Can Fulham put a dent in Manchester City’s title charge?
Marco Silva says Manchester City are “different from the others” as Fulham look to stop Pep Guardiola’s side from winning their seventh consecutive home game this season.
Whilst Manchester City hunt down Arsenal in top spot, the rather ambitious Fulham will continue to look up as they squeeze their way into European contention.
Erling Haaland seems set to return this weekend having scored 17 in just 11 Premier League appearances, “he is much better” claimed Pep. Defender Manuel Akanji has recovered from a dead leg.
Pep was full of praise for his returning striker “he is natural, he is a competitor, he puts defenders to the limits and he is clinical”.
Neeskens Kebano will remain out for some time after suffering a ruptured Achilles in training and Bobby Decordova-Reid is suspended.
Marco Silva was asked to compare the two sides strikers, “It’s difficult and unfair to compare the two, I’m delighted Mitro is with us and I’m sure Pep is delighted to have Haaland with them, they are different profiles of strikers”.
This fixture last took place only last season when the two teams met in the FA Cup which is still in the memory of Pep, “last season in the FA Cup I know exactly how we suffered, they have a good process from behind and when under pressure can use the long balls into Mitrovic”.
My Prediction
It’s very hard to look any further than a City win, the reintroduction of there main man Haaland will make the Fulham defence tremble just with the sight of him. Pep has won all nine of his meetings with Silva as well as winning all seven against Fulham. It won’t be a complete walk over as shown this season Fulham are able to put up a good fight against the so called ‘bigger clubs’ having only lost by a single goal to Arsenal and Tottenham but then taking a point from Liverpool on the opening day.
City will be too strong, 3-1 win for the home side.
Line Ups
Manchester City; Ederson, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, Jack Grealish
Fulham; Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Issa Diop, Kenny Tete, Joao Palhinha, Harrison Read, Willian, Andreas Pereira, Harry Wilson, Carlos Vinicius
