Coming off a heartbreaking EFL Cup semi-final exit, Fulham will be desperate to continue their FA Cup journey on Saturday afternoon when Newcastle United arrive at Craven Cottage in the fourth round.
Fulham’s hopes of reaching a first-ever Carabao Cup final were killed by Liverpool at Craven Cottage. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at Anfield a fortnight ago, the Cottagers were patently aware of the task that confronted them, and the task was made tougher when Luis Diaz made it 3-1 on aggregate after just 11 minutes.
Issa Diop managed to pull one back for the London side in the 76th minute before Harry Wilson inspired a late rally, but it was too little, too late.
Marco Silva’s side will be hoping to put their agonising Carabao Cup semi-final exit behind them as they return to knockout action just three days after the draw with Liverpool.
The hosts’ look too good to get dragged into the relegation dross, but if another knockout punch is dealt at Craven Cottage, the second half of the season will be very dreary and mediocre.
The same goes for Newcastle, who are looking to end a long wait for major silverware dating back to the 1960s. After knocking out both Manchester teams in the early rounds, the Magpies appeared to be on track for a repeat of their Carabao Cup final appearance last season.
They also led Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the latter minutes of their quarter-final, only for a defensive lapse to allow the Blues to draw before Mauricio Pochettino’s side prevailed on penalties. With a top-four berth fairly out of sight for now, the FA Cup now represents the best chance to keep their season breathing life.
They knocked out local rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup final, and only another late goal prevented them from defeating Premier League winners Manchester City prior to their winter break.
Team News and Tactics
Fulham
Fode Ballo-Toure, Calvin Bassey, and Alex Iwobi are unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations duty, as both Senegal and Nigeria have progressed to the knockout rounds. This game will also come too soon for Adama Traore, who is nursing a thigh injury.
Fatigue is the main concern for Marco Silva, given the quick turnaround from their last game. This could see the likes of midfielder Harrison Reed, winger Harry Wilson, and right-back Kenny Tete drafted back into the XI after the trio started on the bench in midweek.
Marek Rodak started in between the sticks in the third-round victory over Rotherham, so he should get the nod ahead of first-choice keeper Bernd Leno. He will be guarded by a central defence of Issa Diop and Tim Ream, with Antonee Robinson marauding the left flank.
Andreas Pereira will be holding the playmaking duties in the final third and will be flanked by Bobby De Cordova-Reid and an inspired Wilson, with hit-or-miss Raul Jimenez spearheading the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Jimenez
Newcastle United
Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock are accelerating their recovery to give Newcastle United a much-needed boost. Barnes has not played for Newcastle since suffering a freak foot injury in the 8-0 demolition of Sheffield United back in September, while Willock has been sidelined with a recurrence of an achilles issue for two-and-a-half months now.
Eddie Howe still has a host of players unavailable, though. Joelinton, Nick Pope. Joelinton is most probably out for the season after the midfielder underwent surgery on a thigh injury, while Nick Pope (shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back), Joe Willock (calf), Harvey Barnes (foot), Matt Targett (thigh), and Jacob Murphy (shoulder) are all in the treatment room. Sandro Tonali remains suspended, while Callum Wilson faces a late fitness test.
Kieran Trippier should be available to lead the Magpies out as captain at Craven Cottage after Bayern Munich quashed their interest in the full-back. Tino Livramento should be the man on the opposite flank after returning from the illness that kept him out of the loss to Manchester City.
Martin Dubravka will continue to deputise in goal in the injury absence of Pope, with Fabian and Sven Botman protecting the Slovak shot-stopper in central defence. Young Lewis Miley will be given the nod once again, alongside mainstays Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff.
Anthony Gordon looks primed to keep his place on the left flank, with Miguel Almiron functioning from the opposite wing. Alexander Isak is in great form for Newcastle, netting five times in his last four matches, and should lead the line again.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Livramento; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Miley; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Key Stats
- Newcastle have won their last four matches against Fulham in all competitions.
- The Magpies’ have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven matches against Fulham in all competitions.
- Fulham have lost all four of their FA Cup draws against Newcastle, coming between 1908 and 1961, with the Toon netting at least four times in all of them.
- Newcastle have only won two of their last 10 games in all competitions (L8).
- Harry Wilson is the Cottagers’ second-most-fouled player, winning 1.4 per game on average in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson made a big impact off the bench for Fulham in midweek, setting up the equaliser before coming close to finding the back of the net himself, which would have levelled the semi-final on aggregate. The Welsh winger has done enough to merit a start here and will look to give the Cottagers an outlet on the right flank.
Prediction
Fulham 1-2 Newcastle United
Newcastle haven’t played for two weeks, and that break will have been a blessing for Eddie Howe’s knackered troops after a demanding run of games with a stretched squad, and the visitors’ will come into this one fresh, focused, and ready to hit back. Fulham had to dig deep in midweek against Liverpool, so the Magpies should be the favourites to eventually come out on top.
