(Football news) In their rematch at the Etihad Stadium in September, the Cottagers were soundly defeated 5-1, so they are looking for revenge against the current champions. After a patchy season in 2024, Fulham is expected to miss out on the top-10 finish of the previous year. A strong finish is necessary for the team to get to fifty points.
They enter Saturday’s match without having won in their previous three games, having drawn their previous two against Brentford and Crystal Palace. Since the start of the year, their record in the top 16 league games stands at five wins, five draws, and six losses.
Marco Silva’s side were forced to settle for just a point in a goalless stalemate away against Brentford last weekend and they remain 13th in the Premier League table, four points behind 10th-placed Bournemouth with only two games remaining.
Before travelling to relegation-threatened Luton Town on the final day, Fulham will prepare for their final home match of the campaign against the title-chasing juggernaut that is Man City, whom they have beaten just once in their last 15 Premier League home games – a 2-1 victory back in November 2005 under former boss Chris Coleman.
Fulham have picked up 65% of their Premier League points (29 out of 44) at home so far this season, while they have already beaten the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage, so there is reason for Silva and co to be optimistic of pulling off an upset this weekend.
Manchester City extended their impressive unbeaten run in the Premier League to 20 matches after putting Wolverhampton Wanderers to the sword 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, largely thanks to the prolific form of leading marksman Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian has taken his top-flight goal tally for the season to 25 – sitting at least four clear of his nearest challengers in the Golden Boot race – after scoring four goals against Wolves, including a first-half hat-trick, while Julian Alvarez was also on the scoresheet in the final five minutes to cap a dominant Citizens display.
December 6 was the last time that Pep Guardiola’s men tasted a top-flight defeat and their title destiny remains in their hands as they sit just a point behind league leaders Arsenal having played a game fewer; Man City will move two points clear at the summit with a victory on Saturday before the Gunners travel to Manchester United on Sunday.
Although Guardiola has stated that Arsenal “will win” the Premier League title should his Man City team falter in any of their final three games, it is difficult to see the defending champions losing on Saturday given their unwavering form and stellar record against Fulham.
In fact, the Citizens have defeated Fulham in all 15 of their previous encounters across all competitions, which is tied for the greatest winning streak in the annals of competitive English football. Along with Manchester United against Middlesbrough, City has scored in each of their previous 15 league away games at Craven Cottage, making them the joint most teams to meet another with a perfect road scoring record in the division.
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