Hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers and visitors West Ham United will hope that the EFL Cup can provide respite from their poor Premier League campaigns when they face off on Tuesday at Molineux.
Neither side have accumulated a single point in their opening two Premier League fixtures, and a defeat for West Ham boss Graham Potter could prove damaging for his prospects of remaining in charge of the club.
Match preview
Wolves were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth on Saturday, but their chances of leaving the Vitality Stadium with anything were slim after Toti Gomes's red card early in the second half.
The defeat compounded a poor start to the season given they lost 4-0 against Manchester City on August 16, and boss Vitor Pereira will be fearful that his side are facing a relegation battle considering they are currently 19th.
Pereira's team have created the second least xG (one), produced the fewest shots on target per match (two) and mustered the third fewest touches in the opposition's penalty area (33) of any team in the division.
The Old Gold reached the third round of the EFL Cup in 2024-25 before they were knocked out by Brighton & Hove Albion, when they lost 3-2 in September 2024.
Wolves' defeats this season mean they are currently winless in their last six competitive fixtures, losing on five occasions while failing to score four times.
The hosts' record at home last term was poor considering they ended the league season having lost 10, drawn three and won six of their 19 matches at Molineux, a points return (21) that was bettered by 15 teams.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira pictured on July 30, 2025
West Ham were thrashed 5-1 at home by Chelsea on Friday, a game that they had taken a sixth-minute lead in, but they trailed 3-1 by the half-time interval.
The Londoners faced seven big chances, and they have kept just one clean sheet in their 11 most recent Premier League outings.
Potter is facing significant pressure given he has only won five of the 21 matches he has taken charge of at the club, losing 11 of those games.
The Hammers were beaten 1-0 by Wolves on April 1 in their most recent meeting with their hosts, but they did emerge as winners in each of their prior three encounters with the Old Gold.
West Ham have conceded eight goals in their opening two Premier League outings while scoring once, and they produced just 1.3 xG in those games.
Potter's side were beaten 3-0 in their only away match this campaign by Sunderland on August 16, but the Englishman did oversee two wins in their final two away fixtures of 2024-25.
Wolverhampton Wanderers form:
West Ham United form:
Team News
Toti Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers is sent off against Bournemouth, on August 23, 2025
Wolves defender Gomes is available for selection, and considering he cannot start on the weekend, he will be chosen to play in a back three next to Yerson Mosquera and and Matt Doherty.
Joao Gomes could come out of the starting XI that played against Bournemouth in favour of midfielder Andre, who may be partnered by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Forward Enso Gonzalez is dealing with a knee injury and will miss out until September, so perhaps Marshall Munetsi, Sasa Kalajdzic and Jhon Arias will appear as a trio.
West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville is not scheduled to return until the middle of next month due to a hamstring injury, but talisman Jarrod Bowen is fit to feature.
Given Potter is facing intense pressure, he is likely to name a strong midfield, with Freddie Potts and James Ward-Prowse candidates to be stationed together on Tuesday.
Max Kilman may start in the middle of a back three, flanked by Nayef Aguerd and Jean-Clair Todibo.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Doherty, Mosquera, Gomes; Hoever, Bellegarde, Gomes, Bueno; Munetsi, Kalajdzic, Arias
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Ward-Prowse, Potts, Diouf; Paqueta, Bowen; Fullkrug
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We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 West Ham United
Both sides have struggled for goals in 2025-26, and Tuesday's game is likely to be a tense affair considering the pressure both teams are facing.
West Ham could benefit from playing on the road this week, given the scrutiny they are under from their fans, and they may advance into the next round.
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