Overview
West Ham is in impressive form in the Championship, while Fulham is facing difficulties under Alvaro Arbeloa.
Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham is in very good form despite just being relegated from the Premier League last season. The 6-0 victory over Wrexham is their fourth consecutive victory, helping them rise to the top of the Championship.
The London team has scored 16 goals in the last 4 matches, thereby gaining more motivation when returning to the Carabao Cup. In the second round, West Ham once defeated Southampton 4-1 at St Mary's thanks to a double by Joshua Ajala and goals from Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham has also only lost one match in the 2026-2027 season and is maintaining an unbeaten streak since their most recent match in the Carabao Cup. This form gives Nuno's team more confidence when continuing to face a Premier League representative.
Meanwhile, Fulham is having a difficult start under Arbeloa. The Spanish coach's team has only won one point in the Premier League, but that point came from a 0-0 draw with Liverpool right at Anfield.
Fulham could even have won if Jeremy Jacquet had not had an important save right on the goal line. This performance more or less brought hope to the away team before the upcoming away match.
Previously, Arbeloa's only victory in the season came at the Carabao Cup, when Fulham defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-0. However, not scoring a goal in away matches this season is still a worrying issue.
West Ham has a much more effective attack and possesses home advantage. Meanwhile, Fulham needs to improve their scoring ability if they want to create a surprise against the Championship leading team.
Personnel situation
West Ham will not have the service of right-back Joel Veltman due to a muscle injury. Kyle Walker-Peters is likely to start, along with Airidas Golambeckis and Max Kilman forming the home team's central defender trio.
In midfield, Tomas Soucek continues to be absent due to an ankle injury. Lewis Orford and Mohamadou Kante are likely to be given the opportunity to start, similar to the match against Southampton in the previous round.
On Fulham's side, Tom Cairney has to be sidelined after undergoing knee surgery. Shea Charles and Harrison Reed may be arranged by Arbeloa in the center of midfield, while Emile Smith Rowe takes on the number 10 role.
Substitute goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte used to start in the match against Wimbledon and is likely to continue to be trusted. Ahead of him may be the central defender duo Joachim Andersen and Jorge Cuenca.
In attack, Rodrigo Muniz is likely to lead the front line, with Kevin and Oscar Bobb supporting from both wings.
Expected lineup:
West Ham: Herrick, Walker-Peters, Golambeckis, Kilman, Mayers, Bowen, Orford, Kante, Ajala, Mukasa, Piroe.
Lecomte, Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Charles, Reed, Bobb, Smith Rowe, Kevin, Muniz.
The match between West Ham and Fulham takes place at 1:45 am on September 16 (Vietnam time).
