Fulham and Bournemouth who are both battling it out for a European spot will go head-to-head at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Both Fulham and Bournemouth are enjoying an excellent campaign. They are looking to stay within touching distance of the top four and are all set to square up against each other on Sunday afternoon in search of three important points.
The Cottagers are eighth on the table with 28 points in their 18 outings. They are just a point behind fifth-placed Newcastle and will be looking to keep the pressure on the team ahead of them with another win here.
Fulham went through a difficult phase where they played out three consecutive draws but they returned to their best with a terrific win over 2nd-placed Chelsea last time out. They will be confident about building on that result against the Cherries.
The visitors are sixth on the table with 29 points in their 18 outings. They have been playing some quality football and have been unbeaten in their last six league games.
While they have done most things right, Bournemouth will be disappointed having dropped points against Crystal Palace last time out. They will be eager to return to winning ways but it won’t be easy against Fulham. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
The Cottagers remain without the services of Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson and Harrison Reed because of injury. Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe and Sander Berge’s availability remains doubtful.
Fulham will line up in a 4-5-1 formation, where Bernd Leno will be in goal. Timothy Castagne and Calvin Bassey should be the full-backs with Joachim Andersen and Issa Diop in the heart of the defence.
Adama Traore and Antonee Robinson will feature out wide on the flanks. In the centre of the park, Andreas Pereira will start alongside Sasa Lukic and Alex Iwobi. Raul Jimenez is expected to be the one leading the line for them.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Traore, Pereira, Lukic, Iwobi, Robinson; Jimenez
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola will be without the services of Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra, Marcus Tavernier and Adam Smith.
Meanwhile, Justin Kluivert is suspended for this fixture because of a milestone yellow last time out.
The visitors will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kepa Arrizabalaga will continue in goal for the Cherries while Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez will be the full-backs. In the heart of the defence, Illia Zabarnyi will partner with Dean Huijsen.
Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to control the tempo.
Philip Billing is expected to be the attacking midfielder for this fixture with Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo on the flanks. Evanilson should be the one leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Billing, Ouattara; Evanilson
Key Stats
- Fulham are unbeaten in their last six league games.
- Marco Silva’s team have picked up 15 points from their nine home games.
- The Cottagers have won just one out of their last six matches against the Cherries across competitions.
- But, Fulham did win when the two teams last squared up against each other at Craven Cottage back in February 2024.
- The Cherries have picked up 14 points in their nine away games so far.
Player to Watch
Alex Iwobi
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The 28-year-old has been one of the standout performers for Fulham in the ongoing campaign. He has five goals and three assists in his 18 league outings. Having not contributed towards a goal in his last four league outings, Iwobi will be eager to leave his mark on this fixture.
Prediction
Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth
Both teams have been playing some great football this season and they will surely give it their all for the three important points. Given the kind of form they have been in, it will be hard for either team to come out on top here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between Fulham and Bournemouth.
