Max Kilman setting off alarm bells at West Ham as in-depth details emerge

West Ham United were defeated 3-2 by Fulham in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday with Max Kilman putting in a dreadful performance at the London Stadium.

It was always going to be a difficult tie against the Premier League outfit, despite their poor start to the season, but there were plenty of concerns from the defeat.

Most notably, the Hammers’ backline was extremely poor once again, with Kilman unable to cope against the Cottagers.

For many fans, it was a reminder of how poor the centre-back often is against Premier League opposition, with the 29-year-old previously being dropped at the back end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Now, after once again underperforming against a top-flight team, alarm bells have to be going off at West Ham.

If the Hammers are to get promoted this season, Kilman has once again proven why he can’t be a starter in the Premier League.

How bad was Max Kilman vs Fulham?

Kilman certainly did not have a good game against Fulham and was arguably one of the worst players on the pitch.

According to Fotmob on 16 September, he only made one tackle, zero blocks, three clearances, three headed clearances, zero interceptions, two recoveries, won two ground duels and three out of six aerial duels.

While it was by no means a dreadful display, it was far from a dominant performance at the back.

Given that Fulham are currently in a relegation zone in the Premier League and without a win, the display showcases that Kilman is not good enough to keep out one of the worst teams in the top-flight.

Therefore, if West Ham are to get promoted this season, Kilman cannot remain part of their first-choice defence.

Did West Ham deserve to lose to Fulham?

When examining the stats, West Ham did deserve to go out on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup.

The Hammers had 38 per cent possession, 11 shots, three of which were on target, 18 touches in the opposition box, four big chances and a 1.63 xG.

In comparison, Fulham has 62 per cent possession, 12 shots, six of which were on target, 26 touches in the opposition box, four big chances and a 2.48 xG.

However, it remains to be seen if West Ham can bounce back from this defeat on the weekend.