KICK OFF: Friday 19th March 2021, 8PM
Relegation candidates Fulham welcome Leeds United to Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Friday evening knowing that a win would see them move above Newcastle and out of the relegation zone until Steve Bruce’s men play Brighton on Saturday.
Scott Parker’s men enter the game on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, while 12th placed Leeds United will be looking to score their first Premier League goal in four games after their impressive 0-0 stalemate against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea at Elland Road last time out.
Earlier this season, it appeared that Fulham were destined for an immediate return to the second tier, but Scott Parker’s side have now given themselves a serious opportunity to avoid relegation.
Just two defeats from their last eight Premier League matches has helped them push towards safety, and the west London outfit are currently just two points behind 17th-placed Newcastle in the table, although the Magpies do have a game in hand on the Cottagers and will have two by the time Friday’s encounter finishes.
Leeds, meanwhile, enter the match off the back of a goalless draw with Chelsea, which has to go down as a positive result for Marcelo Bielsa’s side considering the quality of the opposition.
The Whites have recorded just one win in their last six in the Premier League, though losing four times in that run to Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and West Ham United.
PREMIER LEAGUE FORM:
Fulham: DWDLWL
Leeds United: LLWLLD
TEAM NEWS
Fulham
Fulham are again expected to be without the services of Marek Rodak and Tom Cairney for Leeds, but Bobby Decordova-Reid should be available after missing out against Manchester City.
Other than that, Parker has no fresh injury concerns and is expected to make changes to the side that started against the league leaders, with Josh Maja and Reid potentially returning to the starting XI, at the expense of Ivan Cavaleiro and Andre-Frank Anguissa.
Leeds United
As for Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that main man Patrick Bamford will be fit to face Fulham after picking up a knock to his hip against Chelsea.
Embed from Getty ImagesCaptain Liam Cooper and Leif Davies are certain absentees, while Rodrigo is nursing a minor muscle strain.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Fulham: Areola; Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina; Reid, Lemina, Reed, Lookman; Loftus-Cheek; Maja
Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Alioski; Raphinha, Dallas, Phillips, Roberts, Harrison; Bamford
SCORE PREDICTION: Fulham 1-1 Leeds United
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