Manchester City are looking to close the gap with Arsenal, and they cannot afford to drop points in the game vs Fulham on Wednesday. On paper, the hosts are a better team, and they should be able to get the job done. The fans at the Etihad will expect a strong performance and all three points this week.
Meanwhile, Fulham struggling, and they have lost three of its last four Premier League matches. This will be a difficult outing for them, and it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly. Beating Manchester City away from home is a massive challenge, and it remains to be seen how the Cottagers approach this game.
In theory, Manchester City should be able to pick up an easy win and keep their chances of winning the Premier League title alive. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
John Stones (thigh), Mateo Kovacic (ankle), Jeremy Doku (calf), and Josko Gvardiol (calf) are ruled out for the home side. Manchester City will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Fulham, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will start as the full-backs. They will keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Meanwhile, Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Rodri will start in the defensive midfield role, looking to control the tempo and provide defensive cover, with Tijjani Reijnders adding drive and creativity alongside him.
Bernardo Silva will add creativity from the attacking midfield role. Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo will add flair and goals from the flanks, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City vs Fulham on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Reijnders, Rodri; Foden, Silva, Semenyo; Haaland
Sasa Lukic is ruled out with a thigh injury for the visitors. Meanwhile, Tom Cairney is struggling with a calf issues. Fulham will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Manchester City, 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 at both ends of the pitch. 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 break up the opposition’s attacking moves and win the ball back for their side.
Emile Smith Rowe will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. Kevin 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 Manchester City on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson; Berge, Reed; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Kevin; Jimenez
The Norwegian is in impressive form right now, and he managed to get on the score sheet against Liverpool as well. Haaland will be full of confidence here, and he should be able to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old has been involved in ten goals in just seven appearances against Fulham in the Premier League (7 goals, 3 assists).
Fulham have been quite poor defensively this season, and the Manchester City striker should be able to punish them with his clinical finishing and movement. Manchester City will expect a defining impact from their striker in the final third, and he could make all the difference for his side. So, it is hardly surprising that he is a captaincy candidate in FPL for Gameweek 26.
The visitors are currently lacking in form and confidence. This will be a difficult outing for them, and the gulf in class between the two teams is significant. Manchester City will have received an enormous confidence boost after the win over Liverpool, and they should be able to write out a positive result here.
A comprehensive win is on the cards for the home team. Fulham are unlikely to trouble the home team here. Manchester City will end up with all three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.
