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Starting XI | Emerson and Summerville start Wolves clash

The Spanish boss looks like he will retain the 4-2-3-1 formation he has favoured for the most part since taking charge in the summer.

Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański, who is now our fifth oldest player to make a first-team appearance, will have Aaron Wan-Bissaka in front of him at right-back, with Emerson in the left-back berth. Maximilian Kilman maintains his ever-present 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 holding anchor with Tomáš Souček operating 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, having scored five Premier League goals, with four of those coming at home, and will be the Hammers’ central attacking focus with Summerville and Mohammed Kudus providing the width - though such is the Irons’ tactical and technical flexibility that formation could well change during the course of the evening!

On the bench, meanwhile, defender Jean-Clair Todibo is fit enough to be included in the squad after overcoming a knock suffered against Arsenal.

Alongside Todibo on the bench will be goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, defenders Aaron Cresswell and Coufal, midfielders Lucas Paquetá, Guido Rodríguez and Luis Guilherme and forwards Ings and Niclas Füllkrug, who marked his return from injury with a first West Ham goal at Leicester.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, the former West Ham midfielder, makes two changes to the side thrashed 4-0 at Everton last week, with ex-Hammer Craig Dawson, midfielder Gonçalo Guedes and goalkeeper Jose Sa dropping out, and Nélson Semedo, Toti and Sam Johnstone coming in.

With six defenders in their starting XI, it appears O'Neil is looking to ensure his team, which has conceded a Premier League high 36 goals, keep things tighter at the back.

West Ham United: Fabiański, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Soler, Souček, Álvarez, Kudus, Summerville, Bowen ©

Subs: Areola (GK), 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

Subs: Bentley (GK), Guedes, Dawson, R.Gomes, Doyle, Hwang, Bellegarde, Forbs, Lima

Referee: John Brooks

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