West Ham United vs Fulham Predictions

• West Ham have lost six of their last eight home games
• Fulham have won five of their last eight Premier League matches
• Both teams have scored in seven of the Hammers’ last nine games and five of the Cottagers’ last six 

Hapless Hammers in real danger

Being five points of safety is not the Christmas gift West Ham were hoping for but last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, coupled with Leeds’ 4-1 rout of Crystal Palace, means that is the present they got. 

Of course, a loss at the Etihad was expected, but the manner of the defeat is what will have Hammers fans worried. Haphazard defending cost them, just as it did in a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa six days earlier, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s reputation as a solid defensive coach is taking a serious hit due to the ineptitude of his players. 

West Ham desperately need to pick up some points and the more optimistic in the Hammers fanbase will see Saturday’s visit from Fulham as a real opportunity to kickstart a positive run, with Brighton, Wolves and Nottingham Forest up next. 

Cottagers can add to West Ham’s misery

However, in contrast to their hosts, the Cottagers continue to impress despite everything that is thrown at them. Rumours of manager Marco Silva being unhappy have been circulated all season, yet they sit healthily in 13th, just six points off the top four. 

Things were expected to get worse following the departure of Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze for the Africa Cup of Nations but Fulham coped just fine without their key men on Monday, beating in-form Nottingham Forest 1-0. 

The Cottagers have won five of their last eight Premier League games and are unlikely to be stopped by a West Ham side who have lost six of their last eight home matches, conceding 17 goals across those defeats. 

Veteran Mexican may have his say

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf’s departure for Afcon has made an already poor Hammers defence even weaker and matters have been made even worse by Ollie Scarles’ latest injury. 

Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville will do their best to invoke some Christmas cheer into a miserable London Stadium and may succeed temporarily given Fulham have managed just one clean sheet in six games but their efforts are likely to be in vain, with a 2-1 away win looking the likeliest outcome. 

Raul Jimenez was Fulham’s hero from the penalty spot against Forest and he may step up again. In just 11 games, the Mexican has scored six goals against West Ham – against no team has he bagged more – and may add to that impressive tally on Saturday.