December 12, 2024
West Ham United lost to Leicester City, which was surprising because it’s quite unlikely. Mads Hermansen, make many saves, including five in the first half.
Manager Julen Lopetegui expressed his frustration after the match, saying they deserved to win after taking 31 shots in the opponent’s box but failing to score.
Lopetegui is under a lot of pressure this season, as fans expected him to improve the team’s playing style, which had been a point of criticism for former manager David Moyes.
Currently, West Ham is projected to score 48 goals and concede 73 in the Premier League this season. While this would slightly improve their defensive record from last year, it would mean they score 12 goals less than they did in the 2023-24 season.
Recently, the team has struggled, losing three, drawing one, and winning only one of their last five games, during which they conceded 11 goals.
At home, their recent performance has been somewhat better, with two wins, one loss, and one draw in their last four matches at the London Stadium. However, they did suffer a heavy defeat, losing 5-2 to Arsenal on November 30.
Both teams find themselves in shaky positions within the Premier League standings. West Ham sits 14th with 15 points after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Leicester City, while Wolves, languishing in 19th, have amassed only 9 points, following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Everton.
West Ham’s recent performance has been underwhelming, with manager Julen Lopetegui expressing frustration after the Leicester loss, where they dominated possession but failed to convert their chances into goals.
The Hammers have been struggling with inconsistency. Managing only one win, alongside three losses and a draw in their last five outings, resulting in a concerning total of 11 goals conceded in that period.
Niclas Fullkrug is expected to take the lead in attack, supported by Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek, and Mohammed Kudus. Defensively, Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos should line up in central defense in front of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
On the other side, Wolverhampton will be lacking in numbers due to injuries and suspensions. Key defender Yerson Mosquera is out for months after knee surgery, while Nelson Semedo is serving a suspension from yellow cards. Their defensive lineup may consist of Matt Doherty, Toti Gomes, Craig Dawson, and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Wolves will have to cope without several significant players, including winger Enso Gonzalez Medina and striker Sasa Kalajdzic, both out with serious knee injuries.
Pablo Sarabia is facing a late fitness test that could affect their attacking strategy, with the midfield likely to feature Tommy Doyle, Mario Lemina, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde supporting forwards Matheus Cunha and Hee-Chan Hwang.
With both teams in desperate need of points to improve their standings, this encounter could be pivotal for the managerial fate of Lopetegui and the confidence of both squads as they navigate a challenging 2024-25 Premier League season.
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