Match Preview
Manchester City v Fulham
Premier League Match Day 05 1819 at City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday 15th September 2018 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
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Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic knows Fulham must find their own way to Premier League success and not just look to try to copy Manchester City’s own unique approach.
The Whites head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday determined to take a positive mindset into a clash against one of the best-drilled sides in Europe.
Fulham won many plaudits for the way they went about their business in securing promotion back to the top flight via victory in the play-off final at Wembley.
Jokanovic, though, is not about to shape his side in the image of Pep Guardiola’s slick force.
“We try to find our way, we try to adapt ourselves, we try to interpret what we have in our hands,” the Fulham boss said at a press conference.
“We will choose what we believe is the best way for us to have the opportunity to win the game.
“Everyone knows how Manchester City play football, everyone knows what this team’s style is.
“We are a team promoted from the Championship, we want to use similar weapons and we want to attack with possession of the ball.
“I must be proud, because many people know what Fulham’s style is, too, and it can be the case that we are successful too in the seasons to come.
“It’s not easy to compare us with City; they have other records and targets to us. Anyway, we want to follow our way of playing football.”
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City have won the last five meetings, all in the Premier League.
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Fulham have lost their last three visits to the Etihad Stadium, failing to score while conceding 10 goals.
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Fulham's last win at Manchester City was in 2009 when two goals from Clint Dempsey helped them come from behind to win 3-1.
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The London side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 20 league meetings with Manchester City.
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Fulham have picked up just one point away from home in the Premier League this season - but have scored in both their away games so far.
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They are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league - and haven't stopped the opposition scoring in their last 20 Premier League matches, a club record in the top flight.
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Only two teams have conceded more goals than Fulham's nine this season - West Ham and Huddersfield, who have both scored 10.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic is the joint-top scorer in this season's Premier League, with four goals. Since his Fulham debut in February, he has scored 16 league goals - more than anyone else in the top two tiers of English football.
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City have won both their home games in this season's Premier League.
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Manchester City have scored 16 goals in five home league games since losing to Manchester United in April.
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The reigning champions have won all eight of their Premier League matches in September under Pep Guardiola, scoring 28 goals and conceding just three times.
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Pep Guardiola's points per game ratio of 2.35 is the best in Premier League history (minimum five matches).
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Guardiola is unbeaten in 42 competitive matches as a manager in September, since Barcelona lost to Hercules in September 2010 (W36, D6).