nunes, Moutinho, Hwang, Costa.
Striker Diego Costa is edging closer to a return, but winger Pedro Neto (ankle), midfielder Boubacar Traore (groin) and forward Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) are still sidelined.
Forward Matheus Cunha is pushing for a start after making an impact in the cup defeat to Forest in midweek, setting up Raul Jimenez’s equaliser.
West Ham United Odds
West Ham are only above the drop zone on goal difference due to a run of five straight league defeats either side of the Qatar 2022 lay-off.
The Hammers hinted at better things to come when drawing 2-2 at Leeds, though, and followed up with a 1-0 FA Cup win away to Brentford.
Said Benrahma scored a wonder strike against his old club with 11 minutes remaining to settle that tie.
“The feeling of winning is unbelievable and the finish was amazing from Said,” said United defender Angelo Ogbonna.
“This is a good boost and I hope this victory can drive the team on. Everyone wants the best for this club.
“The pitch didn’t help up but at least we showed West Ham are back. It was really good. It’s something that can help us in the next games.”
The last three head-to-head encounters between these teams have only produced four goals and another tight tussle is on the cards.
We’re going with 11/2 for a 1-1 stalemate to finish off our Wolves vs West Ham betting tips.
Last West Ham EPL line-up: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Kehrer, Aguerd, Paqueta, Soucek, Rice, Scamacca, Fornals, Bowen.
West Ham should have Italian frontman Gianluca Scamacca back from injury, but defender Kurt Zouma is short of fitness following minor knee surgery.
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