Premier League | Gameweek 21

Jan 14, 2025 at 7.30pm UK

London Stadium

West Ham vs Fulham

Match preview

West Ham were in the lead against Villa in the FA Cup last time, thanks to Lucas Paqueta, but Unai Emery's team scored twice in the space of five second-half minutes to turn the match around and get through to the next stage of the competition.

With no European football this term, the Hammers now only have the league to focus on, and it'll be up to new head coach Potter to guide the team away from the bottom three and potentially into the top half of the division.

West Ham have lost their last two league games against Liverpool and Manchester City, conceding nine times in the process, and they currently sit in 14th spot in the Premier League table, picking up only 23 points from their 20 league matches this term.

The Hammers are only seven points above the relegation zone, which is a bit of a worry considering their recent form, and they've got major problems in the final third of the field that'll definitely need to be fixed before the end of the transfer window.

West Ham haven't won in their last three Premier League matches with Fulham, losing twice, and they haven't had a victory in their last five Premier League London derbies, losing three of those.

Fulham, on the other hand, have been doing well in their last 10 Premier League derbies, which is their longest run since October 1938. Marco Silva's team will also bring a healthy unbeaten run into the contest across the board.

In fact, the Cottagers haven't lost in their last nine matches in all competitions, including their last eight in the Premier League. That run includes draws against Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as a success away to Chelsea.

Their last league defeat was at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 23 November, and they're currently in ninth place in the table, picking up 30 points from their 20 matches. This has left them only six points off the Champions League spots.

Silva's team thrashed Watford 4-1 in the FA Cup at the end of last week, and they'll be gunning for another win ahead of their trip to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City next weekend.

Fulham have only lost two of their nine away Premier League matches this season, and they'll be heading to a West Ham side that's had just three home league successes so far during a pretty disappointing 2024-25 campaign.

Recent Performance

West Ham United Premier League form:WDDWLL

West Ham United form (all competitions):DDWLLL

Fulham Premier League form:DDDWDD

Fulham form (all competitions):DDWDDW

Team News

West Ham will be without Emerson, Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville, Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Fullkrug on Tuesday night because of injury problems. This shows the team's problems in the final third of the field.

So, it looks like Danny Ings will be starting through the middle. He's got one goal and one assist in 10 Premier League games this season, and his only goal was against Fulham in the reverse game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Edson Alvarez is currently being linked with a move to Monaco, but the Mexican should start, while Vladimir Coufal and Carlos Soler are also in line for recalls due to the fitness issues which occurred against Villa.

As for Fulham, Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson will definitely miss out, while Sander Berge and Rodrigo Muniz are major doubts.

Head coach Silva made changes against Watford in the FA Cup, but the big hitters will be recalled here, including Issa Diop, Raul Jimenez, Tom Cairney, Calvin Bassey and Bernd Leno, while Harry Wilson could also be in the starting XI.

Jimenez has been on fire for the visitors this season, scoring eight goals in 20 games, and he'll definitely be leading the line, with Adama Traoré tipped to be among the subs.

Possible starting lineup

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Wan-Bissaka; Alvarez, Soler; Kudus, Soucek, Paqueta; Ings

Fulham possible starting lineup:

Leno; Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Castagne, Lukic, Cairney, Robinson; Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi