Starting XI | Emerson and Summerville begin the Wolves’ clash

The Spanish coach appears to be sticking with the 4-2-3-1 formation that he has largely favored since taking over in the summer.

Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański, now our fifth oldest player to ever play in the first team, will have Aaron Wan-Bissaka ahead of him at right-back, with Emerson at left-back. Maximilian Kilman maintains his all-time record in Lopetegui’s Premier League lineup against his former side, while Dinos Mavropanos completes the central defensive partnership.

Edson Álvarez is expected to be the anchor while Tomáš Souček operates in the crucial engine room, while Carlos Soler will act as the advanced midfielder of the trio.

Captain Jarrod Bowen has enjoyed playing against Wolves in the past, scoring five Premier League goals, four of them at home, and will be the Hammers’ central attacking focus, with Summerville and Mohammed Kudus providing width – Although this is the case with the Irons’ tactical and technical flexibility, this formation could well change throughout the evening!

Meanwhile, on the bench is defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who is fit enough to be included in the squad following the knock he sustained against Arsenal.

In addition to Todibo on the bench are goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, defenders Aaron Cresswell and Coufal, midfielders Lucas Paquetá, Guido Rodríguez and Luis Guilherme as well as strikers Ings and Niclas Füllkrug, who marked his return from injury with a first West Ham goal in Leicester marked.

Wolves coach Gary O’Neil, the former West Ham midfielder, is making two changes to the side beaten 4-0 at Everton last week: ex-Hammer Craig Dawson, midfielder Gonçalo Guedes and goalkeeper Jose Sa are out out and Nélson Semedo, Toti and Sam Johnstone come in.

With six defenders in the starting XI, O’Neil appears intent on ensuring his team, who have conceded a Premier League-high 36 goals, remain tighter in defence.

West Ham United: Fabiański, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Soler, Souček, Álvarez, Kudus, Summerville, Bowen ©
Substitutes: Areola (TW), Cresswell, Coufal, Todibo, Rodríguez, Paquetá, Luis Guilherme, Ings, Füllkrug

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone, Semedo, Doherty, Lemina ©, Toti, Bueno, Aït-Nouri, André, J.Gomes, Cunha, Strand Larsen
Substitutes: Bentley (TW), Guedes, Dawson, R.Gomes, Doyle, Hwang, Bellegarde, Forbs, Lima

Referee: John Brooks