Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: West Ham United vs Wolves
Kickoff Time: 2024-12-10 04:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Molly Darlington
West Ham United lost 1-3 in the last away match against newly promoted Leicester City, suffering their second consecutive defeat in the league. After the end of last season, David Moyes’s contract expired, and he left West Ham. This summer, Julen Lopetegui took over as manager, and the club spent €140 million to bring in several players, including Niclas Fullkrug, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Jean-Clair Todibo, to strengthen the team. However, West Ham’s performance has been quite poor, with only four wins, three draws, and seven losses in 14 league matches. Lopetegui advocates for a possession-based style of play, but in the fast-paced environment of the Premier League, the players’ coordination appears quite unfamiliar, especially when faced with high-intensity pressing, leading to frequent mistakes. Nevertheless, West Ham’s quality remains evident, as they have had standout performances against Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Wolves suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat to Everton in the last away match, marking their second consecutive loss in the league. This season, Wolves have given the impression of being strong in attack but weak in defense. They have scored a total of 22 goals in the league so far but have conceded 36 goals, making them the worst defensive team in the Premier League. Wolves primarily use a 4-2-3-1 formation, relying on quick counterattacks as their usual tactical strategy. However, defensively, they often make basic errors, especially when facing quick counterattacks from opponents, as defenders sometimes have poor positioning or fail to provide timely support, allowing opponents to exploit gaps. Meanwhile, their mediocre away performance has severely hindered Wolves’ progress, with only one win, two draws, and four losses in seven away matches this season.
Both teams have not been in ideal form recently, but in terms of overall strength, West Ham is clearly above Wolves. Given Wolves’ poor defense and weak away performance, West Ham, enjoying the home advantage, undoubtedly has the upper hand in this match. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect West Ham to secure all three points and turn their fortunes around.
West Ham United’s Last 5 Games: LLWDL
24-12-04 Leicester City 3-1 West Ham United
24-12-01 West Ham United 2-5 Arsenal
24-11-26 Newcastle United 0-2 West Ham United
24-11-09 West Ham United 0-0 Everton
24-11-02 Nottingham Forest 3-0 West Ham United
Wolves’s Last 5 Games: LLWWD
24-12-05 Everton 4-0 Wolves
24-11-30 Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth
24-11-23 Fulham 1-4 Wolves
24-11-09 Wolves 2-0 Southampton
24-11-03 Wolves 2-2 Crystal Palace
Head To Head Record:
24-07-28 Wolves 3-1 West Ham United
24-04-06 Wolves 1-2 West Ham United
23-12-17 West Ham United 3-0 Wolves
23-01-14 Wolves 1-0 West Ham United
22-10-02 West Ham United 2-0 Wolves
Prediction: West Ham United to win