West Ham United vs Fulham Predictions

West Ham vs Fulham predictions for this Premier League fixture. Graham Potter’s Premier League debut as West Ham United manager sees the Hammers host Fulham on Tuesday, promising an intriguing contest as both teams seek momentum in England’s top flight. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

Premier League | Jan 14, 2025 at 7.30pm UK at London Stadium

West Ham United vs Fulham Predictions

Can Fulham Maintain Their Momentum, or Will Potter’s West Ham Steal the Points?

• Fulham’s Unbeaten Derby Run Stretches Back to 1938: Marco Silva’s men have not tasted defeat in a London derby in their last ten outings, showing incredible consistency.
• West Ham’s Home Struggles Against Top-Half Teams: The Hammers have lost five of their six home matches against teams currently in the top half of the table this season.
• Raúl Jiménez’s Scoring Streak Continues: With eight goals in 20 appearances, Jiménez has been Fulham’s talisman this season, including scoring in the reverse fixture.

Our Tips

The London Stadium sets the stage for an intriguing Premier League showdown between two sides sitting at opposite ends of form and ambition. West Ham, under the new stewardship of Graham Potter, will hope to steady their shaky ship against a Fulham team soaring high in confidence under Marco Silva. This clash has all the hallmarks of a game shaped by contrasting fortunes, with West Ham desperate to arrest their slide, while Fulham continue to eye European places. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides, and with this being a London derby, there’s an added layer of pride at play.

West Ham’s struggles have been well-documented, particularly their frailties in defence and bluntness in attack. Recent weeks have seen the Hammers concede nine goals in two games against Liverpool and Manchester City, with their porous backline inviting pressure from all angles. Potter’s appointment as manager hasn’t had the immediate impact fans might have hoped for, with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup acting as his introduction to life at the London Stadium.

Fulham, meanwhile, enter this fixture on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Silva’s side have been nothing short of resilient, picking up impressive draws against Arsenal and Liverpool, alongside victories over Chelsea and Watford. With West Ham languishing in 14th place, just seven points above the relegation zone, the hosts find themselves at a crossroads. Fulham, on the other hand, are flying high in ninth, just six points off the Champions League spots. As the two teams lock horns, the question is whether Potter can inspire a turnaround, or if Fulham will once again underline their credentials as one of the Premier League’s most consistent sides this season.

Best Bet for This Match: West Ham to Win

Backing West Ham to claim victory here may seem counterintuitive given their recent struggles, but there’s reason to believe the Hammers can turn the tide. Firstly, this is a must-win game for Potter, who will undoubtedly have spent the days since the Villa defeat drilling his team tactically and attempting to restore belief. While the results have been poor, West Ham have shown glimpses of potential at home this season, and Fulham’s recent away form, while strong overall, hasn’t been flawless.

The Hammers will lean heavily on Lucas Paquetá and Mohammed Kudus in the final third, with Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio unavailable due to injury. Kudus, a recent signing, is still finding his feet but showed moments of brilliance in the Villa game, while Paquetá remains the creative heartbeat of the team. The absence of Bowen is a blow, but Danny Ings, who scored in the reverse fixture against Fulham, offers a poacher’s instinct that could make the difference in a game likely to hinge on fine margins.

Fulham’s defensive solidity, led by Bernd Leno and a backline featuring Calvin Bassey and Issa Diop, will provide stern opposition. Yet, they are not invulnerable, having conceded 1.1 goals per game in the league this season. Moreover, their reliance on Raul Jiménez for goals – the Mexican has netted eight times in 20 appearances – could play into West Ham’s hands. If Potter’s side can stifle Fulham’s supply lines and disrupt Tom Cairney’s influence in midfield, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance of securing three points.

BettingTips4You.com’s expert Graham Hartshorn summarises the rationale best: “West Ham may look like the underdogs on paper, but the need to win at home could bring out the best in Potter’s side. Fulham are in fine form, but derbies are unpredictable, and the Hammers’ desperation might just edge it.”

Correct Score Prediction: West Ham 2-1 Fulham

The narrow 2-1 victory for West Ham reflects their urgency to bounce back and the likelihood of a hard-fought contest. Fulham, for all their recent brilliance, haven’t been bulletproof on the road. Their only defeats this season away from home came against elite opposition in Manchester City and Manchester United. While they’ve largely been consistent, they’ve shown vulnerabilities when forced to adapt to more chaotic, high-pressure situations. West Ham, under Potter, will undoubtedly aim to create precisely such an environment.

The Hammers have been far from prolific, averaging 1.3 goals per home game, but they’ve consistently found the net in all but two of their matches at the London Stadium this season. Paquetá and Kudus could combine to unlock Fulham’s defence, while Ings’ presence in the box offers a threat from set-pieces or loose balls. Fulham, meanwhile, have scored in most of their away fixtures, and with Jiménez in excellent form, they’re unlikely to leave empty-handed. However, West Ham’s greater desperation, coupled with the boost of a home crowd, could see them hold on for a vital win.

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