Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, October 5, 2024, in a matchday 7 Premier League affair.
Manchester City Vs Fulham Preview
The Cityzens clash with Fulham is coming after recording back-to-back setbacks in the league, having played out a 2-2 draw with Arsenal and a 1-1 stalemate with Newcastle United.
Those results are sandwiched by wins against Watford (2-1), and Slovan Bratislava (0-4) in the EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be heading into this fixture with the hope of returning to winning ways in the league, having relinquished their position at the summit of the log to Liverpool.
Manchester City occupy the 2nd spot on the Premier League table, having secured 14 points from their first 6 matches, winning 4 games and drawing 2.
They are level on points with Arsenal, who occupy the 3rd spot while being 1 point adrift league leaders Liverpool (15), who have recorded 5 wins and 1 loss this season.
Following league victories over Chelsea, Ipswich Town, West Ham United, and Brentford, Manchester City look to have dropped form, and it appears the injury to key players in the team is starting to affect the side.
Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, amongst others, are key players, who have been unavailable for action in recent weeks, and Pep Guardiola certainly understands how big an absence they have been.
It will be fascinating to see how they go about their business against Fulham, who are on a rich vein of form.
Fulham
The Cottagers are enjoying life under Marco Silva this term, as they are yet to experience defeat in the Premier League since losing to Manchester United on the opening day of the season.
Fulham have recorded 3 wins and two draws from 5 matches, a good display thus far based on their standards.
The Craven Cottage side are also on a two-game winning run, with players like Raul Jimenez, who was nominated for the Player of the Month award for September 2024, Bernd Leno, Emile Smith Rowe, and Alex Iwobi amongst others all showing their brilliance this campaign.
Their last defeat came in the EFL Cup on September 17, 2024, when they were eliminated from the tournament by Preston North End via penalties.
The Cottagers have picked up wins against Leicester City, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest this season whilst also sharing the spoils with Ipswich Town and West Ham United.
It will be interesting to see how they will trouble Manchester City and aim to end Pep Guardiola’s side unbeaten run in all competitions this campaign.
Manchester City vs Fulham Head-to-Head Record
Matches Played: 74.
Manchester City Wins: 41.
Draws: 16.
Fulham Wins: 17.
Manchester City Team News
Rodri remains a long-term absentee, with the midfielder expected to be out for the entirety of the season.
Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), Nathan Ake (muscle), and Kevin De Bruyne (groin) are also in the treatment room, with the latter two set to possibly return after the international break in October 2024.
Pep Guardiola has already experimented with two midfield duos; Mateo Kovačić partnered with Rico Lewis last weekend before Matheus Nunes and İlkay Gündoğan got the nod in Slovakia.
It will be fascinating to see whom he would go with in the middle of the park for their clash with Fulham.
Stefan Ortega was handed a rare start on Tuesday, but Ederson will be back in goal against Fulham, while Rúben Dias, Kyle Walker, and Bernardo Silva are also set to return to the XI.
Fulham Team News
Having had a full week to prepare, Marco Silva is expected to name an unchanged setup from the one that beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
Given that he has picked up four yellow cards in six matches already, another caution for Saša Lukić in their clash against Manchester City would see him sit out Fulham’s next fixture, at home to Aston Villa on October 19, 2024.
Carlos Vinicius is expected to be unavailable for action, as he has been nursing a “small injury to his calf” and is a doubt for Saturday’s trip to the Etihad.
Manchester City Probable Starting Lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Fulham Probable Starting Lineup:
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Fulham
Kick-off Time And Date: 03:00 PM, Saturday, October 5, 2024.
