West Ham vs Fulham

West Ham United welcome Fulham to the London Stadium on Tuesday, September 15, for a League Cup Round of 32 tie. The 64,472-capacity arena hosts a compelling London derby, pitting Nuno Espirito Santo's high-flying Championship side against Alvaro Arbeloa's Premier League outfit.

Team News and Injury Latest

Both managers are navigating depleted squads ahead of this cup clash. West Ham remain without key midfielder Tomáš Souček, who continues his recovery from an ankle ligament injury sustained on international duty. Defender Joel Veltman is also a major doubt after being forced off just 30 minutes into Friday's victory over Wrexham, meaning Kyle Walker-Peters is likely to step into the right-back role. Nuno Espirito Santo is also awaiting late fitness checks on forwards Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe.

For the visitors, Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that Ryan Sessegnon will not be risked due to a minor groin problem. Fulham also travel without captain Tom Cairney, who is sidelined until October following knee surgery.

West Ham Form Guide

Following their relegation from the top flight last term, West Ham have started their Championship campaign in devastating fashion. The Hammers enter this fixture unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, scoring 16 goals in that span. They dispatched Wrexham 6-0 on Friday night with six different goalscorers, having already dismantled Southampton 4-1 in the previous Carabao Cup round. Nuno has successfully integrated academy talent into his cup lineups, with Joshua Ajala scoring twice against the Saints, and youngsters Lewis Orford and Ollie Scarles pushing for starts here.

Fulham's Search for Momentum

Fulham arrive in east London desperate for a spark to ignite their domestic season. The Cottagers have collected just one victory in their last five outings and have struggled to find consistency in the Premier League. However, Arbeloa’s side showed significant defensive resolve over the weekend, securing a 0-0 draw away at Liverpool. Despite their slow start, Fulham carry a psychological edge, having won 1-0 on their last visit to the London Stadium in December 2025. Furthermore, the visitors emerged victorious in the only previous League Cup meeting between these two historic clubs, dating back 52 years.

Key Battle: Balancing Rotation and Advancement

With a heavy domestic schedule looming, squad management will dictate the tempo. Arbeloa has publicly declared this match a cup final for his side as they hunt for major silverware, but he may still rotate his starting XI given their Premier League commitments. Meanwhile, West Ham have a significant league derby against Millwall fast approaching this weekend. Nuno must decide whether to rest key figures like Jarrod Bowen or unleash his strongest side to maintain their rampant attacking rhythm against top-tier opposition.

Victory on Tuesday night ensures progression to the fourth round and a massive confidence boost heading into the autumn schedule. While the Hammers will quickly pivot to their weekend clash with Millwall, Fulham will hope a successful cup night can kickstart their Premier League campaign.