Graham Potter makes his home bow as West Ham manager against Fulham at London Stadium.
Victory will lift Potter’s Hammers up to 12th in the table, whilst Fulham can climb as high as seventh if they score two or more goals and Bournemouth lose by a similar margin at Chelsea.
Team News
Niclas Fullkrug is ruled out for West Ham with a hamstring injury suffered in their FA Cup exit at Aston Villa.
Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) also limped off at Villa Park but he and Emerson Palmieri (unspecified) could be fit for selection.
Jean-Clair Todibo (knock), Michail Antonio (leg) and Jarrod Bowen (foot) remain ruled out
Fulham could be without forward, Rodrigo Muniz after he suffered a back injury in the first half of their FA Cup win at home to Watford.
Sander Berge (ankle) could return but Kenny Tete (shin) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
West Ham host Fulham at London Stadium on Tuesday 14 January at 7:30pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 4 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- West Ham have claimed seven points in their last five league meetings against Fulham (W2, D1, L2).
- Fulham have won one of their four previous visits to West Ham at the London Stadium (W1, L3).
- Fulham’s Andreas Pereira has scored three goals in the Cottagers’ last two visits to West Ham (W1, L1).
- West Ham have lost each of their two London derbies played at home this season (L2).
- Fulham are yet to lose a London derby away from home this season (W2, D1).
Prediction
With Potter now in charge, he certainly got an insight into the Hammers’ current issues in their FA Cup exit at Villa because they started well but somehow lost their finishing touch and creativity after taking the lead, which is something that needs addressing if they’re to progress and hit the heights expected of them.
Fulham meanwhile are unbeaten in their last nine across all competitions and were simply dominant against Watford so if they bring more of that quality and cut out defensive errors – which saw them draw six of their last eight league games – then they’re capable of punching further up the table and pushing for an European spot.
London Stadium though has been bit of an Achilles heel for the Cottagers but if they turn up and deliver another clinical display, I would fancy them to take the win but West Ham have a point to prove at home.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Fulham
Result: West Ham 3-2 Fulham