West Ham vs Fulham Prediction: 14/1/2025

West Ham began the season aiming for a spot in European competitions but has fallen well short of those ambitions. Currently positioned 14th in the Premier League with 23 points from 20 matches, the team has struggled to establish consistency despite boasting a talented roster. A brief four-game unbeaten streak, featuring two wins and two draws, was followed by heavy defeats to Liverpool (0-5) and Manchester City (1-4), which ultimately led to the dismissal of manager Julen Lopetegui. Graham Potter has since taken over as head coach, and last Friday, West Ham faced Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Fulham, meanwhile, has been performing steadily and sits 9th in the Premier League, just four points away from the top six. The Cottagers have shown resilience, going unbeaten in their last eight league games with two wins and six draws, though they have missed opportunities to secure crucial points. After an impressive Boxing Day victory over Chelsea (2-1), Fulham played out consecutive 2-2 draws at home against Bournemouth and relegation-threatened Ipswich. On Thursday, they hosted Watford in the FA Cup round of 32.

West Ham is grappling with several key absences. Striker Michail Antonio remains unavailable due to recovery from a car accident, while top contributor Jarrod Bowen (5 goals, 4 assists) is sidelined with an injury. First-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is also out. Forward Niclas Fullkrug, who has dealt with injuries earlier in the season, aims to step up after scoring in their latest league match. He is likely to be supported by midfielders Lucas Paquetá (3 goals) and Mohammed Kudus (3 goals).

Fulham, too, has injury concerns. Starting full-back Kenny Tete and substitutes Harrison Reed and Cédric Nelson are unavailable, while influential midfielder Sander Berge’s participation is uncertain. Leading the attack will likely be Raúl Jiménez, who netted twice against Ipswich and has accumulated 8 goals and 2 assists this season. He will be joined by Alex Iwobi (5 goals, 3 assists), Andreas Pereira (2 goals), Emile Smith Rowe (3 goals, 2 assists), and Bertrand Traoré (1 goal, 3 assists) in providing attacking support.

Prediction

West Ham has struggled at home, with only four wins in their last 18 Premier League matches and multiple losses in their previous ten outings. In contrast, Fulham has excelled on the road, winning eight of their last 14 away games. Given the current form of both teams, Fulham seems to hold the advantage in this matchup.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Fulham