West Ham United

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 15 he takes on Dougie Payne, bassist with rock band Travis.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

This might end badly for Gary O'Neil and Wolves and, while we are not seeing the West Ham we expected from Lopetegui, he may live to fight another day.

The last time Wolves went to London, at the end of November, they beat Fulham 4-1 and enjoyed themselves.

I can't see the same happening here though, because of the number of goals they are conceding. The way they play under O'Neil, they are so open.

West Ham are going to get some chances and although they missed a few against Leicester, I am backing them to take them this time.

Payne's prediction: 1-2

This is like the 'sacked in the morning' derby, isn't it?! West Ham have not been good, or good to watch either. Even the highlights on Match of the Day have left me thinking: 'Oh, this is a bit turgid.'

With Wolves, I feel like they should be doing a lot better. They play some good stuff and Matheus Cunha has been great up front, but they can't stop conceding. I still have a feeling they will get something out of this, though.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

West Ham United considered Massimiliano Allegri as a successor to current boss Julen Lopetegui, but the cost involved made it a probable non-starter. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Monday's full gossip column

A 3-1 defeat by Leicester last time out has left question marks over Julen Lopetegui's West Ham future, while Gary O'Neil's struggles with Wolves continue and he too finds his position potentially hanging in the balance.

With three vital points on the line, it sets up for an intense battle at London stadium on Monday night.

While the two sides go head to head on the pitch, we asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.

Each got to ask three questions of the other. Hammers fan Holly Turbutt from West Ham Network, external was asked the following by our Wolves supporter:

• Both managers come into this under a bit of pressure. What has gone wrong so far for Lopetegui and do you think he can turn it around?

• Former Wolves captain Max Kilman moved to West Ham this summer. How has he been getting on for you so far?

• Which West Ham players have stood out so far?

Wolves fan contributor Dave Azzopardi from Talking Wolves, external was given the following questions:

• With both Wolves and West Ham having difficult starts to the season, are you feeling confident that you can get something out of this game and why?

• What would West Ham need to do to stop Cunha scoring?

• Which Wolves weaknesses might West Ham be able to exploit?

Sarah Rendell
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Wolves (kick-off 8pm GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lopetegui was asked several questions about his job security and he answered all of them in a similar way: "I understand all the things around football and I understand that my main responsibility is to be ready to face a tough match. It's a big opportunity and challenge for us at home. To be ready to achieve the three points, that is the most important thing."

• On whether he would walk away from the club: "I have a big commitment in my work. I am very happy to stay at West Ham. We are going to change the situation. That is why we are working - to be ready for Monday."

• On his players: "The players have been fantastic. [Great] commitment. I don't have anything to say against my players. I accept all the responsibility and pressure. That is why I am the coach. My players have to enjoy their profession. They are demanding with themselves and to believe in them is the most important thing."

• On if he had a message for the West Ham fans: "The first is thank you for your support. The second is we are going to change this. I am sure they don't need any message to to know they are going to support their players. We need them and they are going to stay with us because the support and energy is always one step forward for all the players."

• On if there was a disagreement between himself and Jean Clair Todibo during the defeat by Arsenal: "The things that happen in the dressing room have to stay in the dressing room. Nothing important happened."

• On if the Wolves match is easier with home advantage: "We're talking about the Premier League. The next match you play is the most difficult match you play. That is the first rule. We have to respect our job and our opponent. We have to do our best, and to do that you have to understand the challenge."

• Despite Wolves' perilous position, Lopetegui respects the side he managed during the 2022-23 season: "They are a good team, with good players. We know the kind of players they have, and the kind of team we're going to face, but we have to focus on ourselves."

• On Max Kilman's first appearance against the team he captained last season: "Max is trying to face a big challenge for him. I think he's doing well - he's helping us, is a good professional and a good player. With all of us, we continue to be demanding, and we're all working hard to improve."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham have conceded 71 goals in 33 Premier League games so far in 2024. It is their most league goals conceded in a single calendar year since 1976 (73 in 38 games).

Image source, Getty Images

Spanish football Journalist Guillem Balague spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues about Julen Lopetegui's future at West Ham: "West Ham played really well against Newcastle and Leicester, but they seem to lack the confidence. That's not impossible to correct. The reality is is that they are six points away from relegation and five points away from Spurs.

"It's not a winning side right now and many things are changing. You expect that when [Niklas] Fullkrug gets fitter and with [Mohammed] Kudus and [Edson] Alvarez playing better, the team will grow.

"I do see him tired, stressed and not being himself because the team has not clicked yet. But he is convinced that he can turn things around.

"He was the Spanish national team manager, Real Madrid manager and won the Europa League with Sevilla, but some people think he cannot be good enough for a team that finished ninth in the Premier League last season."

Listen to the full analysis on Lopetegui here

Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter has been sounded out by both Wolves and West Ham. (Talksport), external

Former Borussia Dourtmund coach Edin Terzic will not become the new manager of West Ham if Julen Lopetegui is relieved of his position, but ex-Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand is in contention. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Former West Ham player Tony Cottee sees Graham Potter as an ideal replacement should Julen Lopetegui leave the Hammers.

Speaking on an episode of BBC Sounds' Sacked In The Morning podcast, which airs next week, Cottee said: "I think the one that stands out at the moment who's free and not with a club would probably be Graham Potter.

"I think most of the West Ham fans would prefer a British manager. I'm not saying foreign managers aren't good. I just think for the type of club West Ham is, I think the British manager would probably be good along the lines of David Moyes, etc.

"He's not at a club at the moment, so I'm sure he should be high on the list. But knowing the West Ham board, they'll probably appoint someone I've absolutely never heard of and I'll be scratching my head again and going, oh, here we go.

"But they've got to be careful because time goes very quickly in the Premier League and the games are thick and fast and West Ham have got some tough games coming up over the next three to four weeks into the new year.

"If you're not careful, you get dragged into a relegation battle of some sort and it's very, very difficult to get out of it and it's important they stay above that.

"So I think, you know, if they're going to make the decision, make it quickly. But just try and get the right fella in to manage the club because you've got to keep above that relegation zone."

Listen to Sacked In The Morning episodes

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham legend Tony Cottee says the club "hasn't kicked on" under Julen Lopetegui.

The Hammers are expected to decide on Lopetegui's future by the weekend.

Cottee shared his thoughts on an episode of BBC Sounds' Sacked In The Morning podcast, which airs next week: "I wasn't in favour of the appointment.

"I didn't think it was following on from David Moyes. I was a huge David Moyes fan. He'd done an incredible job at the club - won West Ham their first trophy in 43 years.

"Was the football free-flowing, attacking football? No, not really. But did West Ham win something? Yes, they did.

"They played in Europe three seasons running. I think it was always going to be difficult to replace David. Really, really difficult. I didn't think it was the right appointment, but that was only my own personal feelings. We are where we are now.

"I don't know why it takes 72 hours to conduct a board meeting. I think they've said within the next 72 hours.

"I mean, by the time you've done that, West Ham have got Wolves - Lopetegui's old club - on Monday night. So we'll have to wait and see.

"But the way the club's going at the moment, it just hasn't kicked on.

"David put in some really good foundations. You need to try and build on that, you know, and being in what is it, 14th position at the moment, was not where the club wanted to be, bearing in mind they'd made a change of manager."

Listen to Sacked In The Morning episodes

Image source, Getty Images

I feel sorry for most football managers because they can't legislate for small mistakes in performances.

As for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, you can say he hasn't had a lot of time, but he hasn't really shown much in that time to give people belief that changes will occur in the future.

From listening to people associated with the club, post-David Moyes they wanted to see a manager who brought something different and as it stands the only difference is probably inconsistency.

That is not what West Ham were looking for.

They spent money in the summer bringing in the likes of Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but none of those players have been consistently good for them or helped them to be a better side.

I would liken West Ham to Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. They won at the weekend but then they went to Leicester and they walked away with a 3-1 defeat.

There is not a good pattern forming and the belief is fading. I'm not saying that the players are losing faith, but what will it take for fans to believe in Lopetegui now?

Fans just want consistency. They don't believe they should be winning the league or finishing in the top four but with the talent they have they should be doing better than they are.

There have been many question marks over Lopetegui's team selections and tactics since he arrived.

They aren't really scoring enough goals, they are conceding too many and they haven't been competitive in games they should have been in. Quite a few fans are becoming anxious because of this.

You would have thought he would have found a formula by now that works given his previous experience.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from eight midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace

• Leicester City 3-1 West Ham United

• Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool

• Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

• Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford

Julen Lopetegui's future as West Ham United head coach is hanging in the balance. (Sky Sports), external

Edin Terzic, Roger Schmidt, Sergio Conceicao and Massimiliano Allegri - all currently without a club - are among the managers being considered by the Hammers. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also of interest to West Ham. (Times - subscription required), external

Ex-Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand is another manager the Hammers could turn to, if they part ways with Lopetegui. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Want more news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Leicester City and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Andrew: What a difference in less than two days. Leicester played like a team, for the first time in weeks. If Jannik Vestergaard hadn’t been subbed, it would have been 3-0. Wout Faes has to go.

Dino: So much better. Not perfect by any means, gave the ball away too much, especially in the first half but a good second half performance. Lots of fight, lots of positives. Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare were both superb. Can only get better!

Leicester lad: Higher tempo throughout the game was key to winning as it upset the composure of the Hammers at vital times. More commitment, energy and we battled them. We had bit of luck when needed but we earned it by our effort throughout. Come on you blue boys!

West Ham fans

Kevin: That was appalling! I had no hope going into the game and I was proved right. We did the same thing over and over again and failed - go wide, cross the ball, it gets blocked, rinse and repeat. Konstantinos Mavropanos shouldn't come near a starting line up again.

James: You could argue that West Ham were unlucky not to score more, but that ignores the fact that they let in three goals again! The defenders need to defend.

Barry: The manager has to go. Absolutely exposed time after time and he never changed anything to improve it. Yes the scoreline flattered the Foxes but we still lost and the team look lost. There needs to be a change.

Former Juventus and AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is among the contenders for the West Ham job should the Hammers sack Julen Lopetegui. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui speaking to BBC Sport following the defeat by Leicester: "It’s not easy, because we deserved much more. We had 31 shots, many, many chances and we didn’t score.

"We have to do better and avoid this stat. We had to take more risks in the second half and a good team will take advantage of this. We have to be more effective as normally when you are able to create this number of chances you are going to score one.

"We are very frustrated for the fans and players because they didn’t deserve to lose.

"But we [lost] and we have to recover. The energy and belief for the next challenge is knowing this is the way to be able to change the situation."

On whether he fears for his job: "The only thing I am worried about now is to go in on Wednesday for the training session and to prepare for the next challenge.

"We have one month of a lot of matches and I'm sure with this attitude we will achieve much more points. Today it's hard to say this.

"There are days when it is easy, today it was not easy. We are very frustrated but because we deserved much more."