Fulham vs West Ham United: Preview and Prediction

Fulham and West Ham United will aim to return to winning ways when they face off at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The international break is behind us, and the 2024/25 Premier League season resumes with Gameweek 4. Southampton and Manchester United will lock horns in the opening match of the latest round of fixtures before we witness five simultaneous fixtures, one of which will be Fulham vs West Ham United.

Fulham began the 2024/25 season with a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United before clinching a narrow 2-1 win over Leicester City in Gameweek 2. Since then, the Cottagers have remained unbeaten, beating Birmingham City 2-0 in the EFL Cup second round before coming from a goal down to hold Ipswich Town to a 1-1 draw.

As for West Ham United, they, too, began the 2024/25 season with a one-goal defeat, going down 2-1 to Aston Villa. Then they clinched two successive victories, beating Crystal Palace 2-0 in Gameweek 2 before eking out a 1-0 win over Bournemouth in the EFL Cup second round. However, the Hammers went into the international break after enduring a 3-1 loss to Manchester City.

The corresponding fixture last season was a 5-0 hammering of West Ham United, with Raul Jimenez, Willian, Tosin Adarabioyo, Harry Wilson, and Carlos Vinicius finding the back of the net for Fulham. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

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Fulham

Marco Silva does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Fulham manager will have a full-strength squad vs West Ham United on Saturday.

Bernd Leno is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs West Ham United. The backline should feature Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson.

As for the midfield unit, Sander Berge should make his first start for Fulham, lining up alongside Andreas Pereira in the double pivot. Emile Smith Rowe will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Adama Traore and Alex Iwobi being the two wide attackers. Finally, there is no looking past Rodrigo Muniz to lead the line for the home side against West Ham.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz

West Ham United

Unlike his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Julen Lopetegui has a new issue to deal with ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage. The West Ham United manager might be without as many as two first-team players on Saturday.

However, there is some good news, as Alphonse Areola has shrugged off a lower back injury to be available to take on Fulham. However, Lopetegui is sweating over the fitness of Niclas Fullkrug, who sustained a knock on his achilles and calf during the international break. In addition, Aaron Cresswell (hamstring) remains on the sidelines.

The fit-again Areola will take his usual spot between the sticks, with West Ham United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Fulham. The backline should feature Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, and Emerson Palmieri.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez in the double pivot. Lucas Paqueta will reprise the no. 10 role, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus being the two wide attackers. Finally, Michail Antonio should spearhead the West Ham attack if Fullkrug is not available to take on Fulham on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio