Manchester City continues their Premier League title pursuit on Saturday, hosting Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.
After two consecutive league draws against Arsenal and Newcastle, Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to bounce back and get back to winning ways.
Fulham, meanwhile, is enjoying an encouraging start to their campaign with three wins, but taking on the reigning champions will be a monumental task.
Manchester City: Time to End the Draw Streak
Manchester City is coming off two Premier League draws, a rare occurrence for a side that is used to dominating the competition. Despite the recent setbacks, the Cityzens are still strong contenders for the title.
Pep Guardiola will be keen to correct their course, and the 4-0 midweek victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League shows that Manchester City remains a force to be reckoned with.
However, the absence of key players, particularly Rodri, is beginning to raise questions. Rodri’s season-ending injury has left a gap in City’s midfield, and their reliance on the Euro 2024 winner has become evident.
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With Kevin De Bruyne also sidelined due to a groin injury, City’s midfield has needed reshuffling, with Ilkay Gundogan stepping in to fill the void.
However, even with a few key absences, Manchester City ’s squad depth is impressive, and with Erling Haaland leading the line, they remain a formidable opponent for any team.
At Jambobet, the best prediction site for Premier League matches, experts are tipping Man City to return to form this weekend with a dominant performance.
Fulham: Can the Cottagers Pull Off a Shock?
Fulham has had a solid start to the 2024-25 Premier League season, sitting in sixth place with three wins and just one defeat.
Their form suggests they could provide Manchester City with a challenge, but history is not on their side. Fulham has lost their last 16 meetings with City, including a 9-1 aggregate defeat in the 2023-24 season.
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Despite their poor record against Manchester City , Fulham’s current form is promising. They head into this match after a 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest, and they’ve shown resilience in several games this season.
Raul Jimenez has been in impressive form for Fulham, scoring four goals in his last six appearances. The Mexican striker is leading the line well, and alongside the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore, Fulham’s attack could cause City some problems.
Manchester City Team News
The big news for Manchester City is that Rodri will miss the rest of the season due to injury. His absence is a major blow for the team, but City still has plenty of talent to call upon.
Ilkay Gundogan has been filling in well, and Phil Foden’s return to form, including a goal midweek, is a huge boost for Guardiola.
Kevin De Bruyne remains sidelined with a groin injury and will likely return after the international break. Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb are also unavailable for this match. Despite these absences, City’s depth allows them to field a competitive lineup.
Man City predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.
Fulham Team News
Fulham’s squad is relatively healthy, with only two key players unavailable for their trip to Manchester. Carlos Vinicius and Jorge Cuenca are both sidelined due to injuries, but the Cottagers will otherwise have a full-strength squad to choose from.
Raul Jimenez’s recent goal-scoring form has cemented his spot in the starting lineup, while Adama Traore’s pace and strength could be vital in creating chances for Fulham.
Fulham predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukic; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez.
Jambobet’s Premier League prediction experts believe that while Fulham’s lineup is capable of competing, it will take an extraordinary performance to get a result against City at the Etihad.
Predictions: Man City Set for a Comfortable Win
With Manchester City eager to end their run of Premier League draws, expect them to come out firing against Fulham. Erling Haaland will be hungry to get back on the scoresheet after failing to net in their last league game, and with players like Foden and Silva in good form, City should have no trouble creating plenty of chances.
Fulham, while in decent form, has struggled against City in recent years, and their defense will be tested by one of the league’s most potent attacks. Raul Jimenez may find some joy up front, but it’s hard to see Fulham stopping City from taking all three points.
Jambobet’s score prediction for this match is Man City 4-1 Fulham, with Haaland likely to get back among the goals.
