Match Preview
Fulham v Manchester City
Premier League Match Day 37 23-24 Craven Cottage
Saturday 11th May 2024 KO: 12:30
Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Live on TNT Sports
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Fulham face Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime. City continue their pursuit of a record fourth consecutive Premier League title and need a win at Fulham.
The Cottagers are seeking revenge against the reigning champions after they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium back in September.
Fulham are set to fall short of last season's top-10 finish following an inconsistent period in 2024 and they require a perfect end to the campaign if they wish to reach the 50-point mark.
Five wins, five draws and six defeats have been posted in their last 16 top-flight fixtures since the turn of the year, and they enter Saturday's contest without a victory in their last three games, drawing their last two against Crystal Palace and Brentford.
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.
Man 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.
Guardiola has insisted that Arsenal "will win" the Premier League title if his Man City side slip up in any of their remaining three matches, but taking into account their relentless form and magnificent record against Fulham, it is hard to envisage the reigning champions dropping points on Saturday.
Indeed, the Citizens have won each of their last 15 meetings with Fulham in all competitions, the joint-longest winning run any team has had over another in competitive English football history. City have also scored in each of their last 15 top-flight away visits to Craven Cottage, the joint-most one team has faced another with a 100% scoring record on the road in the division - along with Man United at Middlesbrough.
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Fulham have won just one of their 15 Premier League home games against Manchester City, beating them 2-1 in November 2005 under Chris Coleman.
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Manchester City have won the past 15 meetings in all competitions. No team has ever beaten another in 16 successive competitive matches in English football history.
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Manchester City have scored in 31 successive fixtures versus Fulham since a 0-0 Premier League draw at Etihad Stadium in 2004.
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Fulham have won just one of their last seven Premier League games (D3, L3), while they're winless in each of their last three at Craven Cottage (D1, L2).
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They have lost 16 league games this campaign, equalling their total from last season.
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Fulham's tally of nine top-flight home wins is their most in a season since 2011-12.
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Joao Palhinha has 13 Premier League yellow cards this season, one shy of the record he already shares with eight other players. No-one has been booked 14 times in multiple seasons.
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Marco Silva has lost all nine Premier League matches versus Manchester City - no manager has ever lost their first 10 fixtures in the division against a single opponent.
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Manchester City are on a club record run of 32 consecutive wins, excluding penalty shootouts, since a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa in December.
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It is the fourth-longest unbeaten run in all competitions by an English top-flight team.
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If City win each of their final three league games they are guaranteed to become the first club to win four successive English top-flight titles.
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Rodri is unbeaten in his last 71 appearances for Manchester City, excluding penalty shootouts, since a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Spurs in February 2023.
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Julian Alvarez has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances against Fulham.
Erling Haaland is on track to become the first player to win the Golden Boot in his first two Premier League seasons - he has 25 goals, four ahead of Cole Palmer.(48 from May 2003 to Oct 2004) and Thierry Henry (48 from May 2003 to Oct 2004).
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Source Oliver Thomas at SportsMole/BBC Sports