There's a game in London to enjoy on Tuesday night as Graham Potter takes charge of his first Premier League match as West Ham manager against Fulham.
Potter was in the dugout on Friday night just days after being confirmed as Julen Lopetegui's successor in east London. There were positive signs at Villa Park and the FA Cup match was turned around after a wrong decision to award Aston Villa a corner kick led to an equalizer for the hosts.
The Englishman has a lot of work to do in a team that may not be ideal for his frame given the lack of legs in midfield and injuries at the top.
West Ham They enter Tuesday's match 14th in the table having won just six of 20 league games under Lopetegui.
Unlike the Hammers, Fulham advanced to the fourth round of the league FA Cup This came after beating Watford 4-1 on Thursday evening. The Cottagers are currently unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions, but their penchant for draws means they sit only ninth in the Premier League table.
Marco Silva's side are in the hunt for a European place and are within striking distance of the top seven.
here 90 minutes A guide to Potter's Stadium Arch London.
Record of direct confrontations between West Ham and Fulham (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
West Ham |
Fulham |
|---|---|
|
Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham – 10/25/25 |
Fulham 4-1 Watford – 01/09/25 |
|
Man City 4-1 West Ham – 04/01/25 |
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich – 01/05/25 |
|
West Ham 0-5 Liverpool – 12/29/24 |
Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth – 12/29/24 |
|
Southampton 0-1 West Ham – 12/26/24 |
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham – 12/26/24 |
|
West Ham 1-1 Brighton – 12/21/24 |
Fulham 0-0 Southampton – 12/22/24 |
|
nation |
TV Channel/Live Broadcast |
|---|---|
|
UK |
TNT Sports 4, Discovery+, Discovery+ App |
|
US |
peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 4 Canada |
Niklas Volkrug's long-term hamstring injury has compounded West Ham's attacking injury woes, with Potter also missing Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen for the start of his tenure. With Volkrug out, Danny Ings could receive a rare sum Premier League It starts in East London.
Ings scored in the first leg against Craven Cottage last September, his only goal of the season so far.
In defence, Jean-Clair Todibo and Emerson could be missing, so there are unlikely to be any changes to Potter's backline on Tuesday. Teenager Oliver Scarles has impressed at left-back at Villa Park.
West Ham expected lineup to face Fulham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski. Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kelman, Skarlis; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudos, Paquita, Summerville; Ingz.
Fulham are still without Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson due to knee and hamstring injuries, while Sander Berge and Rodrigo Muniz are doubts for Tuesday's match.
There could be a return for Silva to rely on a three-man defense given the personnel at his disposal, with Anthony Robinson selected as a wing-back on the left flank.
Tom Cairney could start alongside Sasa Lukic in midfield if Berge does not return, while in-form Raul Jimenez is a sure bet to return to the Cottagers' XI.
Fulham's expected lineup against West Ham (3-4-3): Lino; Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Castagne, Lukic, Cairney, Robinson; Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi.
The spoils were shared at Craven Cottage in September, and these two teams could draw again on Tuesday night.
While Fulham have scored at least two goals in five of their previous six matches, they will face a Potter-led side keen to find early stability. The defensive foundations must be put in place in East London under the England manager, given how poorly West Ham have performed without the ball under Lopetegui.
Deadlocks are certainly not uncommon at the start of a new manager's tenure, and West Ham's injury front means they are unlikely to carry much of a threat in the final third.
