West Ham United vs Fulham Predictions

• Fulham won the reverse fixture 5-0.
• West Ham play the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final next week.
• The Cottagers have scored nine goals across their last five away games.

Cottagers appeal at distracted West Ham

Fulham head to West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday but the hosts may well be thinking about the second leg of their Europa League quarter final with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Hammers nearly picked up a positive result in Leverkusen as they somehow managed to keep Bayer at bay for 83 minutes, but two late goals for German champions-elect mean they have a mountain to climb in the second leg in London next week.

Ordinarily, West Ham would be expected to beat Fulham at home but the Cottagers may be able to take advantage of their jaded hosts.

The Hammers expended a lot of energy at the BayArena as they were left chasing the ball for much of the game.

Qualifying for Europe next season via the league is still on the table for the hosts, but their focus will clearly be on next week’s second leg and boss David Moyes will probably opt to rest a few tired legs on Sunday as well. They have tended to struggle after playing in Europe as well, winning just two of their eight games immediately after a midweek Europa League fixture this season, so they may well slip up against Fulham.

Fulham have little left to play for but they have been putting in decent displays. The Cottagers were particularly unlucky to lose to Newcastle at home last weekend and they’ve beaten Tottenham, Brighton and Manchester United over the course of their last seven games.

Muniz could be key

Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz disappointed against Newcastle but could well respond with a big display here.

The 22-year-old Brazilian has eight goals in his last 10 games and looks a decent contender for an anytime goal this weekend.

Fulham have scored at least two goals in three of their last five away games but haven’t managed a clean sheet on the road since September, a run stretching 15 games, so a 2-1 win for the visitors is the correct score prediction. West Ham may have a European game to think about – but they rarely draw a blank at home so should be expected to score in defeat.

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