High-flying Fulham will welcome draw specialists Newcastle United to Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Dubbed as relegation favourites on their top-flight return, Fulham have arguably been the biggest surprise package in the Premier League this season. They have picked up 11 points from their opening seven games to sit in a Europa League spot before the first international break of the season, one point above west London rivals Chelsea and one adrift of in-form Manchester United.
The Cottagers have been an exciting watch, as they have netted 12 goals so far this season. But Fulham are also conceding at an alarming rate and are into double figures for goals they have let in thus far.
Fulham have had several impressive results this season, including the 2-2 opening day draw against Liverpool and a 2-1 victory over Brighton. And Marco Silva’s men will be looking for a top-half finish this term, bucking the trend of bouncing up and down from the English top-flight season after season.
Fulham will enter this clash against Newcastle United off the back of a 3-2 away win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, their first away win in the Premier League this season.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s season has been marked by frustrating stalemates, with the Magpies playing out five draws in seven games. The same was the case in their last Premier League match before the international break when they drew 1-1 at St. James’ Park against Eddie Howe’s former club Bournemouth despite dominating the proceedings.
The Magpies are winless in six Premier League games (D5 L1), their longest run without a victory since November 2021 (14 games). In fact, their only victory this term came all the way back on the opening day of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, as they defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0.
Injuries have affected them greatly, with key players such as Allan Saint-Maximin, Bruno Guimaraes, and Callum Wilson all enduring significant spells out on the sidelines, resulting in a lack of attacking edge in the final third to get the job done in games.
The visitors won with a combined scoreline of 6-0 on their last two trips to Craven Cottage. However, Fulham are a different beast nowadays, and ahead of their latest meeting with Newcastle United, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Back ? for the first time in a month.@andrinhopereira. ?#FULNEW
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 30, 2022
Fulham boss Marco Silva will be sweating over the fitness of his talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic after the Serbian striker picked up a knock whilst away on international duty. He was pictured wearing heavy strapping on his ankle, and it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to start here.
Fulham will be without another key figure in the shape of Joao Palhinha, who has been crucial to their early season success. The Portuguese enforcer became the first Premier League player to be suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards this season.
Antonee Robinson is closing in on a return from an ankle injury, having missed international duty with the USA. Manor Solomon (knee), Neeskens Kebano (knock), and Harry Wilson (knee) remain out with their respective injuries.
Silva has always favoured a 4-2-3-1 system since their return to the Premier League and will stick to his proactive game plan in this match as well. The system will feature a double-pivot midfield comprising of captain Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed, who will largely remain compact to restrict Bruno Guimaraes’s output.
Bernd Leno has been the preferred choice between the sticks, and the former Arsenal shot-stopper will be in the thick of things here. Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo will be in charge of the backline, while Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete will complete the back four, with Issa Diop probably dropping out of the backline.
Andreas Pereira has looked brilliant in the no. 10 position, and the former Manchester United playmaker will be supported by Willian and Bobby Decordova-Reid out wide. Should Mitrovic miss out, Carlos Vinicius could be in line for his first league start this season after bagging a brace in Fulham’s 2-1 behind-closed-doors friendly win against second-tier Watford last Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Cairney, Reed; Willian, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Mitrovic
Newcastle United
Newcastle United have finalised an agreement for the signing of 18-year-old exciting Aussie talent, Garang Kuol. The youngster, who has already made his international debut with Australia, will officially join Eddie Howe’s side in January.
Kuol is currently not eligible for a work permit in England due to his limited top-level experience and is likely to be immediately loaned out to some other European league in the winter transfer window.
Eddie Howe will be without the services of summer signing Alexander Isak, who felt a minor muscle problem while training with Sweden in the international break. Otherwise, the extended break has largely benefited Newcastle’s injured players, with Allan Saint-Maximin “very close” to a return from his hamstring problem.
Eddie Howe on the next run of games:
"It's a key spell for us. The first seven games have been very, very positive in lots of aspects of our play, but maybe not in terms of the points delivery and the amount of games we've won. We have to be mindful of that." pic.twitter.com/xbNYyLdGUB
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 30, 2022
Elliot Anderson (knock) and Callum Wilson (hamstring) are back available once again, while Howe has stated that Bruno Guimaraes has also trained well after leaving the Brazil camp early with a thigh complaint.
The Magpies look set to continue with their usual 4-3-3 formation on Saturday afternoon. Nick Pope is a sure starter in goal and will play behind a back four of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, and Matt Targett.
An irrepressible midfield trio of Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton will be stationed in the middle of the pitch to make life difficult for the opponents. Guimaraes will also be tasked with being the passing hub and creator for his side.
Callum Wilson is expected to return to the starting lineup and spearhead the Newcastle attack against Fulham on Saturday. He will be flanked by Miguel Almiron and Ryan Fraser, with 19-year-old attacking hotshot Anderson being an option off the bench for Howe. Meanwhile, a late decision will be made on Chris Wood.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Targett; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Fraser
Key Stats
- Newcastle United have drawn five of their last six Premier League matches (L1).
- Fulham have won 12 of their 28 Premier League encounters with Newcastle United (D5 L11).
- Newcastle have won their last two away league games against Fulham, snapping a six-game losing streak at Craven Cottage. The Magpies have never won three league games on the road against them before.
- Fulham are unbeaten at Craven Cottage this season (W2, D1).
- The hosts’ last five Premier League matches have seen three or more goals.
Player to Watch
Aleksandar Mitrovic
If Mitrovic is deemed unfit to face Newcastle United, that would come as a big blow to the hosts. The 28-year-old set the UEFA Nations League on fire for Serbia during the international break, scoring four goals from two games, including a wonderful hat-trick against Sweden to get his country promoted to League A.
After shattering all records in the second tier last season with no less than 43 Championship goals, the fiery striker has carried over that red-hot form into the Premier League this season. He has been a driving force behind Fulham’s success so far this season, with his Premier League tally of six goals accounting for 50% of the Cottagers’ total of 12 goals in the opening seven matches of the campaign.
The target man has already netted ten times in nine games for club and country this season, and the ex-Newcastle United striker could well haunt his former employers this weekend.
Prediction
Fulham 1-2 Newcastle United
It is safe to say Fulham are flying high this season and have performed really well so far this season, having won three of their last six matches in all competitions. They go up against a Newcastle United side boosted by positive injury news, with a number of stars such as Allan Saint-Maximin, Bruno Guimaraes, and Elliot Anderson all set to feature here.
If fit, Aleksandar Mitrovic will be counted upon to pose the biggest threat to Newcastle, but the Magpies have their own talisman back in Callum Wilson. Given that Newcastle have fired the fourth-most shots in the Premier League but have the fourth-worst conversion rate, expect Wilson to return from injury with a bang and restore the visitors’ clinical edge in the final third.
Furthermore, the Magpies do not tend to concede many goals, so it will most likely be a close game. The Hard Tackle predicts the away side to come out on top with a narrow 2-1 victory over Fulham and bag all three points here.
