West Ham vs Wolves – LIVE!
Two jobs are on the line as West Ham host Wolves in a crucial Premier League showdown tonight. The match has been dubbed ‘El Sackico’ on social media, with Julen Lopetegui on the brink and needing a win against his former club to save his job, while Wolves boss Gary O’Neil appears to be under similar pressure.
Things were seemingly looking up for Lopetegui at West Ham a fortnight ago, when they travelled to Newcastle on a Monday night and produced a superb performance to win 2-0. Since then, though, there was a heavy 5-2 defeat to Arsenal, before the Hammers were beaten a week ago by Leicester. West Ham will show their support to Michail Antonio ahead of kick-off, after the striker required surgery on a lower limb fracture following a car crash on Saturday.
The Hammers at least sit 14th in the table, six points off the relegation, which is a far more comfortable position than the one Wolves find themselves in. O’Neil’s side have just two Premier League wins and nine points to their name this season, and a dismal 4-0 defeat to Everton last time out has piled the pressure on. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground!
West Ham vs Wolves latest news
Pre-match thoughts from O’Neil
19:28 , Matt Verri
Lots of talk about Julen Lopetegui, but it’s not looking good for Gary O’Neil either.
Wolves are 19th in the Premier League, with only two wins so far this season.
Another defeat here and reports would suggest O’Neil is likely to lose his job.
“It is about finding the balance and tonight I’m hoping we can nail that” ⚖️
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is hoping to put on a solid display against West Ham 💪 pic.twitter.com/fSlpD4k7mx
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024
Bowen thanks fans for Antonio messages
19:14 , Matt Verri
Jarrod Bowen has been speaking ahead of kick-off about Michail Antonio, admitting it was a difficult few hours for the West Ham squad on Saturday as they waited for an update on their team-mate.
The West Ham captain says: “You see the support. I want to say thank you to all the support from everyone. It’s one of those things where life is bigger than football sometimes and it was one of those where everyone came together.
“For me I truly appreciate that, and I know everyone here truly appreciates that as well.
“The main thing is now Mic’s safe, he’s well. He’s here to tell the story. On Saturday it was a really difficult time. Mic’s a warrior, Mic’s a fighter. He always has been throughout his career so I know he’ll be back stronger from this.
Dom Smith at the London Stadium
19:05 , Matt Verri
All or nothing kind of night…
Changes for both sides
18:57 , Matt Verri
Todibo is fit to make the squad for West Ham, but he is on the bench alongside the likes of Fullkrug and Paqueta.
Coufal starts at right-back, while Ings drops out of the side and it looks like it could be Summerville leading the line.
Three changes for Wolves, as Johnstone, Semedo and Toti all start.
Wolves team news
18:51 , Matt Verri
Starting XI: Johnstone, Doherty, Semedo, Bueno, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Andre, Lemina, Gomes, Cunha, Larsen. Subs:
Subs: Bentley, Dawson, Lima, Doyle, Bellegarde, Forbs, Gomes, Guedes, Hwang
West Ham team news
18:48 , Matt Verri
Starting XI: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soler; Bowen, Soucek, Kudus; Summerville
Subs: Areola, Cresswell, Coufal, Paqueta, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Ings, Rodriguez, Todibo
Lopetegui against familiar opposition…
18:38 , Matt Verri
Julen Lopetegui takes on his former club tonight.
He was Wolves boss until just before the start of last season, when he walked away on the eve of the new campaign due to disagreements with the club’s hierarchy.
Lopetegui now finds himself under huge pressure, just a few months into his West Ham reign.
Defeat tonight and he is unlikely to keep his job.
Hammers to show support to Antonio
18:24 , Matt Verri
West Ham players will show their support for team-mate Michail Antonio ahead of Monday night’s crunch game against Wolves.
Hammers forward Antonio was taken to hospital on Saturday after being involved in a road traffic accident in Essex, later undergoing surgery on a lower limb fracture.
The 34-year-old will remain in hospital to be monitored and recover over the coming days.
West Ham must now try their best to refocus on events on the pitch, with a crucial match against Wolves coming up at the London Stadium on Monday evening.
The club have now confirmed that their players will show their support for Antonio ahead of that game by walking out of the tunnel in shirts bearing his name and also warming up in tops with ‘Antonio 9’ on them.
West Ham will then on Monday night auction off those shirts to be signed by the whole squad including Antonio, with the proceeds being split between the NHS and Air Ambulances UK Charity.
The West Ham board have also pledged to match the money raised during the auction.
Stage is set!
18:13 , Matt Verri
An absolutely huge night ahead in West Ham!
Standard Sport prediction
18:02 , Matt Verri
As disappointing as the Leicester result was, West Ham were arguably unlucky in that match.
Clearly, that will do little to settle fan unrest but it does perhaps suggest they have enough to beat Wolves.
West Ham to win, 2-1.
Wolves team news
17:53 , Matt Verri
Wolves, meanwhile, could welcome back Nelson Semedo after his recent suspension.
Boubacar Traore, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzales and Yerson Mosquera are all injured.
West Ham team news
17:45 , Matt Verri
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture following a road traffic accident on Saturday.
The club said on Saturday that Antonio was in a stable condition and “conscious and communicating”.
They then issued another update on Antonio on Sunday and said the forward “will continue to be monitored in hospital over the coming days”.
Defender Jean-Clair Todibo is a doubt after missing the 3-1 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday with a groin problem.
Predicted West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soler; Bowen, Soucek, Kudus; Ings
How to watch West Ham vs Wolves
17:37 , Matt Verri
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage starts at 6.30pm GMT ahead of an 8pm-kick off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground!
Good evening!
17:31 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham vs Wolves!
It’s a match that has been labelled ‘El Sackico’, with both managers on the brink. Defeat for either Julen Lopetegui and Gary O’Neil and that could, and probably will, be that.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm GMT from the London Stadium.
