West Ham look to keep pace with the English Premier League’s big boys. Wolves seek to keep rising up the table. Who will be victorious on Saturday?
West Ham United will be looking to continue their fantastic start to the 2021-22 English Premier League (EPL) season, when they head to Molineux on Saturday afternoon, for an encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
West Ham are currently third and flying high in the EPL table, three points behind leaders Chelsea, on 23 points. Meanwhile, Wolves sit in eighth position, just one point behind sixth-placed Manchester United.
The West Midlands outfit will have to make do without Fernando Marçal, Pedro Neto, Hugo Bueno, Jonny Castro and Yerson Mosquera for this weekend’s contest, as they are all still side-lined through injury.
However, Bruno Lage’s Wolves do not have any new fitness worries ahead of this match, meaning that the XI should be close to the one that started against Crystal Palace before the international break.
Raúl Jiménez and Hwang Hee-chan are certainties in advanced positions, while there could also be a spot for Daniel Podence, who is facing competition from Franciso Trincão and Adama Traoré.
As for West Ham, Angelo Ogbonna is out with a long-term knee injury, but Declan Rice is expected to be available, having recovered from illness.
Pablo Fornals is also likely to shake off a knock to start, meaning that David Moyes might make just one change to the side that started against Liverpool, with Craig Dawson replacing Ogbonna.
Michail Antonio found the net twice for Jamaica over the recent international break and will again play as striker, with the 31-year-old looking to add to the six EPL goals that he has registered so far this campaign.
This is a difficult match to call, as both teams are in good form. Therefore, we are predicting a 1-1 draw, with one goal coming in each half.
