Sunday, February 1, 2026

Prediction: Fulham vs Manchester City

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 13/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Manchester City will visit Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening to take on Fulham in a compelling Premier League clash on Matchday 14.

The Citizens approach this fixture in second place with 25 points, while the Cottagers sit 15th on 17 points, still striving for consistency under Marco Silva.

Fulham

Fulham’s league campaign has been uneven so far, with 17 points collected from 13 matches under Silva. They arrive buoyed by a notable 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday—a display that highlighted improved attacking structure and growing confidence.

Yet inconsistency remains their hallmark, with only three wins in their last eight league games. Craven Cottage, however, has been a dependable venue, yielding four victories, one draw, and just one defeat this season.

The Cottagers have scored 15 goals and conceded 17, figures that reflect both attacking promise and defensive shortcomings that need addressing to climb the table. Silva’s focus on possession and swift transitions has produced bright spells, though sustaining form across multiple fixtures is still a hurdle.

Across all competitions, Fulham have claimed four wins in their last five outings, signaling a gradual return of belief within the squad.

Team News

Antonee Robinson remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Rodrigo Muniz is out due to a hamstring issue. Samuel Chukwueze, who assisted in the Tottenham victory, is expected to keep his spot on the wing, with Alex Iwobi continuing in midfield.

Calvin Bassey and Joachim Andersen should partner in central defense, Bernd Leno will start in goal, and Raul Jimenez is set to lead the attack.

Manchester City

City occupy second place but have shown vulnerability this season. With 25 points from 13 matches—eight wins, one draw, and four defeats—Pep Guardiola’s side has been less consistent than in previous campaigns, prompting questions about their title credentials.
Their tally of 27 goals scored and 12 conceded underscores their attacking strength, though defensive lapses have surfaced at crucial times. Away form is a particular concern, with only two wins from six league trips; the recent 2-1 loss at Newcastle United typified these struggles.

Nevertheless, City’s individual quality remains undeniable, and Guardiola’s teams often find ways to prevail during challenging spells. Their 3-2 comeback against Leeds United last time out—despite nearly surrendering a 2-0 lead—illustrated that resilience, capped by Phil Foden’s late winner.

City have won three of their last five matches in all competitions and appear to be regaining momentum. Historically, this matchup favors them heavily: the Citizens have triumphed in each of their last five meetings with Fulham, including a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage in the most recent encounter.

Team News

Mateo Kovacic is still unavailable following ankle surgery and has yet to start a game this season, featuring only briefly from the bench against Everton and Villarreal. Rodri’s return remains delayed as he works toward full fitness—a significant concern for Guardiola given his influence.

Defensively, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are likely to start at center-back, while Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes could fill full-back roles. Erling Haaland will spearhead the attack, supported by Foden—fresh from his weekend brace—and Jeremy Doku on the left flank.

Head-to-Head Record

Since Fulham last returned to the Premier League, back in 2018/19, these teams have met on a total of 13 occasions – and Manchester City won them all. In fact, it’s been 14 years since the Cottagers last avoided defeat against this particular opponent in any competition, and 16 since they managed to beat them.

Football can sometimes produce highly unlikely results and the Premier League has a reputation for it, but Silva’s men won’t be feeling very confident going into this clash.

Conclusion

Manchester City’s superior talent and tactical depth should give them the advantage, even at a challenging venue like Craven Cottage.

Fulham’s strong home record suggests they will create chances and possibly score, but City’s dominance in head-to-head meetings and deeper squad quality should ultimately secure all three points.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 13/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Veselin Trajkovic


Vesko is a football writer that likes to observe the game for what it is, focusing on teams, players and their roles, formations, tactics, rather than stats. He follows the English Premier League closely, Liverpool FC in particular. His articles have been published on seven different football blogs.

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