Fulham Vs West Ham

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On Saturday afternoon, Craven Cottage will be the venue for an all-London Premier League clash as Fulham hosts West Ham United. Both teams enter this encounter after falling short in their final matches before the international break and will be eager to return to winning ways. This match marks the first meeting between the two sides since April when Fulham triumphed over the Hammers with a 2-0 victory at the London Stadium.

Match Preview

Fulham's start to the 2024-25 Premier League season has been a mixed bag. After suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in their opener against Manchester United, Marco Silva’s side responded by securing four points from their next two fixtures before the international break. Their first victory of the new campaign came with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Leicester City at Craven Cottage, a result that gave the team much-needed confidence after the initial setback.

In addition to their Premier League exploits, Fulham enjoyed success in the EFL Cup, comfortably beating Birmingham City 2-0. However, the Cottagers were unable to build on that momentum in their most recent league outing, settling for a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Ipswich Town. In that fixture, Adama Traoré played the role of savior, netting the equalizer after Ipswich’s Liam Delap had given the home side an early lead. The draw, while not ideal, was seen as a decent result, especially after a challenging second half in which Silva's men struggled to impose themselves.

Currently sitting 13th in the Premier League table, Fulham's recent form has left fans hoping for better results. Including matches from last season, the Cottagers have won just three of their last 12 league games. Two of those victories came against newly-promoted sides, and the third was against their upcoming opponents, West Ham United, in April. That 2-0 win over the Hammers is a result Fulham will look to replicate on Saturday.

It is worth noting that Fulham achieved a rare feat last season by doing the double over West Ham. Not only did they beat them twice, but they did so convincingly, with a combined scoreline of 7-0 across the two games. The Cottagers’ comprehensive 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage, followed by their 2-0 triumph at the London Stadium, has put them in a strong psychological position heading into this weekend’s fixture. If Fulham can secure another victory over West Ham, it would mark the first time since 1965-1966 that they have beaten the Hammers in three consecutive league games.

However, Marco Silva will be cautious not to let past successes breed overconfidence. West Ham may have had their struggles recently, but they remain a formidable opponent, particularly under their new manager Julen Lopetegui, who will be keen to get his team back on track.

West Ham's Season So Far

Julen Lopetegui’s tenure as West Ham United manager has gotten off to an inconsistent start. The Spaniard, known for his tactical acumen and success in various managerial roles, has overseen a mix of highs and lows since taking charge of the Hammers. In their first four matches of the 2024-25 campaign, West Ham have recorded two wins and two losses across all competitions, leaving fans unsure of what to expect as the season unfolds.

The Hammers opened their Premier League account with a 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa, a result that put immediate pressure on Lopetegui to deliver a positive response. His team did just that, securing a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace in their next league fixture, thanks to a gritty and disciplined performance away from home. West Ham then built on that success in the EFL Cup, where they recorded a 3-1 win over Bournemouth to progress to the next round of the competition.

However, West Ham’s attempt to enter the international break on a high note was thwarted by Manchester City. Hosting the reigning Premier League champions at the London Stadium was always going to be a tough challenge, and despite a brave effort, Lopetegui's men succumbed to a 3-1 defeat. Erling Haaland, City's prolific striker, was the star of the show, netting a hat-trick to sink West Ham. While an own goal by City’s Ruben Dias briefly gave West Ham hope by leveling the score at 1-1, the Hammers were ultimately undone by the Norwegian’s clinical finishing.

As a result, West Ham now find themselves in a position where they need to quickly bounce back to avoid slipping further down the table. With two losses from their opening three Premier League fixtures, including one on home soil, Lopetegui will be hoping that a trip away from East London can help reset his team’s form. Historically, West Ham have performed well on the road, and three of their last four league victories have come away from the London Stadium.

The Hammers' solid away form could prove crucial this weekend, as they aim to win their first two away Premier League games of a season for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign. Having already picked up an impressive 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, West Ham will hope to replicate that success at Craven Cottage, a ground where they have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the past.

Tactical Battle and Key Players

Tactically, this match is likely to be a fascinating contest between two managers with distinct philosophies. Marco Silva’s Fulham are known for their fluid, attacking football, often looking to dominate possession and create chances through quick transitions. Silva places a strong emphasis on wing play, with his wingers and full-backs providing width and delivering crosses into the box for the central attackers.

Fulham’s attack will likely be spearheaded by the dynamic Emile Smith Rowe, who has been in fine form since joining the club. His creativity and ability to score crucial goals will be vital in breaking down a West Ham defense that has shown vulnerability at times this season. Smith Rowe, along with experienced striker Aleksandar Mitrović, will need to be at their best to exploit any gaps in the Hammers' backline.

On the defensive side, Fulham have been relatively solid so far, but they will need to be wary of West Ham's counter-attacking threat. With players like Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá capable of causing problems on the break, Silva’s defense will need to maintain their concentration throughout the match.

West Ham, under Lopetegui, are still finding their feet tactically. The Spanish coach prefers a more pragmatic approach, often setting his teams up to be compact and defensively resilient, while also looking to exploit spaces on the counterattack. West Ham’s best moments this season have come when they have been able to sit deep and strike quickly in transition, using the pace of their wingers and the creativity of their midfielders to catch opponents off guard.

Relying heavily on the prolific Michail Antonio to lead the line, West Ham will hope that their forward can rediscover the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers in previous seasons. Antonio’s physicality and work rate make him a constant nuisance for defenders, and his ability to hold up play allows West Ham’s midfield to join the attack in dangerous positions.

Lopetegui will also be looking for a big performance from Declan Rice, the team’s captain and midfield general. Rice has the ability to dictate the tempo of the game and break up opposition attacks, and his leadership will be crucial if West Ham are to come away with a positive result from Craven Cottage.

Historical Context and Rivalry

Fulham and West Ham have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to their first-ever meeting in 1902. While West Ham have historically enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture, Fulham’s recent dominance adds an intriguing layer to the upcoming encounter. The Cottagers’ back-to-back victories over the Hammers last season – by a combined score of 7-0 – have given them the psychological edge, but football’s unpredictability means that past results count for little once the players step onto the pitch.

In their 28 Premier League meetings, West Ham have emerged victorious 16 times, making Fulham their most successful opponent in terms of win percentage. The Hammers’ 57% win rate against Fulham is higher than their win rate against any other Premier League team they have faced at least five times. This statistic, combined with West Ham’s solid away form, gives them reason to believe they can upset the odds on Saturday.

Final Thoughts

As Fulham and West Ham prepare to renew hostilities at Craven Cottage, both teams have plenty to play for. Fulham will be looking to continue their recent dominance over their London rivals and climb up the Premier League table, while West Ham will be desperate to halt their slide and rediscover their winning touch. With two tactically astute managers in Silva and Lopetegui pitting their wits against each other, this London derby promises to be an enthralling spectacle.