Sunday’s action kicks off with a London derby, with West Ham United welcoming Fulham to the London Stadium.
Gameweek 33 of the 2023/24 Premier League season continues on Sunday with four games. The action gets underway with two simultaneous fixtures, one of which will have West Ham United hosting Fulham at the London Stadium.
West Ham United have enjoyed an excellent 2023/24 campaign thus far. While the Hammers did not last long in the domestic cup competitions, they have been exceptional in the Premier League while reaching the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.
However, David Moyes’s men might see their European journey end next week after losing to Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in the first leg on Thursday. So, returning to the competition through the Premier League will be West Ham’s best avenue, considering they are seventh in the standings heading into Gameweek 33.
As for Fulham, they have had a stable Premier League campaign thus far. The Cottagers have never moved away from the lower mid-table positions. So, relegation is not a threat for the West London club, considering they are 14 points ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town heading into Gameweek 33.
The reverse fixture saw Fulham cruise to a 5-0 win over West Ham United, with five different players finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
West Ham United
David Moyes does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Fulham on Sunday, the West Ham United manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
Jarrod Bowen remains on the sidelines as West Ham’s most notable absentee, with the English international still recovering from his back injury. Alphonse Areola (groin) and Kalvin Phillips (thigh) are also unavailable, while Moyes has been sweating over the fitness of Konstantinos Mavropanos.
However, Mavropanos should be fit enough to take on Fulham, forming the central defensive partnership alongside Kurt Zouma. Vladimir Coufal and Emerson Palmieri will be the two full-backs, with Lukasz Fabianski deputising for Areola in the goal.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek in the double pivot. James Ward-Prowse should reprise the no. 10 role, with Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta being the two wide attackers, although they will often take up central positions. Finally, Michail Antonio should lead the line for West Ham against Fulham.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Antonio
Fulham
Unlike his counterpart in the West Ham United dugout, Marco Silva has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of the short trip to the London Stadium. The Fulham manager will have a full-strength squad on Sunday.
Armando Broja has been the only absentee from the West Ham squad in recent weeks. However, the Albanian international has recovered from a knock and will be in the matchday squad to take on West Ham this weekend.
Bernd Leno will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against West Ham United. The backline should feature Timothy Castagne, Tosin Adarabioyo, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson.
As for the midfield unit, Fulham captain Tom Cairney should pair up with Joao Palhinha in the double pivot. Andreas Pereira will reprise the no. 10 role, with Alex Iwobi and Willian being the two wide attackers. Finally, the in-form Rodrigo Muniz should spearhead the Fulham attack on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Iwobi, Pereira, Willian; Muniz
Key Stats
- West Ham United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home meetings with Fulham (W8 D4), a run that stretches back to their first such encounter in 2001, which they lost 2-0. However, the Cottagers can record a first league double over West Ham since the 1965/66 season, having won the reverse fixture 5-0.
- West Ham United’s 6-0 defeat to Arsenal in February is their only loss in their last 11 home league matches (W4 D6). However, they have dropped points in six of their eight league encounters that have directly followed a European game this season.
- Fulham are without a win in their last three league games, losing two successive matches ahead of Sunday’s clash. Their 2-1 victory at Manchester United in February is their only Premier League away win in their 15 most recent matches on the road (D5 L9).
- West Ham United have conceded a goal in their last 12 Premier League fixtures, although they have also scored in the seven most recent clashes. On the other hand, Fulham have failed to score in 11 top-flight outings this season, more than any other team in the competition apart from Burnley and Sheffield United, with both doing so 12 times.
- Rodrigo Muniz has scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League games, although only two have come away from home.
Player to Watch
Mohammed Kudus
With Jarrod Bowen unavailable, West Ham United will be without their best outlet in the final third. So, the onus will be on Mohammed Kudus to find his best level and blow Fulham away in Sunday’s London derby.
The Ghanaian international has been excellent thus far this season, amassing 16 goals and five assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. If Kudus rises to the occasion, West Ham can exorcise the demons of the reverse fixture after Fulham blew the East London side away in December.
Prediction
West Ham United 2-1 Fulham
Revenge will be on the menu when West Ham United host Fulham at the London Stadium on Sunday. The Cottagers blew their fellow London club away in the reverse fixture, cruising to a 5-0 win. However, Marco Silva’s men have been poor travellers, winning only one of their last 15 away games in the Premier League.
However, they should open the scoring on Sunday before West Ham complete a trademark comeback win. The Hammers have won 19 points from losing positions thus far this term, the highest they have ever managed in a single Premier League campaign. That tally should go up by three on Sunday, as The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for David Moyes and his charges.
