The footballing gods have granted us a sequel. After a “bonkers” 5-4 thriller at Craven Cottage earlier this season, Manchester City and Fulham lock horns once again at the Etihad Stadium. While the chaotic scoreline of their previous meeting might be hard to replicate, the stakes for the title hopefuls are just as high.
Coming off a dramatic, last-gasp victory at Anfield that reignited their title challenge, Pep Guardiola’s side is buzzing. That win kept the pressure on Arsenal, and a victory here would cut the Gunners’ lead to just three points before they face Brentford. For Fulham, the mood is considerably darker. Back-to-back defeats, including a painful loss to Everton at home, have stalled their progress and left their European hopes hanging by a thread.
Can Fulham Break the Hex?
History is not on the Cottagers’ side. They enter this fixture on a woeful 16-game losing run against Manchester City. The last time they tasted victory in this fixture was way back in April 2008—a result that famously kept them in the top flight.
Manager Marco Silva will be demanding a reaction. While they generally play attractive football, they have struggled against the elite this season. The return of Calvin Bassey from the Africa Cup of Nations could bolster their defense, while the midfield partnership of Alex Iwobi and Sander Berge will need to be at its disciplined best to contain City’s creative midfield.
The Oscar Bobb Narrative: One of the subplots will be the appearance of Oscar Bobb. The young Norwegian winger, who signed for Fulham recently, could make a start against his former club. His connection with the squad and familiarity with the City setup might see him thrust into the starting XI to provide a spark on the counter-attack.
City’s Defensive Reshuffle
Guardiola has some positive news on the injury front. Rúben Dias returned from a month-long layoff at Anfield, and his presence brings much-needed stability to a backline that has been vulnerable this season. He is expected to partner Marc Guéhi in the center of defense, with the January Player of the Month, Abdukodir Khusanov, also available despite a scare in the Liverpool game.
In attack, the story remains the same. Phil Foden finds himself on the periphery once again, likely starting from the bench. The creative burden will fall on the likes of Bernardo Silva and Rayan Cherki to supply Erling Haaland, who remains the focal point of City’s title charge.
Prediction
Fulham has the talent to make this uncomfortable for City, especially with their tidy possession game. However, the psychological barrier of their historical record against the Sky Blues is immense. With the wind in their sails after the Anfield heroics and the scent of a title race in the air, City are likely to pile on the pressure early.
While Marco Silva’s side will make them work for it, the gap in quality and confidence is telling. City should secure the win to keep the heat on Arsenal.
Prediction: Manchester City 2–1 Fulham
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