The matchup between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage brings a contrast that makes the game even more intriguing. On one side, Fulham is trying to pull away from the relegation zone for good and keep the momentum from its road win over Tottenham. On the other, City walks in knowing it needs a victory to prevent Arsenal from stretching the gap and aware that its recent away form doesn’t match a team fighting for the title. Both clubs have urgent reasons to take something from this game, even que they’re chasing completely different goals.
Fulham tries to turn a moment of confidence into stability
Fulham enters the round with 17 points from 13 matches, a situation that still calls for caution. The win over Tottenham brought a boost, but it doesn’t change the fact that the team needs to pick up points more consistently. The recent stretch says a lot about that, three wins in the last eight Premier League outings, which helps explain why the club remains close to the lower part of the table.
The good news is at Craven Cottage. Playing at home, Fulham has been competitive, with four wins, one draw and just one loss. It’s where the team has managed to control matches better and take advantage of the quick transitions Marco Silva has been trying to solidify. They’ve scored 15 goals and conceded 17 in the league, numbers that show progress going forward while also revealing defensive adjustments still needed.
To face City, Fulham knows it won’t see long stretches of control, but it wants to make the most of the defensive vulnerability Guardiola’s team has shown.
Manchester City arrives better, but still far from its dominant version
City, meanwhile, is having a less stable season than usual. The team has 25 points from 13 Premier League matches, with eight wins, one draw and four losses. After losing to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen, they beat Leeds 3–2, a result that helped ease the pressure. Still, City knows any slip could hurt, especially with Arsenal showing no sign of slowing down at the top.
The attack numbers remain strong, with 27 goals scored, but the team has also conceded 12, something uncommon for a side that usually controls games more comfortably. Away from home, the form has been a concern, only two wins in six league matches as visitors. The meeting with Fulham becomes important not just for the standings, but for the need to regain confidence outside Manchester.
The recent history between the clubs leaves no doubt, City has won the last five encounters in all competitions, including a 2–0 win at Craven Cottage in their most recent meeting. In that match, Gundogan opened the scoring and Haaland closed it from the penalty spot, a victory that marked the club’s longest unbeaten streak in the 2024–25 Premier League season.