Fulham and Burnley will be eager to return to winning ways when they lock horns at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The international break is nearly upon us, and Premier League teams will aim to build momentum heading into the run-in as they prepare for Gameweek 31. The action on Saturday will start with the game between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool before continuing with Fulham vs Burnley at Craven Cottage.
Fulham’s upturn in form was brief, as after securing successive victories over Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur, they dropped points against two relegation contenders. The latest setback was a frustrating goalless draw against Nottingham Forest, with the West London club dropping out of the top half of the Premier League table due to that result.
On the other hand, Burnley’s resilience has improved in recent weeks, and they have secured some crucial points against better teams. The Clarets have taken points off Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace since February. However, despite the enhanced performance, Scott Parker’s men remain 19th in the Premier League standings, with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest being nine points ahead.
The reverse fixture saw Fulham secure a hard-fought 3-2 win over Burnley at Turf Moor, with Harry Wilson scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Marco Silva has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Fulham head coach may be bereft of the services of only one first-team player vs Burnley on Saturday.
Silva has been sweating over Emile Smith Rowe’s fitness, with the English playmaker struggling with a knock. He faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Kevin remains in the treatment room due to his foot injury.
Bernd Leno is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Burnley on Saturday. The backline will feature Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Sander Berge and Alex Iwobi in the double pivot, with Joshua King reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Raul Jimenez will lead the line for Fulham against Burnley, with Oscar Bobb and Harry Wilson being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi; Wilson, King, Bobb; Jimenez
Burnley
Unlike his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Scott Parker has a new issue that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Burnley head coach may be without over half a dozen first-team players on Saturday.
Parker is sweating over Maxime Esteve’s fitness, as the French defender is struggling with an illness. He faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Axel Tuanzebe (Achilles), Jordan Beyer (hamstring), Connor Roberts (Achilles), Josh Cullen (knee), and Zeki Amdouni (knee) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, the game comes too soon for Mike Tresor, even though he has resumed training.
Martin Dubravka is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Burnley lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Fulham on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Bashir Humphreys, Josh Laurent, and Maxime Esteve. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker and Quilindschy Hartman will be the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the three centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Lesley Ugochukwu and Hannibal Mejbri in the middle of the park. Finally, Zian Flemming will spearhead the Burnley attack against Fulham, with Lyle Foster and Jaidon Anthony completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Dubravka; Humphreys, Laurent, Esteve; Walker, Ugochukwu, Hannibal, Hartman; Anthony, Foster; Flemming
Key Stats
- Following the 3-2 win in December, Fulham will aim to complete the league double over Burnley for the first time since 1950/51. The Clarets have won three of their last four away league games against Fulham (L1), emerging victorious on their two most recent visits to Craven Cottage by the same scoreline (2-0).
- Fulham have lost only one of their last 14 Premier League games against promoted sides (W8 D5), going down 1-0 against Leeds United in January. Meanwhile, the Clarets have lost 1-0 against West Ham United and drawn 0-0 with Nottingham Forest in their two most recent Premier League games. They last went three matches without a goal in December 2023, a run which included a 2-0 home defeat to Burnley.
- Burnley have won just one of their last 21 Premier League games (D7 L13), but four of their ten points in this run have come away against London sides (3-2 vs Crystal Palace, 1-1 vs Chelsea).
- Burnley have kept just one clean sheet in their last 41 Premier League away matches, conceding in each of their last 25 since a 2-0 win at Fulham in December 2023.
- Of all opponents he has faced ten or more times in the Premier League, Kyle Walker has a higher win rate against Fulham than any other side (90% – 9/10). His first-ever goal in the competition also came against the Cottagers, in February 2011, with Aston Villa.
Player to Watch
Harry Wilson
While Raul Jimenez, Zian Flemming, and Jaidon Anthony were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Harry Wilson as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage.
The Welsh international is Fulham’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with nine goals. He could be just the second British player to reach double figures for the West London club in a campaign, after Andrew Cole in 2004/05 (12).
Meanwhile, Wilson has been involved in 15 Premier League goals for Fulham this season (G9 A6). The last Welsh player with more in a campaign was Aaron Ramsey in 2013/14 (18). With the Fulham talisman in such exciting form, it is hardly surprising that he is a captaincy candidate in FPL for Gameweek 31.
Prediction
Fulham 2-1 Burnley
Fulham and Burnley engaged in a closely-contested affair in the reverse fixture, and another engrossing affair may be on the cards, considering the away side’s recent upsurge in form. Additionally, the Cottagers have endured a frustrating run in recent weeks, dropping points against two relegation contenders.
Burnley will take the game to Fulham, and there may not be much to separate the two sides this weekend. However, while the visitors will be optimistic about their prospects, they will not have enough quality to secure a point or three. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Marco Silva and his charges, with Harry Wilson delivering the goods again.
