Man City v Fulham: Team newspublished at 18:28 GMT 11 February
18:28 GMT 11 February
Manchester City make two changes to the side following Sunday's last-gasp victory at Liverpool.
Abdukodir Khusanov is only fit for the bench after coming off with a knock to the head at Anfield, so Ruben Dias makes his first start since 4 January against Chelsea.
The other change sees Phil Foden coming in for Omar Marmoush, who is on the bench, alongside the returning John Stones.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Silva, O'Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Haaland.
Man City v Fulham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 09:03 GMT 11 February
09:03 GMT 11 February
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City attempt to follow up their late win at Liverpool on Sunday when they host a Fulham side aiming to bounce back from a home defeat by Everton.
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into their meeting at Etihad Stadium.
Last-gasp, chaotic, potentially crucial – Manchester City's 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday kept Pep Guardiola's within six points of leaders Arsenal following the latest round of matches and the title race alive - for the time being.
City have 50 points after 25 Premier League games but only six teams have gone on to win the title with 50 points or fewer at this stage of a 38-game season – and the last one was 23 years ago.
On that occasion, Manchester United won 10 and drew three of their remaining 13 games to overhaul leaders Arsenal and finish top on 83 points in 2002-03.
The Gunners were top after 25 games that season with 53 points, but failed to win six of their remaining 13 matches – a drop in form which proved costly.
Arsenal currently have three more points at the same stage of this season but Match of the Day pundit Wayne Rooney believes Erling Haaland's winning goal against Liverpool last weekend – his first at Anfield for City – could spark a run of form to test Mikel Arteta's mettle should their be any slip-ups.
"It was a real high-pressure penalty because it was to keep Manchester City in the title race," he said. "You could see that relief in his face to score the goal so late to win the game. The confidence that will give him now will be scary for Arsenal in the next few weeks."
City's next game is against a Fulham side they have defeated in their past 19 meetings; the longest winning run one side has had against another in English football history.
Marco Silva's men dominated the first half against Everton on Saturday before losing to a late own goal at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers have won just three of their 12 away trips in the Premier League so far this season, while Silva's record is also rotten in this particular fixture.
He has lost all 13 Premier League meetings with City, the most one manager has faced an opponent with a 100% loss rate in the competition's history.
Image caption,
Marco Silva is yet to beat Manchester City in his managerial career
Any uptick in confidence for Haaland ahead of Wednesday's encounter will also be unwelcome for visiting fans given he's scored seven goals and assisted three in just seven Premier League appearances against Fulham.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Fulhampublished at 07:53 GMT 11 February
07:53 GMT 11 February
Was Sunday's late comeback to win at Anfield the game that will spark Manchester City's title bid?
Time will tell, but I am not convinced. I still think the issues that saw City fall behind in the first place will still cost them in future games too.
Fair play to Pep Guardiola's side for turning things around with six minutes to go, because their record at Anfield was so poor and a point would not have been enough for them.
But I just don't see this City team controlling games anymore in the way they used to. In the past, if you got a result against City you were either fortunate or had to play exceptionally well, but this season I've seen them let teams back into games on numerous occasions.
Sunday was no different. They were getting mauled in the second half by wave after wave of Liverpool attacks, before the chaos at the end. Gianluigi Donnarumma's save was a big moment and I was delighted that Erling Haaland stuck his penalty away because he's captain of my fantasy team and that gave me a good score.
As a neutral, I hope the a title race lasts until the final few weeks of the season but I just feel like City will drop too many more points before then.
Fulham are a good footballing side and almost got something from City at Craven Cottage in December - I was there, and City only just held on for a 5-4 win.
Marco Silva's side have been hard done by in their past couple of games because they had plenty of chances in their defeat at Manchester United, then could have been well ahead at the break before they lost to Everton too.
This time? Well, I think Fulham will score at Etihad Stadium too, and they are due a bit of a break. Maybe they will get it against City, but I am still going for a home win.
'We have been the architects of our own downfall'published at 12:30 GMT 10 February
12:30 GMT 10 February
Drew Heatley Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Football's oldest cliche - it is a game of two halves - never rang truer than on Saturday.
In the first 45 minutes, Fulham played some of their best football of the season. A strong starting XI was complemented by an equally impressive bench as we finally emerged from the other side of our injury crisis.
It was a squad so packed with talent that defender Issa Diop and captain Tom Cairney were forced to watch from the stands.
But as we tucked into our half-time pies, there was a foreboding sense of inevitability around Craven Cottage.
Yes, we were a goal to the good, but a string of missed opportunities, punctuated by a pair of crossbar-rattlers and Raul Jimenez's decision to scuff a shot when Harry Wilson didn't have a player within 10 yards of him, meant we could all tell what was coming.
Far too often this season - as in previous campaigns - we have been the architects of our own downfall.
When Bernd Leno knocked Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's corner into his own net, it marked the seventh game this season that we have conceded one or more goals in the final 10 minutes of a game.
That has cost us 12 points. And while I am not expecting Fulham to be an infallible side that sits inside the top four - which is where we would be if we had not dropped those points - losing control in more than a third of our games leads me to wonder whether we are set for another season of missed opportunity.
It does not get any easier, with Manchester City coming up on Wednesday.
A loss at the Etihad would mark the 20th straight defeat against Pep Guardiola's side.
On paper, we know what will happen. But to use another famous cliche (thank you, Brian Clough), the game is played on grass.
Gossip: Milan expect Chukwueze sale to Fulhampublished at 07:04 GMT 10 February
07:04 GMT 10 February
AC Milan are confident Fulham will exercise a £21m option-to-buy for 26-year-old Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze, who is on loan with the Cottagers. (Gazzetta - in Italian), external
Silva on Man City record, Bobb and Everton defeatpublished at 15:55 GMT 9 February
15:55 GMT 9 February
Tyrese King BBC Sport journalist
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Team news: "Timothy Castagne is going to be out and so will Sasa Lukic. All the others are OK."
Silva wants his team to "bounce back" from the Everton defeat and "fight for the three points".
He said: "It was a massive frustration to lose the game. The quality and chances we created in the first half. We have to blame ourselves for the second half."
On facing Man City: "It's always difficult for us to play Man City and our record is very bad. It's something that we are aware of and want to change."
He added: "It's going to be a City side full of confidence, but the three points that we lost [against Everton] haven't taken the confidence from ourselves."
On the game against Man City last season: "It was a mad game. If we can repeat that second half, not just the goals..."
Explaining further he said: "In a football match any moment that you switch off they [Man City] are capable of punishing you because they have the quality in their frontline. It was a great night but unfortunately the result did not go our way, and results speak louder than most things."
Silva on his gameplan: "We have to be compact, solid. The moments we have the ball, we have to find the right set-ups. It's the way we play, not just because it's vs City."
On Oscar Bobb: "He needs more time. We are working with him behind the scenes. He came from a hamstring injury, so we have to be careful with him. Sooner or later he's going to be ready."
On Bobb returning to the Etihad: "I think it's going to be a great welcome for him from the Man City fans and the faces he's going to see. The whole staff and football club know that he has the qualities and talent he has. We are very pleased to have him here with us."
Familiar frailties returnpublished at 23:44 GMT 8 February
23:44 GMT 8 February
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
When the camera panned to Silva moments before the full-time whistle, his face told the story of another sorry afternoon for the home side.
The Fulham manager was in a state of shock as his side - not for the first time this season - proved to be masters of their own downfall.
For much of the afternoon, it seemed as though Everton had no answer for Silva's side and the slick transitions they produced as Chukwueze, Smith Rowe and Jimenez came close to adding a second.
But in the end it was a familiar sinking feeling for the club's fans as six days on from a gut-wrenching defeat at Old Trafford, they conceded a late winner once more.
For all of the talent that has arrived at Craven Cottage in recent seasons - namely Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Kevin and, of course, Chukwueze - it is Fulham's weakness in defence that continues to prove costly.
Having gone seven Premier League matches without a clean sheet, with the last coming against West Ham on 27 December, Silva will know exactly where his side need to improve if they are to kick-start their push for European qualification.
Richard: Infuriating loss at home after a good first half when Fulham should have been at least two up. Lost our way in the second half as Everton improved. The substitutes were employed far too late to turn the tide. Familiar pattern of careless game management repeating itself.
Sean: First half was great, second half was woeful. We have to look for another keeper in the summer. Bernd Leno has looked very suspect to high balls into his area and now he is targeted as our weak link. Joachim Andersen was slow and he couldn't hit a barn door accurately - too many misplaced passes, which put us back under pressure.
Matthew: So unfortunate not to have buried Everton in the first half. And then we inexplicably didn't turn up in the second half. So, two very frustrating halves for opposing reasons. Football, eh?
Ian: So frustrating. However, with what has been a thin squad with key players injured, it still feels like we are punching above our weight. Onwards and upwards!
Everton fans
Grant: We did not deserve to get three points from that game. Defensively we were all over the place, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (even though not fully fit) dragged us through. Proud Evertonian watching our away performances at the moment.
SJH: Another away win, another game of two halves. An absolutely shocking first half and David Moyes' persistence in playing players out of position will never fail to confuse. The changes provided some much-needed balance and a much-improved second half. We rode our luck throughout the game as Fulham could have been out of sight in the first half, but three points and on to the next one. Hopefully there is a long overdue home win on the horizon.
Greg: Another win which we probably deserved in the end, though we are still a second-half team. It would be nice if we could do it over 90 minutes, but a win is a win. If we can get the home form right we may be able to give ourselves a chance of Europe. Dewsbury Hall makes a big difference and has been an excellent signing.
Steve: If we could play well for the full 90 minutes where would we be in the league? The squad is looking strong and the bench looked very good on Saturday. Moyes is doing a great job - now to move through the gears and get into Europe.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:15 GMT 8 February
11:15 GMT 8 February
Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.
Fulham 1-2 Everton: What Silva saidpublished at 18:11 GMT 7 February
18:11 GMT 7 February
Media caption,
Fulham manager Marco Silva, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It is normal when you lose the game we lose the game we lost. It has to be disappointing. The game at half time should have been decided. It should have been 4-0, 4-1. At this level you have to be ruthless.
"It was a good first half and second half was completely the opposite. We can only blame ourselves. The way we lost this afternoon should be a real learning point for us because at this level you cannot be soft and we were too soft. The way we defended, we are too soft."
On the winning goal: "We can blame many things about decisions but we have to look at ourselves much more than other things. We have to look at ourselves and blame ourselves."
On what he thinks of the decision: "That will stay with me but we have to blame ourselves for that second half. A team that played so well in the first half and was so clear in the game. We stopped playing. The way we were so soft in the way we defended, you have to look in the mirror and say it is not enough."
On why the performance was soft in the second half: "No it cannot be. You have to keep doing the right things. You have to expect a reaction from a team that is losing, that is normal. No reaction, no tactical changes, they just reacted. We stopped doing the things we did so well."
Did you know?
Fulham against Everton today was the first game in the Premier League to see both sides net an own goal since Crystal Palace against West Ham in April 2024.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Sunderland", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Evertonpublished at 11:13 GMT 7 February
11:13 GMT 7 February
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.
His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.
Sutton says: Everton asked about Fulham forward Harry Wilson on deadline day.
He has been a revelation this season and they won't be looking forward to facing him on Saturday.
The Toffees have got something after falling behind in their past three league games, including the last-gasp equaliser against Brighton that saw poor David Moyes booked for his celebration - there is no way you should get a yellow card for that.
This is going to be another close game and it smells of another 2-1 to me, but I am not going to go down that road again this week.
Instead, I'm going for a different scoreline but sticking with a narrow Fulham win. Marco Silva will feel his side deserved something from Old Trafford and it will be him celebrating at the final whistle this week, not Moyes.
Fulham v Everton: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:02 GMT 6 February
19:02 GMT 6 February
Matt Jones BBC Sport journalist
A win for Fulham or Everton at Craven Cottage on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in the Premier League would keep their outside hopes of European qualification alive.
The two sides are locked on 34 points and a minus-one goal difference heading into this weekend's fixture. Just two points separate Fulham and Everton — ninth and 10th respectively — from Brentford in seventh.
Fulham would have been just one point back had they made their late comeback at Manchester United stick, only to be denied at the last by Benjamin Šeško. By contrast, the Blues snatched a point at Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to a 97th-minute equaliser from Beto.
Full value at the Cottage
Having come back from two goals down against United to level at 2-2, Marco Silva would have been delighted had his team held out for a point. But there was a sting in the tail at Old Trafford for his in-form side.
For Fulham, late drama one way or the other has been a trademark of late. They also lost at Leeds United in injury time last month, although they have dished out a few heartbreakers of their own lately too.
In addition to the 85th and 91st-minute goals they scored at United, Fulham netted a 91st-minute winner against Brighton, an 81st-minute winner against Chelsea and a 96th-minute equaliser against Liverpool.
Since Boxing Day, Fulham have scored seven goals after the 80th minute, which is four more than any other team.
Perhaps it is no surprise that Silva's side typically come on strong late in games. They are the least aggressive pressing team in the division and Brighton are the only side to have made more substitutions than them this season - albeit by just one, with Fulham having made 112.
The team who have used the fewest substitutes this season? Their opponents on Saturday.
Everton energised after half-time
A lack of in-game changes did not stop the Blues battling back well at Brighton to earn a deserved point.
The Toffees were woeful in the first half and went through the opening 45 minutes of a match without having a shot for the third time this season - more than any other team.
While those slow starts will be a concern for manager David Moyes, he will take some comfort from the way his side have responded. Against Leeds United and Brighton, they recovered well to earn draws.
The Beto goal also preserved Everton's impressive recent away record. They have won four, drawn three and lost just one of their last eight matches on the road, conceding only four goals in that time.
Moyes will also be hopeful that the arrival of Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea can give his side an extra edge in the final third.
The 19-year-old is capable playing on either flank or as a centre-forward. He has one Premier League goal to his name so far — for the Blues against Fulham at Craven Cottage last season.
Silva on Bobb's availability, competition for places and Jimenezpublished at 16:29 GMT 6 February
16:29 GMT 6 February
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Craven Cottage (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
New signing Oscar Bobb is available to make his debut at Everton and Kenny Tete is in contention to start after returning as an unused substitute at Manchester United last weekend, but Sasa Lukic is still out.
On the competition for places that players returning from injury will bring to his squad: "The environment is good, the feelings are very good. You can feel it, during the week, how competitive it will be in the future. It was during this week - that competition, the sound, everything is different. That is nice to see with all of them around and competing for the position."
He continued: "If you have normal solutions, you can start the game the way you want to start and make changes if you have to throughout the game. It is always very good if you look around and you see solutions there to have an impact."
Calvin Bassey has not started a match since returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and Silva welcomes the competition for places at centre-back: "It's great for the team. Sometimes it's difficult to take decisions, Calvin is a big player for us and [Jorge] Cuenca is doing well for us."
At Old Trafford last weekend, Raul Jimenez continued his 100% record of scoring penalties in the Premier League. Silva said: "He's so cold in that moment and so calm. He has his way, the goalkeepers know his way but the reality is he has been incredible and in the Premier League he has not missed. Let's hope he can keep it that way."
On playing at Craven Cottage: "It's a special place for us. We are creating the right environment between ourselves, players and fans. We have another chance to prove our quality at home."
On opponents Everton: "Their defensive record away from home has been very good. They've showed the resilience they have and even without the ball they have the capacity to control games. They have been difficult to beat."
'Silva is so clever and so thorough with everything he does' - Kingpublished at 09:04 GMT 5 February
09:04 GMT 5 February
Media caption,
King and Walcott on pressure of breaking into first-team football
Fulham's Josh King says manager Marco Silva is "a really good person" as well as "someone who thinks about the game a lot".
The 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a breakout campaign, starting 11 Premier League games and appearing 20 times.
"Tactically he's so in-depth and locked into what is going on," King said of Silva during an in-depth chat with former Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott.
"We switch sometimes between a four or a five [at the back] depending on the opponents and as managers go I can tell he's someone who is really on it. He is someone who thinks about the game a lot.
"He gets in at eight in the morning and leaves at six in the evening.
"He's such a good manager."
King missed three league games with a knee problem in early January, but credits Silva with helping him remain positive throughout his recovery process.
"I've got a lot of a lot of gratitude for him," he added.
"Obviously, he gave me the opportunities which I've had so far this season and God willing that continues.
"I think he's so clever and he's so thorough with everything he does, especially tactically on the pitch, he's very in touch with what other teams are doing.
"He's just a really good manager and a really good person as well. He has that side to him where I've been a little bit injured recently and he's always been asking me 'how's it going? You're going to come back!' and all this sort of stuff.
"It's really nice to have that sort of person who obviously is your manager, first of all, but second of all is a good person as well."
'January business was modest but impactful'published at 12:33 GMT 4 February
12:33 GMT 4 February
Drew Heatley Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
We did it - we finally found some value in the January transfer window.
Fulham side-stepped what is traditionally a turgid four weeks, with clubs frantically scrapping for short-term fixes to get them to the summer, paying inflated prices in what is a seller's market.
We brought in Oscar Bobb, Manchester City's highly-rated academy graduate. The 22-year-old winger continues our mission to lower the average age of the squad, while raising the floor of its quality.
The Norway international is a replacement for Adama Traore, who never really fulfilled what was promised when the muscly winger arrived three years ago. His record of just four goals in a shade less than 70 appearances tells its own story as he departed for West Ham.
Bobb was our only incoming - but not for want of trying. Though we agreed a fee for United States striker Ricardo Pepi, PSV were unwilling to sell unless they found a replacement, which ultimately they could not.
We are widely reported to be ready to return for Pepi in the summer, as we view him as the perfect replacement for Raul Jimenez, who is out of contract in June.
Another player in his early twenties, Pepi would continue the "Fulhamerica" connection, which has proved extremely fruitful over the years with American exports like Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey becoming club legends.
Many fans will point to a gap in central midfield, with the Whites yet to replace Andreas Pereira, who left in the summer.
But the emergence of Alex Iwobi, who has moved inside from the wing where we have plenty of depth, means that we can afford to wait until the summer to assess that potential gap.
Our January business was modest, but impactful. If we can get Marco Silva and Harry Wilson to sign new deals, February could be even better.
Watch a London football special as clock ticks downpublished at 17:51 GMT 2 February
17:51 GMT 2 February
Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special for London, discussing the business done by Arsenal, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham, plus the capital's EFL sides.
The show, which runs from 18:00-20:00 GMT, will offer the latest updates and analysis on the done and rumoured deals.