Match Preview
Fulham v Everton
Premier League Match Day 34 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 13th April 2019 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
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Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker says the club are already building for next season in the Sky Bet Championship ahead of hosting Everton on Saturday.
The club's ninth straight Premier League defeat in their last encounter at Watford - a 4-1 reverse at Vicarage Road - confirmed the end of their short stay back in the top flight.
Fulham now take on Marco Silva's in-form side at Craven Cottage, seeking to record a first home win since beating Brighton 4-2 on January 29 - but they have a poor record against the Toffees.
The Whites have failed to win any of their last 10 meetings in the Premier League, losing eight - their longest winless run against the Merseysiders in league competition.
"The dust has settled a little bit after what was an emotional night at Watford," Parker said, reflecting on his side's relegation.
"As much as we are disappointed with the season, we move on. We have five games left, and we have half an eye on next season.
This is an important time for this football club as we look to build for next season, where we want to have a massive impact.
"Regarding myself, I've said many times that I'm not focusing on me.
I just want to improve things.
The most important thing for me is sending out a team where people can see organisation and belief, and hopefully that gets us some results.
"I'm in constant discussion with the owner about how we can improve things.
I'm looking at the long-term future of the club, whether I'm the manager or not.
"
Marco Silva believes Everton should be regularly competing in Europe.
The Toffees have qualified for the Europa League in only two of the last eight campaigns, but could book their spot in next season's competition with a seventh-place Premier League finish.
Silva said: "One of the things, looking to the future of our club, is we should be a club participating all the years in European football.
"Playing in European competitions is just a target, we know it's not really easy as many clubs want the same, but it's something that has to be in our mind and has to be a goal for us.
"For us to achieve that, we have to keep doing the right things, keep growing as a squad, prepare well to achieve that. "
Steve Wilson - BBC MOTD commentator
Everton's best run of results since the first weeks of 2017 has thrust them back into that pack of clubs hoping to finish seventh - which would secure a place in Europa League qualifying should Manchester City win the FA Cup.
Relegated Fulham are simply playing to avoid some grim landmarks.
Firstly, having lost nine consecutive games, the Cottagers are only two defeats short of their longest sequence of losses, set in 1962.
Second, if Fulham were to lose their remaining five games, they would join Sunderland and Derby as joint-record holders of 29 defeats in a 38-game Premier League season (Huddersfield can also match this).
Third, if Fulham fail to keep any more clean sheets they will set a new Premier League record of just two shut-outs for a season.
So, plenty to play for - none of it good.
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Fulham are on a club record 10-game winless league run against Everton (D2, L8).
- Everton are unbeaten in five of the last six visits to Fulham (D2, W3), having lost their first seven Premier League trips to Craven Cottage.
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Fulham are the first club in top-flight history to concede multiple goals in 13 consecutive matches within a single season.
- The Cottagers have been defeated in their last nine league outings, their worst run since losing
- 11 in a row in the First Division in 1962.
All four of Fulham's Premier League victories have come at home this season, but they have lost the last four at Craven Cottage.
- A league-low nine players have scored for Fulham this season.
- Ryan Babel had won all 11 Premier League games in which he scored prior to joining Fulham. He has since lost all three games in which he has scored.
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Everton could win four consecutive Premier League matches without conceding for just the second time, and first since a run of five 1-0 wins ended in November 2002.
- They can secure four straight league victories for the first time since September 2016, and keep four consecutive clean sheets for the first time in 10 years.
- A fourth Everton away win in 2019 would match their total number of league victories on the road in 2018.
- The Blues have lost only one of their last 19 Premier League away matches against newly-promoted teams (W7, D11), a 2-1 defeat at Burnley in October 2016.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has won 45 aerial duels in the last two months in the Premier League - more than any other striker during that period.
- The Toffees registered 23 shots in the win against Arsenal last weekend, their highest tally in 64 Premier League games.