West Ham United will host Fulham at the London Stadium on Tuesday, eager to get back to winning ways and get momentum for Graham Potter.
West Ham United are coming into the game vs Fulham at the London Stadium on the back of consecutive defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City. The fans will expect a strong reaction from the players, and it will be interesting to see if they can step up and deliver.
West Ham are 14th in the Premier League table, and they will be desperate to finish in the top half. It will be interesting to see if a managerial change can bring out the best in them. Graham Potter will be expected to get back on track.
Meanwhile, Fulham have picked up just one from their last six matches, but they have been very difficult to beat. The Cottagers have drawn five of the last six league games, and they will look to grind out a result away from home here. 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
West Ham United will be without Michail Antonio, who was recently involved in a car accident. Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen misses out with an ankle injury, Jean-Clair Todibo and Emerson Palmieri are sidelined with knocks, Niclas Fullkrug has a thigh injury, and Crysencio Summerville misses out after picking up a knock last week.
West Ham will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Fulham, with Alphonse Areola in goal. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Aaron Cresswell will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Max Kilman will form the central defensive pairing alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos.
As for the midfield unit, Guido Rodriguez will start alongside Carlos Soler in the double pivot. The two midfielders will look to add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep. Lucas Paqueta will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates.
Luis Guilherme and Mohammed Kudus will add creativity and goals from the wide areas. Finally, Danny Ings will lead the line for West Ham United against Fulham at the London Stadium on Tuesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Cresswell; Rodriguez, Soler; Kudus, Paqueta, Guilherme; Ings
Fulham
Fulham will be without Kenny Tete due to a knee injury. Sander Berge has an ankle problem, while Reiss Nelson is recovering from a thigh injury. The away side are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bernd Leno in goal.
Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Issa Diop will start alongside Joachim Andersen at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Sasa Lukic will start alongside Andreas Pereira in the double pivot, and they will add defensive cover and control from the deep. Emile Smith Rowe will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates.
Adama Traore will start along with Alex Iwobi on the flanks, and they will add pace and flair to the side. Finally, Raul Jimenez will lead the line for Fulham against West Ham United on Tuesday evening.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Robinson; Lukic, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Fulham have drawn five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
- Fulham have scored at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
- Both clubs have picked up two wins each from the last six meetings between them.
- 16 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- West Ham have failed to win four of the last six matches in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Mohammed Kudus
The West Ham United attacker is our key player to watch out for. Despite the team’s disappointing performances in recent outings, Kudus has been quite impressive, and he could make a big difference for in the final third.
He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net as well. The Ghanaian International has looked sharp in recent weeks, and it remains to be seen whether he can help West Ham get back to winning ways vs Fulham on Tuesday.
Prediction
West Ham United 2-1 Fulham
The home team will be desperate for a victory here, and they certainly have the personnel to grind out a positive result here. A change of manager could certainly lift the spirits around the club and help them perform at a higher level. This is likely to be a close contest, but the Hammers could come out on top.
Fulham have struggled to win games, and they have looked quite vulnerable at the back in recent weeks. The Cottagers have conceded at least once in five of their last six matches in all competitions, and West Ham have the quality to expose their defensive frailties. A narrow win for the home team is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Graham Potter and his men.