In today’s early Premier League clash, Manchester City aims to secure another vital victory as they visit Craven Cottage to face Fulham. Sitting at the top of the table, City eyes the opportunity to extend their lead over Arsenal and strengthen their grip on the title race. Led by manager Pep Guardiola, the team enters the match with confidence, determined not to falter against a Fulham side with a historically poor record against them.
Erling Haaland, City’s prolific striker, has recently regained his scoring touch after a brief goal drought against Real Madrid. With five goals in his last two appearances, including a hat-trick in the previous encounter against Fulham at the Etihad Stadium, Haaland poses a significant threat to the home team’s defense.
Despite Fulham’s ability to claim notable victories this season, defeating the likes of Tottenham, Brighton, Manchester United, and Arsenal, they face a daunting task against City. The corresponding fixture earlier in the season ended in a resounding 5-1 victory for City, with Haaland’s hat-trick contributing to their dominance.
As kick-off at Craven Cottage approaches at 12:30 pm (BST), anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting match. Stay tuned for the latest team news and pre-match analysis as both teams prepare to take the field
Team News and Team Records Fulham vs Manchester City:
Ahead of today’s match, Fulham faces the absence of midfielder Sasa Lukic due to a calf injury, dealing a blow to their midfield options. Additionally, central defender Tosin Aderabioyo finds himself excluded from the squad for the second consecutive game, having announced his impending departure from the club when his contract expires next month.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola enjoys the luxury of a fully fit squad, providing him with ample options for team selection. Guardiola may opt to stick with the same lineup that secured a convincing victory against Wolves in their previous outing. However, given Guardiola’s propensity for tactical surprises, there remains the possibility of significant changes to the starting XI. Only time will reveal Guardiola’s decision as match time approaches
Fulham’s historical home record against Manchester City offers little solace for Arsenal fans rooting for a stumble from the league leaders. Over the course of 15 Premier League encounters at Craven Cottage, Fulham have managed only a solitary victory. This lone triumph occurred in November 2005, with a memorable 2-1 win where both goals came courtesy of Steed Malbranque.
In addition to their solitary win, Fulham have settled for draws on five occasions against Manchester City at their home ground since the inception of the Premier League in 1992. However, the majority of encounters have ended in disappointment for the hosts, with City emerging victorious in nine encounters. This track record underscores the daunting task facing Fulham as they aim to defy the odds and secure a positive result against the reigning champions
Both managers have opted to make one change each to their respective teams from the previous weekend’s lineup. Fulham’s Marco Silva introduces midfielder Bobby De Cordova-Reid into the fold, replacing the injured Sasa Lukic. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has made the decision to drop Kyle Walker to the bench, selecting Ruben Dias in his place.
Furthermore, Phil Foden achieves a milestone as he steps onto the pitch for his 50th appearance of the season across all competitions, marking his 300th overall appearance for club and country. This significant achievement underscores Foden’s importance to the team and highlights his consistent presence on the field
Line Ups: Fulham vs Manchester City–
Manchester City: Haaland, Ake, Akanji, Ederson, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden. Subs: Stones, Doku, Alvarez, Matheus Luiz, Lewis, Bobb, Ortega, Gomez, Walker
Fulham: Joao Palhinha, Castagne, Willian, Muniz, De Cordova-Reid, Robinson, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi, Leno, Bassey, Diop Subs: Traore, Cairney, Ream, Tete, Broja, Wilson, Reed, Jimenez, Rodak
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