Get our West Ham vs Portsmouth prediction, bet builder tips, lineups, and match odds ahead of this English League Cup clash. Find top betting insights.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Match Summary
Competition | English League Cup |
|---|---|
Match Date | Saturday 8 August 2026 |
Match Time | 15:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | London, London Stadium |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | Sky Sports Arena (UK) |
The English League Cup throws up an intriguing first-round tie as West Ham host Portsmouth at the London Stadium, the first competitive meeting between these two since 2011-12.
West Ham begin life back in the Championship for the first time in over a decade, having dropped out of the Premier League last season. Nuno Espirito Santo wants an instant return to the top flight.
Portsmouth arrive under John Mousinho after finishing 18th in the Championship last term. Pompey have invested this summer and will fancy an early cup upset on their travels.
Recent history sits firmly with the hosts, who are undefeated in their last six meetings with Portsmouth across all competitions. This, though, is the first ever cup tie between the pair.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Form
West Ham head into their competitive opener off the back of a steady summer, going unbeaten across five friendlies with two wins and three draws. Holding onto club captain Jarrod Bowen was the key piece of business, and the forward remains the standout attacking threat as the Hammers chase promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Portsmouth's pre-season was patchier, managing two wins from seven friendlies but signing off with a victory over Kuwait SC. Pompey ended last season in strong form and have added the likes of Rocco Shein and Marko Milovanovic to the squad, so there is fresh quality to blend in as they hunt an away shock.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
West Ham: Tomas Soucek (Injured/out)
Portsmouth: Josh Murphy (Injured/out), Connor Ogilvie (Injured/out), Marlon Pack (Injured/out), Mark Kosznovszky (Injured/out), Keanan Anderson (Injured/out), Josh Bursik (Injured/out), Freddie Umeh-Chibueze (Injured/out), Harvey Blair (Injured/doubtful)
West Ham
West Ham will be without Tomas Soucek, who is struggling with an ankle injury. Jarrod Bowen has committed his future to the club but is unlikely to feature in this first-round tie, so expect a rotated side. Young duo Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford could get opportunities in the cup.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth are far more stretched, sweating over winger Harvey Blair's fitness with seven confirmed absentees already, including Connor Ogilvie and Josh Murphy. Marko Milovanovic is building up his sharpness after joining and could make the bench, but Mousinho's options are thin heading into this one.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Predicted Lineup
West Ham
Formation: 4-4-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Earthy, Orford, Kanté, Lamadrid; Castellanos, Pablo
Portsmouth
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Schmid; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson; Adams, L. Roux; Segecic, Shein, Brooke-Smith; Bishop
West Ham vs Portsmouth Key Stats & Match Facts
West Ham are undefeated in their last six meetings with Portsmouth in all competitions, winning four and drawing two.
This is the first ever meeting between West Ham and Portsmouth in the EFL Cup.
Across 65 all-time competitive meetings, the sides are level with 26 wins each and 13 draws.
West Ham's last victory over Portsmouth came in a 1-0 win at Fratton Park on 14 January 2012.
West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is preparing his side for a Championship promotion push after relegation from the Premier League.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: West Ham are clear favourites at 8/15 with William Hill and carry far more firepower than a badly depleted Portsmouth side. On the basis of the head-to-head record and the gulf in available resources, our prediction is a 3-1 West Ham win.
Best Bets
West Ham to win and Over 2.5 Goals. The hosts carry far more firepower than a Portsmouth side missing eight players, and even a rotated West Ham XI has enough quality to win a game that opens up. Backing goals alongside the home win makes sense given the gulf in resources.
Both Teams To Score - Yes. Early-round League Cup ties tend to produce shuffled lineups and stretched, end-to-end football. With both managers likely to freshen things up, Portsmouth carry enough of a threat to trouble a reshuffled West Ham back line at least once.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Bet Builder
Our four-leg bet builder leans on West Ham's home edge: the Hammers to win, Jarrod Bowen anytime goalscorer, both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in a game that should have plenty in it.
West Ham to win is the anchor. Back in the Championship and heavy favourites at home, Nuno's side face a Portsmouth outfit shorn of eight players and hold a dominant head-to-head record.
Jarrod Bowen anytime goalscorer is the value leg. The captain stayed put over the summer and remains the Hammers' main threat, capable of settling this even off the bench.
Both teams to score reflects the nature of early cup ties. Rotation on both sides tends to loosen defences, and Portsmouth carry enough to force at least one goal.
Over 2.5 goals rounds it off. With the hosts expected to press for a comfortable win and the tie likely to stretch, the goals should follow in a first-round opener.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 15/4 and is as short as 2.99/1 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £8 from best to worst price.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Talking Points
Expect a raucous away end, with Portsmouth selling out a full 9,000-ticket allocation in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand for their first competitive visit to the London Stadium. Referee Adam Herczeg takes charge, and it is worth noting the rules of the round: goal-line technology will be in operation, but VAR is not used in the first round of the EFL Cup, so there will be no lengthy stoppages for reviews. That could suit an open, high-tempo tie between a Championship favourite and an ambitious visiting side.
West Ham vs Portsmouth Predictions FAQs
What is the prediction for West Ham vs Portsmouth?
Check our full match preview for the latest prediction, expert analysis, and betting insights ahead of West Ham vs Portsmouth.
Where is West Ham vs Portsmouth being played?
The English League Cup fixture between West Ham and Portsmouth will take place at London Stadium.
What are the predicted lineups for West Ham vs Portsmouth?
Predicted lineups and team news for West Ham vs Portsmouth are available in our preview as official starting XIs are confirmed.
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You can find bet builder tips and match odds for West Ham vs Portsmouth in our detailed betting preview.
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