Sports
West Ham Aim to Extend Winning Run Against Struggling Fulham in EFL Cup Clash
West Ham United will host Fulham at the London Stadium on Tuesday in a third-round EFL Cup tie between two London rivals, with the Irons seeking a fifth straight midweek win and Fulham looking to build on a recent draw.
Despite their relegation from the Premier League last season, Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham head into the fixture in strong form. The club currently tops the Championship table after a 6-0 win over Wrexham on Friday, their fourth consecutive victory, during which they have scored 16 goals in their last four matches. In the EFL Cup's second round, West Ham defeated Southampton 4-1 at St Mary's on August 25, with a brace from 19-year-old Joshua Ajala and late goals from Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen. The team remains unbeaten since that cup victory and has lost only once in all competitions this season.
Fulham, meanwhile, have had a tougher start under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, collecting just one point in the Premier League so far. That point came from a 0-0 draw at Anfield against Liverpool on Saturday, a result that could have been a win had Reds defender Jeremy Jacquet not made a goal-line clearance. Arbeloa's only victory this season came in the EFL Cup's second round, a 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon. However, the draw at Liverpool means Fulham have yet to score away from home this season.
For West Ham, right-back Joel Veltman remains out with a muscle injury, with Kyle Walker-Peters expected to start alongside Airidas Golambeckis and Max Kilman in defense. Midfielder Tomas Soucek is still recovering from an ankle injury, so Lewis Orford and Mohamadou Kante are likely to continue in central midfield, as they did against Southampton.
Fulham will be without Tom Cairney, who is expected to be sidelined until next month following knee surgery. Arbeloa is expected to field Shea Charles and Harrison Reed in a double pivot, with Emile Smith Rowe playing as the number 10. Backup goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, who started against Wimbledon, could retain his place in goal, protected by center-backs Joachim Andersen and Jorge Cuenca. Rodrigo Muniz is expected to lead the attack, supported by Kevin and Oscar Bobb.
Possible West Ham lineup: Herrick; Walker-Peters, Golambeckis, Kilman, Mayers; Bowen, Orford, Kante, Ajala; Mukasa; Piroe.
Possible Fulham lineup: Lecomte; Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Charles, Reed; Bobb, Smith Rowe, Kevin; Muniz.
Given their attacking form this season, West Ham are seen as favorites to advance, with a predicted scoreline of 2-1 in their favor, potentially eliminating a struggling Fulham side from the competition.