Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: West Ham United vs Fulham
Kickoff Time: 2025-12-27 23:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/TONY O BRIEN
West Ham suffered a 0-3 defeat to Manchester City in their last Premier League match, managing only 2 draws and 3 losses in their recent five outings. However, during this period, they faced strong teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, Brighton, Aston Villa, and Manchester City, making their underwhelming performance somewhat understandable.
West Ham’s biggest issue currently lies in their defense, having conceded 35 goals in the league so far. Their defense, particularly on set pieces, appears chaotic and disorganized, whether in wall placement, responsibility distribution in zone defense, or protecting second balls.
On the attacking side, captain Jarrod Bowen is West Ham’s key player. He’s not only the team’s top scorer but also the mastermind behind Nuno’s quick counter-attacking tactics, with a high proportion of his goals coming during fast breaks, ranking among the best in the Premier League. Therefore, Bowen’s performance largely determines West Ham’s game trajectory.
Fulham, in their last Premier League match, achieved a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, recording 2 wins and 3 losses in their last five games, which is a decent performance. With two consecutive league victories, Fulham has distanced itself from the relegation zone, thus easing their survival pressure.
From a statistical perspective, Fulham has scored 24 goals and conceded 26 in the league, showcasing decent attacking power, but they have defensive issues as well. They exposed several weaknesses, especially in aerial duels and defensive counterattacks. Additionally, Fulham’s poor away performance has been a significant feature this season, with only 2 wins, 1 draw, and 5 losses from 8 away games, giving them a mere 25% win rate on the road.
Without a doubt, Fulham’s recent overall performance is significantly better than West Ham’s. However, West Ham has remained unbeaten in their last two encounters against Fulham, with 1 win and 1 draw, giving them a psychological advantage. Furthermore, West Ham has had three more days to prepare for this match than Fulham, providing them with a clear physical advantage. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect West Ham, with home advantage, to secure points in this match.
West Ham United‘s Last 5 Games: LLDDL
25-12-20: Manchester City 3-0 West Ham
25-12-14: West Ham 2-3 Aston Villa
25-12-07: Brighton 1-1 West Ham
25-12-05: Manchester United 1-1 West Ham
25-11-30: West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Fulham’s Last 5 Games: WLWLL
25-12-23: Fulham 1-0 Nottingham Forest
25-12-18: Newcastle 2-1 Fulham
25-12-14: Burnley 2-3 Fulham
25-12-08: Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace
25-12-03: Fulham 4-5 Manchester City
Head-To-Head Record
25-01-15: West Ham 3-2 Fulham
24-09-14: Fulham 1-1 West Ham
24-04-14: West Ham 0-2 Fulham
23-12-10: Fulham 5-0 West Ham
23-04-08: Fulham 0-1 West Ham
Prediction: West Ham win at home, or a draw