As the Premier League season enters a critical phase, the focus shifts to a decisive run of fixtures impacting both the title race and the battle for European spots. Manchester City prepare to host Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on February 12 in a bid to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, while the Cottagers themselves must first navigate a tricky encounter with Everton at Craven Cottage.
Title Implications at the Etihad
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City head into Matchday 26 knowing that victory is non-negotiable if they intend to pile pressure on Arsenal. Following a dramatic outing at Anfield, where Dominik Szoboszlai’s thunderous 74th-minute free-kick looked destined to hand Liverpool the win, the Citizens showcased their champion mentality. Late strikes from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland secured a vital comeback victory, ensuring City departed Merseyside with their title credentials burnished and the gap to the summit manageable.
Should City dispatch Fulham, the deficit behind Arsenal would temporarily shrink to just three points, placing immense psychological weight on the Gunners ahead of their own fixture against Brentford. History certainly favours the hosts; since an opening weekend defeat to Tottenham, the Etihad has been a fortress, with City unbeaten in their last 11 home league matches, amassing nine wins and two draws.
Furthermore, midweek fixtures under the lights in Manchester have proven particularly fruitful for Guardiola’s men. Remarkable statistics show they have avoided defeat in their last 55 Premier League home games played outside the weekend slot. Moreover, Fulham have historically been accommodating guests, having lost their last 19 consecutive meetings with the Manchester giants—a run that includes 16 league clashes.
Team News and Projected Lineups
For the midweek clash, City’s medical room remains busy with Jeremy Doku, Savinho, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, and Mateo Kovacic all recovering from various knocks. Fulham, meanwhile, will travel north without Sasa Lukic and Tom Cairney, both ruled out by the medical staff.
Predicted Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Cherki; Semenyo, Haaland.
Predicted Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez.
Stalemate Looming at Craven Cottage?
Before the daunting trip to Manchester, Marco Silva’s side must contend with Everton in Saturday’s fixture. The two clubs head into this clash inseparable in the standings, level on both points and goal difference. Despite a shaky start to the campaign, Silva deserves immense credit for steering Fulham into the top ten, with European qualification remaining a distinct possibility.
The Cottagers displayed grit in their previous outing at Old Trafford, battling back from a two-goal deficit against Manchester United only to be heartbroken by a late Benjamin Sesko winner. Their form at Craven Cottage, however, remains a source of optimism, having taken 10 points from the last 12 available on home soil.
Standing in their way are Sean Dyche’s Everton, who have proven difficult to beat recently. The Toffees extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a late draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, though victories remain elusive with three draws in that sequence. Indeed, Everton have become the league’s draw specialists, sharing the points in 29% of their fixtures this term.
The Verdict
With Fulham struggling for consistency—having lost three of their last four matches and slipping to tenth—and Everton proving stubborn opposition, the signs point toward a tightly contested affair. Historical data supports this view, with half of the last four meetings between these sides ending level.
Given that both teams have found the net in the majority of their recent respective fixtures, a scoreless bore draw seems unlikely. Instead, pundits anticipate an entertaining, high-scoring stalemate at Craven Cottage before Fulham turn their attention to the gargantuan task awaiting them at the Etihad.
