Wolves vs West Ham Live: Kick-Off Time, Line-Ups, How to Watch & Key Stats for Crucial Premier League Clash

Kick-off, Venue & Broadcast Info Wolverhampton Wanderers host West Ham United on Tuesday 26 August 2025 in the Carabao Cup second round, with the tie getting underway at 19:30 BST (18:30 UTC) at Molineux Stadium. Supporters in the UK can stream the match on Sky Sports Football, while Wolves TV will provide Matchday Live from 19:00 BST for international viewers. Why This Cup Clash Matters • Early Silverware Route: Both clubs see the Carabao Cup as a realistic path to European football. • Momentum Builder: Wolves seek to extend a three-game unbeaten home run, whereas the Hammers look to bounce back from their weekend league defeat at Brighton. • Fringe-Player Showcase: With a hectic Premier League calendar, managers Gary O’Neil and Julen Lopetegui are expected to rotate heavily, handing minutes to academy graduates and summer signings. Team News & Probable Line-ups Wolves – OUT: Matheus Cunha (ankle), Rayan Aït-Nouri (suspension) – DOUBTFUL: João Gomes (knock) Predicted XI (4-3-3): Bentley; Doherty, Toti, Kilman, Bueno; Doyle, Traoré, Sarabia; Chiquinho, En-Nesyri, Hwang. West Ham – OUT: Nayef Aguerd (hamstring), Lucas Paquetá (suspended) – DOUBTFUL: Mohammed Kudus (fatigue) Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Fabiański; Johnson, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson; Souček, Ward-Prowse; Cornet, Fornals, Benrahma; Ings. Head-to-Head Snapshot • All competitions: Played 71 – West Ham 32 wins, Wolves 22, Draws 17. • Last season’s league meetings: WHU 3-0 WOL at London Stadium; WOL 1-0 WHU at Molineux. • Cup history: Their only previous League Cup meeting came in 1982, West Ham edging a 2-1 replay. Tactical Talking Points Press-resistant Midfield: Wolves’ ball-playing trio of Doyle, Traoré and Sarabia will try to evade the Hammers’ high press led by Danny Ings. James Ward-Prowse’s delivery from deep remains West Ham’s biggest weapon, so Wolves’ wide men must limit cheap fouls. Set-Piece Chess Match: West Ham have scored 42 % of their goals from corners and free-kicks since August 2024, the highest ratio in the Premier League. Conversely, Wolves have conceded just twice from set plays in their last 15 home fixtures. Wide Overloads vs Low Block: Expect O’Neil to instruct his full-backs to overlap early, forcing West Ham’s wingers to defend deep and isolating Ings. Lopetegui’s side may answer with a compact 4-4-2 shape in possession, aiming for rapid transitions through Benrahma on the break. Key Players to Watch • Pablo Sarabia – The Spaniard created six chances in Wolves’ 2-0 win over Tottenham last week; his vision between the lines can unlock any low block. • James Ward-Prowse – Set-piece king needs one more direct free-kick to equal David Beckham’s English top-flight record. • Konstantinos Mavropanos – The Greek centre-half averaged 6.2 clearances per 90 in cup matches last season; his aerial duel with Youssef En-Nesyri could decide the tie. Match Odds (90 mins) Wolves 2.45 | Draw 3.30 | West Ham 2.75 (average UK sportsbooks) – odds suggest near parity, but home advantage nudges the hosts into slight favouritism. Expert Prediction With both teams likely to mix first-team regulars and reserves, energy levels and squad depth become decisive. Wolves’ recent solidity at Molineux, allied to Sarabia’s creative spark, may edge a tight contest. Prediction: Wolves 2-1 West Ham after extra-time. How to Follow Live Real-time text commentary: BBC Sport and Sky Sports News apps will update every minute. Radio: BBC WM 95.6 (West Midlands) and talkSPORT 2 nationwide. Hashtags: #WOLWHU, #CarabaoCup, #WWFC, #WHUFC. Fan Talking Points & SEO FAQs • When is Wolves vs West Ham? Tuesday 26 August 2025, 19:30 BST. • Where is the match played? Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. • Is Wolves vs West Ham on TV? Live on Sky Sports Football in the UK. • Who has the better head-to-head record? West Ham lead overall, but Wolves have won three of the last five at home. • Can Ward-Prowse break the free-kick record tonight? One more will equal the mark; two would set a new standard. Bottom Line Wolverhampton vs West Ham rarely disappoints, and with a place in the Carabao Cup third round at stake, expect fireworks under the Molineux lights. Whichever side wins will boost confidence and fan morale heading into a gruelling autumn schedule.