West Ham United vs Fulham preview, team news, tickets, and prediction 

West Ham United will host Fulham in a London derby clash in the Premier League on Sunday 14th April (match week 33) at the London Stadium.

As of the time of writing, after last nights games 6 points separate the sides. The Hammers have 45 points from 31 games and sit in 7th, after last nights 1-1 home draw with Spurs. While Fulham are 13th and have 39 points from 31 games, following their 3-1 away loss to Forest.

West Ham United’s performance in the Premier League this season has been relatively sub-par despite their current Europa Conference placed position. The Hammers have managed to scrape out results here and there but have been unable to gather any real momentum. But this is also partly down to their current European campaign, with the Quarter-Finals of the Europa League tie against Bayer Leverkusen sandwiching this previewed game.

During the summer, the Hammers decided to let go several players including star player Declan Rice, last season’s club captain who led them to European glory in the Europa League last term. The Englishman departed for North London’s resurgent big boys Arsenal FC in a club-record transfer deal, which left a Mark Noble sized hole in the team, but swelled the coffers.

Other exits include Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Vlasic who joined Italian Serie A club sides Atalanta and Torino respectively, Arthur Masuaku who left for Turkish side Besiktas and Manuel Lanzini leaving for River Plate on a free transfer.

But arguably the Hammers replaced very well, with new signings making an instant hit with Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez from Ajax Amsterdam, English set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse from championship side Southampton, and Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart.

Rice was replaced in January with Kalvin Phillips on loan, but arguably using the term replacement is giving him too much credit after a muted run in the team culminating with him conceding a penalty in the loss to Newcastle and rumours of an early termination.

In all, the summer additions have been excellent and they have done well to improve the side, with Kudus in the running for Player of the Season much to Brighton’s chagrin. His 13 goals from 36 games is second only to Bowen’s 19, with the pair the main reason West Ham are still in European contention.

Similarly, Fulham’s season has been tumultuous and it looks a bit difficult to see where they will go from here with mid-table beckoning. The Cottagers’ season is very Jekyll and Hyde, and they seem incapable of going on any sort of run with the best so far only a two game winning streak.

This is in part to their terrible away form, with just 2 wins away in 15 games and a goal difference of -17. Their 9 home wins and +14 GD is keeping them well clear of the relegation zone. Incidentally, West Ham have 6 wins both home and away.

Fulham managed a good run in the Carabao Cup and got to the semi-finals of the tournament before they were dumped out of the competition by eventual winners Liverpool.

They’ve have struggled to get things going in the league, despite picking up a point at the Emirates, winning at Old Trafford, and two great 3-0 wins over Spurs and Brighton at Craven Cottage in March. Rodrigo Muniz Carvalho’s been the main reason for the up-turn in form, scoring 4 in 4 games last month.

Current Form and Past Meetings

Fulham recorded back to back 5-0 home wins in December, over Nottingham Forest and then this games opponents West Ham, who will no doubt be seeking revenge. Ironically, Forest took their chance last night to give the Hammers inspiration.

West Ham

WDDLD

Fulham

WLWDL

Match tickets

The epic match at London Stadium in London kicks off on Saturday 13th April 2024, at 3 PM UK time.

The magnificent 62,500-capacity stadium is the place to be for this London clash between the Hammers and the Cottagers.

Getting tickets for the West Ham United vs Fulham tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.

Team news

Line-ups

David Moyes has enjoyed a relatively healthy squad but goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was injured in the first half against Newcastle with a groin injury. Fabianski will likely start this match.

The line-up however comes down to how the manager rotates with the European games either side of this match.

Lucas Paqueta is back into the team, and his link up with talisman Jarrod Bowen will be pivotal to the performance of the team and will undoubtedly make a mark in this game.

Mavropanos continues to partner Zouma at the heart of the backline, and Ward-Prowse keeps his place in midfield. Antonio will likely start up front, after 2 goals in his last 3 games for a minor return to goal scoring forms.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Antonio, Kudus.

Marco Silva has no injury concerns currently, and have plenty of rest after their next game this weekend at home to Newcastle.

With the season’s completion on the horizon, Silva will be pleased with the recent form of striker Muniz for the final weeks of the season with Jimenez waiting in the wings to return.

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, and Muniz.

Prediction

The Hammers are a difficult side to beat at the London Stadium this season, as with Fulham’s away form you’d probably not look any other way than a home win.

The fly in the ointment is the mere matter of the Europa League clash against Leverkusen, which you fancy the board to be keen on a good result and could be draining. This season West Ham have showed a European hangover winning just 2 of the 8 games on the following Sunday, with 4 of them draws.

On that basis, I am plumping for a very narrow Hammers win.

West Ham United 2-1 Fulham