The Premier League Round 18 meeting between West Ham and Fulham will take place on 27 December at the London Stadium. West Ham vs Fulham: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
West Ham
Nuno Espírito Santo's side are currently enduring their second six-match winless run of the season in the league. This sequence includes three draws and three defeats, and West Ham arrive here having lost to Aston Villa (2-3) and Manchester City (0-3). The club sit in the relegation zone and are already five points adrift of 17th place. Defensively, only Wolverhampton (37 goals conceded) have shipped more than West Ham (35) so far this campaign.
- The side have failed to win in 12 of their last 14 Premier League matches (4 draws, 8 defeats).
- Both teams scored in 7 of West Ham’s last 9 league games.
- At least three goals were scored in 7 of the Hammers’ last 9 home Premier League matches.
Probable West Ham line-up (4-3-1-2)
Alphonse Areola – Oliver Scarles, Jean-Clair Todibo, Kyle Walker-Peters, Max Kilman – Sunguetu Magassa, Freddy Potts, Mateusz Fernandes – Lucas Paquetá – Crisenccio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen.
Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is sidelined through injury. Defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf have gone to the Africa Cup of Nations. Forward Niklas Füllkrug is in Italy undergoing a medical ahead of a move to Milan.
Fulham
Fulham have picked up positive results in their two most recent fixtures against lower-table opposition, beating Burnley 3-2 away and then edging Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Craven Cottage thanks to a late penalty. Remarkably, Marco Silva’s side have not drawn in their last 15 league matches (7 wins, 8 defeats). Fulham sit comfortably in 13th and are closer to the top four (6 points away) than the relegation zone (10 points away).
- At least three goals were scored in 4 of Fulham’s last 5 Premier League matches.
- Fulham have failed to win in 6 of their last 8 away league games (1 draw, 5 defeats).
- Both teams scored in 5 of the Cottagers’ last 6 Premier League away matches.
Probable Fulham line-up (4-5-1)
Bernd Leno – Antonee Robinson, Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey – Samuel Chukwueze, Sander Berge, Harry Wilson, Emil Smith-Rowe, Alex Iwobi – Raúl Jiménez.
Midfielder Ryan Sessegnon and forward Rodrigo Muniz will miss the game through injury. Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi have been called up by their national teams. Harry Wilson is a doubt with a knock.
Referee
Chris Kavanagh (England)
Matches – 12 (Premier League, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 47;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 25%.
West Ham vs Fulham: Match Prediction
This London derby looks likely to be a goal-filled encounter. West Ham have finally moved past a run of fixtures against top opponents and face five consecutive matches against sides outside the European places, offering a chance to climb the table. The hosts will be looking to improve their attacking output and secure three points.
West Ham have conceded in each of their last 13 home Premier League matches, while scoring in 9 of their last 12 home league games. Fulham remain unpredictable and can beat or lose to any opposition, but they have scored in 5 of their last 6 away league matches and have conceded in each of their last 16 away league games. Additionally, at least three goals have been scored in 5 of the last 7 meetings between these sides at West Ham in the Premier League.
My prediction – Total over 2.5
* For each team the starting XI shown refers to their previous match in this competition.
