West Ham vs QPR Preview: Team News, H2H & Prediction
West Ham United host Queens Park Rangers at the London Stadium on Friday night (20:00 BST) looking to go top of the Championship after the international break.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side sit second with 15 points from eight games, two behind leaders Swansea City. A win would put them top before the rest of the weekend’s fixtures. QPR, managed by Julien Stéphan, are sixth on 13 points and know victory would lift them into second.
Both clubs are among only two sides yet to lose an away league game this season. West Ham are the division’s highest scorers with 22 goals; QPR have conceded just seven.
Form guide
West Ham are unbeaten in six Championship matches (four wins, two draws) since a 1-2 home loss to Charlton in August. They followed four successive league wins – including a 6-0 thrashing of Wrexham – with a dramatic 2-2 draw at Millwall, recovering from 2-0 down thanks to goals from Mohamadou Kanté and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Jarrod Bowen and Mavropanos lead the scoring charts with four league goals apiece. The Hammers have been particularly potent at home, scoring freely and creating a lively atmosphere at the London Stadium.
QPR have been harder to beat than to beat themselves. Three successive draws (including a fightback from 2-0 and 10 men against Preston) leave them winless in four. Their defensive organisation remains impressive, but injuries have blunted their attack. They remain one of the division’s strongest away sides so far.
Team news
West Ham: Mohamadou Kanté is suspended after a late red card for a professional foul in the Millwall draw. Joel Veltman is a major doubt with a muscle issue sustained before the break; Kyle Walker-Peters is expected to start at right-back if he misses out. Mavropanos is expected to be fit after a minor issue on Greece duty. Tomas Soucek is nearing a return after an ankle injury but may be eased back.
Likely shape is a 4-4-2 or similar: Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Morato; Bowen, Mukasa, Engels, Solomon; Piroe/Castellanos (or Pablo Felipe).
QPR: Dennis Cirkin is suspended after a red card against Preston. Glen Kamara faces a potential suspension linked to a Finland Federation complaint. A lengthy injury list includes Tariq Lamptey, Boy Kemper, Ilias Chair, Karamoko Dembélé and doubts over Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell (the latter expected to miss a couple of weeks after international duty). Justin Obikwu has returned to training but is unlikely to start.
QPR are light in attack and defence, which could force Stéphan into changes.
Head-to-head
The sides last met in the FA Cup third round in January 2026, West Ham winning 2-1 after extra time at the London Stadium (Castellanos the decisive goal).
They have not faced each other in the league since the 2014-15 Premier League season (West Ham 2-0 home, 0-0 away). Across the last six meetings in all competitions West Ham are unbeaten (four wins, two draws). QPR’s last win at West Ham came in August 1993.
West Ham have generally held the upper hand in recent London derbies between the clubs.
Prediction
West Ham’s attacking threat, home form and superior squad depth make them clear favourites, even after the long break. QPR’s organisation and unbeaten away record mean they will not roll over, and they retain enough quality to score on the counter.
Expect the Hammers to control large periods and convert their chances. A 3-1 home win looks the most likely outcome enough to take them top of the table and keep the promotion momentum rolling.
West Ham United 3-1 Queens Park Rangers
