Fulham vs Manchester City – Premier League Match Preview | OneFootball

Manchester City travel to Fulham as they look to return to the top of the Premier League table heading into the final week.

Fulham are out of the running for Europe and are not threatened by relegation. But they won’t just roll over for the Citizens and plan for the off-season. The Cottagers have had a strong campaign and are sure to fight for every last point to end the season on a high.

As for Manchester City, it’s crunch time in the Premier League title race. Three wins are all that is required for a record-breaking fourth title in a row, though a single slip could hand the championship baton to Arsenal.

Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s fixture.

Form

Fulham: LWLDD

Fulham sit 13th in the Premier League table after what has been a relatively good season – or comfortable at the very least. Clear of trouble, their season has been about how far they can rise up the table.

Marco Silva has the Cottagers 18 points above the relegation zone and just 12 points off a guaranteed European spot. He has orchestrated some fantastic stability since promotion and has developed a very talented side.

However, in recent weeks, they’ve stuttered, winning just one of their last seven, with draws in their last two. Last weekend they played out a stalemate with local rivals Brentford, earning themselves their 12th clean sheet of the season.

The defence has been the driving force this season, with Fulham having conceded less goals than clubs including Spurs, Newcastle and Chelsea. Bernd Leno has been impressive between the sticks, behind a centre-back pairing of Calvin Bassey and the soon-to-depart Tosin Adarabioyo.

At the other end, a huge turn of form for Rodrigo Muniz has seen the striker claim 10 goals in all competitions, and he will most certainly be someone that the Citizens need to keep an eye on.

Fulham’s only injury concern is midfielder Harrison Reed, who missed the draw with Brentford last weekend. However, the Englishman has since returned to training and could still partner Joao Palhinha on Saturday.

Manchester City: LWWWW

On Saturday afternoon, Manchester City will have the chance to pile pressure on Arsenal, who play the following day. City know that three wins from their last three games will be enough to ensure history no matter what Arsenal hit back with.

No side in English football history has ever won four top-flight titles in a row. Pep Guardiola and his players could mark themselves as the greatest team in English history with this feat, and have the achievements to back it up.

Arsenal were the club that pushed them the hardest last season, and it looks like this year they could take the fight to the last day. However, City could wrap up the league in their midweek fixture if they win this weekend and Arsenal fail to.

On the other hand, any slip from City could see them relinquish the title to Guardiola’s former student, Mikel Arteta, who became Arsenal’s manager after leaving his assistant manager post at City.

The Citizens are in fine form. They haven’t lost a league fixture since the beginning of December, and have won all of their last six – scoring 24 goals in the process and keeping two clean sheets.

Last weekend they dismantled Wolves courtesy of an Erling Haaland hat-trick – similar to their last meeting with Fulham. The Norwegian has been criticised this season despite currently holding the Golden Boot and being well on track to retain it.

The Citizens are believed to have a clean bill of health heading into the final nine days of the campaign after numerous first-team players overcame an illness in the camp. Guardiola will have a full-strength team to choose from, but we could see rotation ahead of a midweek clash with Tottenham.

Previous Meetings

When the two sides last met Fulham were demolished at the Etihad. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring on the day for the home side before Tim Ream levelled the proceedings.

Nathan Ake put the hosts back in front just before the break before Haaland secured a second-half hat-trick to earn Manchester City an emphatic 5-1 win.

Fulham’s head-to-head record against City doesn’t make for pretty reading. They’ve lost over half of the meetings and haven’t beaten them since 2009, with their last home win coming in 2005.

Furthermore, they have lost their last 15 matches against City, and have only picked up a total of three points in their last 21, stacking all the odds in the favour of Saturday’s visitors.

Predicted Lineups

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukic; Iwobe, Pereira, Willian; Muniz.

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland.

Who is the referee?

Anthony Taylor.

Is the game on TV?

UK – TNT Sports.

What time is kick-off?

12:30 GMT, Saturday 11 May

Odds

Fulham – 10/1

Draw – 6/1

Manchester City – 2/9

Read – Six talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend

Read Also – British players to win the Champions League with an overseas club

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