Fulham will host Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on Sunday, looking to build on recent wins over Stoke City and Sunderland.
Fulham ended their losing streak with consecutive victories in as many weeks, which will have given them a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the Premier League match vs Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are coming into this game on the back of three consecutive defeats against Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Arsenal. The North Londoners are lacking in form and confidence right now, and this will be a challenging game for them.
Spurs are in the bottom half of the Premier League table, and they are without a win in their last six Premier League matches. It will be interesting to see if they can step up their performance levels and grind out a positive result away from home.
Fulham have done well against Tottenham lately, picking up three wins and a draw from the last four meetings between the two teams. Spurs have a dreadful record against the West London outfit, and this one is likely to be another challenging affair. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Kevin is the most notable absentee for the hosts due to a foot injury. However, Sasa Lukic (thigh) and Samuel Chukwueze (calf) are fit and available to take on Tottenham, while Antonee Robinson (ankle) faces a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Fulham will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur, with Bernd Leno in goal. Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to help the team both defensively and in the final third. Joachim Andersen will start alongside Jorge Cuenca at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Sander Berge and Harrison Reed will add defensive cover and physicality in the middle of the park. They will look to win the ball back for their side. Emile Smith Rowe will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates in the final third.
Oscar Bobb and Harry Wilson will start on the flanks, and they will look to add pace and flair to the side. Finally, Raul Jimenez will spearhead the Fulham attack vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson; Reed, Berge; Bobb, Smith Rowe, Wilson; Jimenez
Tottenham Hotspur
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are unavailable due to their long-term knee injuries. Ben Davies has a leg injury. Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, and Rodrigo Bentancur also have injury problems. Lucas Bergvall is out with an ankle injury. Cristian Romero remains suspended.
However, there is some good news, as Pedro Porro (hamstring), Kevin Danso (toe), and Micky van de Ven (finger) are fit and available to take on Fulham this weekend. Tottenham Hotspur will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Fulham, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal.
Pedro Porro and Djed Spence will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out defensively and contribute in the final third as well. Meanwhile, Kevin Danso and Micky van de Ven will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Joao Palhinha will add defensive cover and physicality alongside Conor Gallagher in the central areas. They will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Xavi Simons will start in the attacking midfield role, looking to link the midfield to the attack.
Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani will add pace, flair, and unpredictability from the flanks. Finally, Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Gallagher; Richarlison, Simons, Kolo Muani; Solanke
Key Stats
- Tottenham have conceded at least two goals in their last seven matches in the Premier League.
- Tottenham are without a win in five of their last six matches against Fulham.
- Fulham have picked up three wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
- Tottenham are winless in their last nine Premier League matches (D4 L5). Only once have they gone 10 without victory, doing so between January and March 1994 under Osvaldo Ardiles.
- Since Christmas, 12 of Fulham’s 14 Premier League goals have been scored in the second half of matches. Their only first half goal in their last seven games was an own goal by Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko, with Fulham players having 42 shots and accumulating an xG of 4.45 without scoring in the past seven first halves.
Player to Watch
Harry Wilson
The Fulham attacker is in excellent form right now, and he will look to make his mark in the final third. Tottenham have been quite vulnerable defensively, conceding 41 goals in 27 league matches.
Wilson is likely to get opportunities in the final third, and he will look to create chances for his teammates and find the back of the net as well. Tottenham will need to keep him quiet if they want to get a good result here. Given his form and confidence right now, the Welsh international could make a defining impact for his team.
Prediction
Fulham 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Both teams will be fighting for a victory here, and this is likely to be a cracking contest. Fulham have won two successive games, and they will look to extend that run now. The Cottagers are tenth in the Premier League table, and they will hope to finish in the top half. On the other hand, Tottenham could be dragged into the relegation battle if they continue to drop points.
A club of their stature should be doing a lot better. They will be desperate for a win here. Both teams will look to play for the three points, and an open game is expected. The two sides will get on the score sheet, but the home side is likely to edge this one. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Marco Silva and his charges.
