Match Preview
Fulham vs Everton
Premier League Match Day 09 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 22nd November 2020 KO: 12:00
Referee:
Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Live on BBC One
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Fulham face Everton at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon having only recorded one win in eight matches this season. Fulham currently remain outside of the relegation zone by a point.
In Fulham's last gameAdemola Lookman's abysmal effort from the penalty spot against West Ham United overshadowed the fact that Fulham had come within minutes of recording a second clean sheet in succession, only for Tomas Soucek to break their resolve in the 91st minute.
Although Scott Parker remains under pressure after a sixth setback in eight matches, there is every indication that the Cottagers are playing for the Englishman ahead of a crucial period of the season.
Trips to Leicester City and Manchester City will follow Sunday's encounter, meaning that Fulham can ill-afford to miss out on adding to their points tally.
As well as requiring a positive response from Lookman, Parker also needs Aleksandar Mitrovic to end a goalless streak which has lasted since September 19.
Everton arrive looking to end their run of three successive defeats in the Premier League.
Defeats to Southampton, Newcastle United and Manchester United have come in the absence of Richarlison, who has been serving a three-match ban for his dismissal against Liverpool.
Their subsequent results suggest that the Toffees have become too reliant on the Brazilian's partnership with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, leaving Ancelotti with plenty of questions to answer going forward.
As well as their issues in attack, Everton have also conceded seven goals in their last three outings, leaving the club with unresolved issues at the back.
Everton have little chance of breaking into the top six unless they solve their problems at both ends of the pitch, but Ancelotti knows that winning by any means necessary is most important this weekend.
Despite 10 places separating the two clubs, the Merseyside outfit have conceded just one goal fewer than their hosts, who have been showing signs of progress.
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Fulham won their last Premier League meeting with Everton (2-0 in April 2019), ending a run of 10 league games without a win against the Toffees (D2 L8). It was Scott Parker's first victory as a manager in the competition.
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Everton have only failed to score in one of their last nine Premier League meetings with Fulham, though it was their last such match against them in April 2019 (0-2).
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Of all Premier League fixtures to have been played on more than 10 occasions, Fulham vs Everton has seen the highest percentage of home wins, with 23 of the 28 meetings between the two being won by the home side (82%).
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The most recent encounter ended 2-0 to Fulham at Craven Cottage in April 2019, earning their first points under Scott Parker.
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After conceding 10 goals in their first three Premier League games this season, Fulham have now shipped just five in their last five in the competition, picking up their first victory of the campaign in that run (2-0 vs West Brom).
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All 14 of Fulham's victories in the 50 top-flight meetings have come at home.
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Fulham are the only side yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of their Premier League games so far this season.
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The Whites have also conceded five times in the opening quarter of an hour, the highest figure in the top flight.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored two and assisted two of Fulham's seven Premier League goals this term, all registered against newly-promoted opposition.
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Captain Tom Cairney is set to play his 50th Premier League game.
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Everton have won their last two Premier League games in London, as many as they had in their previous 26 such games (W2 D11 L13). They last won three league games in a row in the capital back in April 1987.
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It would be the first time in Carlo Ancelotti's managerial career that he has lost four league games in a row.
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Everton have conceded at least twice in each of their past five top-flight fixtures.
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James Rodriguez has not scored or assisted in any of his three Premier League away appearances, compared to three goals and three assists in four matches at Goodison Park.
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Everton have not won a Premier League match without Richarlison since he joined in 2018, drawing four and losing four of eight such games.