Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Premier League, Molineux, Saturday 14 January 2023, 3pm GMT
West Ham United head to the West Midlands on Saturday for a Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After a draw at Leeds United and an FA Cup third-round victory at Brentford to kick-off 2023, the Hammers will be hoping to maintain our unbeaten start to the New Year at Molineux.
Saturday's game also brings an end a run of three consecutive away matches for David Moyes' men, who have shown signs of returning to form in recent weeks.
Our last league outing was a see-saw encounter at Elland Road, in which Leeds took an early lead through Wilfried Gnonto, before West Ham hit back through goals either side of the break by Lucas Paquetá and Gianluca Scamacca. Rodrigo's 70th-minute strike ultimately meant the points would be shared.
The Hammers went one better last weekend, when Saïd Benrahma's long-range strike settled a tight FA Cup affair at the Algeria international's former side Brentford.
Wolves, under new boss Julen Lopetegui, have been busy in cup action over the past week, drawing 2-2 at Liverpool - and having a third goal ruled out for a controversial offside decision - in their own FA Cup third-round tie. Then, on Wednesday, they travelled the relatively short distance to Nottingham Forest for a Carabao Cup quarter-final and were on the wrong end of a penalty shootout defeat following a 1-1 draw.
With West Ham entering Saturday's game 17th in the Premier League table and Wolves 19th, there is the chance for either side to steal an important march on one another.
Tickets...
We were allocated 3,014 tickets for this fixture and the first 90% sold out to Bondholders and Season Ticket Holders with 25+ Loyalty Points. The remaining 10% (301 tickets) were then made available to Season Ticket Holders who had yet to purchase for this fixture by a ballot process. This ballot closed at 12pm on Thursday 15 December.
Click here for the latest ticket news and to purchase for our upcoming home games against Everton, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and our UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 tie at London Stadium, and for away games at Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Travel...
Driving to Molineux is fairly simple, but parking in the vicinity of the ground is less so, with most of the nearby car parks restricted to players, officials and permit holders on matchdays.
If you do want to drive, head up the M1 and then take the M6 to junction 10. From there take the A454 via Willenhall to Wolverhampton Ring Road.
At the first roundabout, take the fourth exit (A449 to Stafford), go straight on at the next two sets of traffic lights, then filter right at the third set of lights into Waterloo Road. Molineux appears is on the right.
Car parks are available in Birch Street (WV1 4JW), Redhill Street (WV1 1NR) and Whitmore Hill (WV1 4RU). To book a parking pass contact the Ticket Office on 0371 222 1877.
Trains leave London regularly for Wolverhampton, with direct services from Euston leaving at 08.40, 09.16, 10.16 and 11.16, arriving around two hours later. Alternatively, you can change at Stafford, with a slightly faster overall journey time.
From Wolverhampton station, it’s only a ten-minute walk to Molineux.
After the game, direct trains back to London leave Wolverhampton at 17.45 and 18.45, or 17.13 and 18.11 via Birmingham New Street, or 17.32 and 18.32 via Stafford.
How to Follow...
Saturday's game will NOT be broadcast live in the UK. However, it will be shown across the world by the Premier League's international broadcast partners.
You can listen to commentary in the UK on BBC Radio London 94.9FM and worldwide on whufc.com and our official app.
You can also follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app and across our social media channels. We will also have highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle.
Team News...
The Hammers were without Gianluca Scamacca and Alphonse Areola for last weekend's FA Cup tie at Brentford and David Moyes will check on the pair's fitness ahead of the trip to Wolverhampton.
Maxwel Cornet continues to make his way back from a calf injury, while defender Kurt Zouma is making good progress following surgery on his knee during the FIFA World Cup break.
For Wolves, long-term absentees Pedro Neto, Boubacar Traoré, Saša Kalajdžić and Chiquinho remain sidelined.
Opposition...
It was all-change at Molineux over the World Cup break as former Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui took over the reins, replacing Bruno Lage in the Wolves hotseat after the club's disappointing start to the 2022/23 season.
In fact, it was the Hammers' 2-0 win over Wolves at London Stadium in October that spelled the end for the Portuguese, with just one win in their opening eight Premier League fixtures leaving them 18th in the table.
U18s coach Steve Davis took temporary charge until the World Cup, with Lopetegui then charged with the task of lifting his side away from relegation danger over the second half of the season.
He has made a pretty decent start too, losing just one of his first six matches in regulation time, although a solitary Premier League victory means they head into Saturday's game still in the drop zone.
Struggles at the wrong end of the table have been a rarity for the team in Old Gold since they regained their Premier League status for the 2018/19 season - in fact in their four topflight campaigns since, they have only finished below halfway just once.
With a UEFA Europa League quarter-final run in that time under their belts too, the West Midlanders will be hoping for a return to their normal form under Lopetegui - a coach who of course has lifted the Europa League previously whilst with Sevilla.
First of all, Premier League survival will be the more immediate aim, although West Ham will want to ensure their recovery stalls for a week at least.
Previous Meetings...
West Ham United meet Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 14th time in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The all-time standings in this competition are tied, with each side winning six times each, and just one draw.
West Ham's most emphatic Premier League result against Wolves was the 4-0 victory we scored over them at London Stadium in September 2020.
A 2-0 win in October last year means the Irons are seeking a third straight top-flight win over the men from Molineux.
Prior to that, the Hammers registered two 5-0 top-flight wins over Wolves in the old First Division, with Bobby Moore scoring in both victories at the Boleyn Ground in both December 1960 and September 1964.
Match Officials...
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistant Referees: Adrian Holmes and Mark Scholes
Fourth Official: Craig Pawson
VAR: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Richard West
Born in Swindon in Wiltshire in July 1982, Simon Hooper has been a member of the Select Group of Premier League referees since 2018.
Prior to his appointment to the Select Group, Hooper was appointed to the National List in 2008.
He was promoted to Select Group 2 in 2016 and took charge of the 2017 League One Play-Off final between Bradford City and Millwall at Wembley.
The 40-year-old has taken charge of seven West Ham United fixtures previously – a 1-0 home win over Coventry City in the Championship in January 2012, a 3-0 Carabao Cup third round win over Bolton Wanderers in September 2017, a 2-0 Premier League defeat at AFC Bournemouth in January 2019, a 5-1 EFL Cup third round win over Hull City last September, the 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at London Stadium in late December 2020, the 3-0 home win over Sheffield United in February 2021, and last January's home 2-0 victory over Norwich City.
