Fulham's midfield progression and rotating wide receivers test Coventry's decisions about pressing and protecting the next pass. Coventry's reply comes more directly through the striker, supporting runners and second balls. Southampton also have routes around central pressure, bringing their wide combinations into a contest with West Ham's recoveries and restarts.
King's between-line receiving and Bobb's right-side combinations give Fulham access beyond simple aerial delivery. Robinson and Iwobi provide another route against Coventry's opposite full-back. The recent Spurs sequences showed specific problems in those wide defensive relationships.
Robinson already started against Hull, so Sessegnon's suspension removes an alternative rather than forcing a new starting left-back. Larsson and Smith Rowe return to contention as options after missing that squad, while Awoniyi's suspension had already ended before Coventry's last match. I expect Fulham to work through their pivot and vary the receiving point across both flanks. I'm siding with Fulham, allowing for a level contest.
Southampton's creation has continued through Bree and Scienza, and through the Edozie carry, Jander shot and Matsuki follow-up at Norwich. Those are different ways around West Ham's central recovery threat. West Ham's recent normal-manpower matches were more competitive than the Lincoln game shaped by two early dismissals.
Downes missed Southampton's last match and Larin left it with a new hamstring problem; both remain doubts rather than confirmed absences. Jander's official return to contention and Dobbin's demonstrated run behind the defence provide usable alternatives. I expect Southampton's wide exits and supporting arrivals to keep them involved through the later phases. I'm siding with Southampton to hold their own against West Ham.
