West Ham entered the season with hopes of securing a spot in European competitions but has fallen significantly short of those expectations. Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League with 23 points from 20 games, the team has struggled to find consistency despite its talented squad.
A promising four-game unbeaten streak, including two wins and two draws, was derailed by heavy losses to Liverpool (5-0) and Manchester City (4-1). These defeats led to the departure of manager Julen Lopetegui, with Graham Potter stepping in as head coach. Last Friday, West Ham took on Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Fulham has enjoyed a solid campaign so far, currently holding 9th place in the Premier League and sitting just four points behind the top six. The team has demonstrated resilience, remaining unbeaten in their last eight league matches with two victories and six draws.
However, they have missed opportunities to secure valuable points. After an impressive 2-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day, Fulham played back-to-back 2-2 draws against Bournemouth and struggling Ipswich. On Thursday, they hosted Watford in the FA Cup round of 32.
West Ham faces several key absences going into this match. Striker Michail Antonio is unavailable as he recovers from a car accident, while Jarrod Bowen, the team’s top contributor with 5 goals and 4 assists, is sidelined with an injury.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is also out. Forward Niclas Fullkrug, who has struggled with injuries earlier in the season, will look to step up after scoring in their most recent league match. He is likely to be supported by Lucas Paquetá (3 goals) and Mohammed Kudus (3 goals) in the attacking lineup.
Fulham is also dealing with injury concerns. Full-back Kenny Tete, along with substitutes Harrison Reed and Cédric Nelson, are unavailable, while the participation of key midfielder Sander Berge remains uncertain.
Up front, Raúl Jiménez, who scored twice against Ipswich and has tallied 8 goals and 2 assists this season, will lead the attack. He is expected to be supported by Alex Iwobi (5 goals, 3 assists), Andreas Pereira (2 goals), Emile Smith Rowe (3 goals, 2 assists), and Bertrand Traoré (1 goal, 3 assists).
Prediction
West Ham has struggled at home, securing just four wins in their last 18 Premier League matches and suffering multiple defeats in their previous ten games. Fulham, on the other hand, has been impressive on the road, winning eight of their last 14 away matches. Considering the form and performances of both teams, Fulham appears to have the upper hand in this encounter.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 West Ham
