English Premier League Soccer - West Ham United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 6/20/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds

Determined to improve their chances of survival in the Premier League for another year, 16th-placed West Ham United are playing host to 7th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are eying a top-four finish this season. Kick-off - at 12:30 AM ET on Saturday, June 20.

Hammers Need Results

When David Moyes returned to West Ham United as a manager on Dec. 29, the Hammers were sitting 17th in the league, just one point above the drop-zone. Entering the Premier League restart, West Ham occupies the not-much-better 16th position (W7 D6 L16) but are on level points with 17th-placed Watford and 18th-placed Bournemouth, albeit with a better goal differential. The East London team has managed to win just one of its previous eight matches (W1 D2 L5) but has gone unbeaten on its own turf in its last four home games (W2 D2).

French striker Sebastien Haller leads the Hammers with seven league snipes this year but has managed to score just once in his last eight EPL outings. Goalie Lukasz Fabianski, meanwhile, sits 19th in England’s top-flight with 46 saves. He has posted four clean sheets in 16 appearances this season and concedes a goal every 60 minutes on average. West Ham has scored the 10th highest number of goals so far this year (35), while registering the 15th highest amount of shots per game (10.4). The team is 16th in ball possession (45.5%) and 13th in passing accuracy (75.9%).

Wolves Continue To Impress

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished 7th in the standings in their first season back in the Premier League last season following a six-year absence and are pretty much continuing where they left off this term, currently sitting 7th with a W10 D13 L6 record, residing above the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. The Wolves are still active in the Europa League, having drawn 1-1 with Olympiacos away in Greece in the first leg of their Last 16 matchup, and are unbeaten in five straight Premier League encounters (W2 D3), posting four clean sheets along the way.

Mexican forward Raul Jimenez leads Wolverhampton with 13 Premier League markers, having banked two goals in his last three EPL starts. Rui Patricio, meanwhile, sits 10th in the league’s goalie table, having stopped 78 shots in 29 contests this season. He has picked up eight clean sheets and allows a goal every 77 minutes of play. The Wolves have buried the 7th highest quantity of goals this year (41) while taking the 8th highest amount of shots per game (12.8). The team is 12th in ball possession (47.6%) and 10th in passing accuracy (78.6%).

Prediction

Since losing 5-0 to Fulham in March 2012, Wolverhampton Wanderers have gone unbeaten in their following nine trips to see off teams from London (W4 D5). So, don’t be too surprised to witness that run extend to 10 games. The Hammers have already posted five defeats in their last eight league outings (W1 D2 L5) and have dropped their very last three Premier League encounters with the Wolves with a combined score of 6-0. Unbeaten in their last five EPL contests (W2 D3), Wolverhampton has a great chance to add some more points to their tally.

Best bets:

Wolverhampton to win (+110)

Wolverhampton clean sheet (+160)