This is what it's come to at the London Stadium. West Ham versus Fulham in a proper six-pointer, and it's not even February.
The Hammers are in freefall. Ten defeats from seventeen games. Fifth from bottom. Five points from safety. If David Moyes had been told this is where he'd be six months into his return, he'd have stayed on that beach in Barbados.
Fulham, meanwhile, have remembered they're actually quite good. Three wins and a draw from their last four have pushed them comfortably into mid-table, with Marco Silva finally getting the consistency he's always promised.
Here's the thing about London derbies at the London Stadium: they're mental. Over 2.5 goals has landed in twelve of West Ham's last fifteen home games against Fulham. Defensive organisation? Never heard of her.
The Hammers can't defend. Thirty-five goals conceded in seventeen games is the worst in the top half of the table. They've actually improved under Moyes compared to whatever Julen Lopetegui was trying, but that's like saying a cold is better than flu. You're still sick.
Fulham's revival has been built on Antoine Semenyo's shoulders. The Ghana international can't stop scoring—five in his last four appearances, and he's just returned from AFCON looking fresh. He's the kind of player West Ham should have signed but instead watched Marco Silva snap up for peanuts.
Raul Jimenez keeps proving age is just a number. The Mexican veteran has formed a brilliant understanding with Semenyo, and his hold-up play gives Fulham the focal point they've sometimes lacked in recent seasons.
West Ham need Jarrod Bowen to rediscover his 2022 form, and quickly. The England international has been anonymous too often this season, and his performances are directly linked to whether the Hammers stay up or go down.
This one's got goals written all over it. Probably 2-2 or 3-2 to someone. Nobody's keeping a clean sheet at the London Stadium in this form.
Prediction: West Ham 2-2 Fulham. Both teams continue their season-long search for defensive competence.
