Game Week 4 Predictions: City to beat Fulham

Manchester City vs Fulham preview: City's perfect record, Fulham's defensive strategy, key players, and prediction for the match.

Manchester City will look to keep their 100% record when Fulham visits on Saturday. (Photo credit: Opta)

 

Manchester City vs. Fulham

Etihad Stadium

3:00pm

The champions remain the only club with a 100% record in the league this season, and they hope to keep the same energy when they host Fulham on Saturday.

The Cityzens had a solid transfer window; after watching the quartet of Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, Cole Palmer, and Aymeric Laporte use the exit door, the arrivals of Matteo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol, Jeremy Doku, and Mateus Nunes have made it look like they lost nothing.

Fulham had a full day at Arsenal last weekend, and they will look to do it again when they travel to another heavyweight stadium. Earning a solid point with ten men against the Gunners was laudable; they will want the feeling again.

Joao Palhinha left for Bayern Munich on deadline day, and that has left a void at Fulham, but the Lilywhites also brought in a few names to bolster the squad, and ultimately, they kept their manager away from the claws of Saudi Arabia.

How will they line up? Fulham will do a lot of defending, and they won’t complain about that. They didn’t see up to 20% of the ball at the Emirates and still left the stadium with a precious point. They can adopt the same template at the Etihad, but they must also know that the quality at Manchester City is second to none.

Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez are the new forwards at Fulham, and Willian can return from the nibbles that kept him out of the trip to Arsenal. Calvin Bassey is suspended after seeing red against Arsenal; he will miss this one.

Fulham beat Tottenham on penalties in midweek to advance in the Carabao Cup; the winning feeling can accompany them to this game. Manchester City will take no prisoners; it will be a tough afternoon for the Lilywhites at the Etihad.

Erling Haaland will look to do what he likes to do again, but Fulham must watch out for Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden. Kevin De Bruyne’s absence has allowed the England youngster to have a run of games, and boy, he is taking full advantage.

Gvardiol is set to return in defense, but Manuel Akanji is also fit to start. The options available to the champions are alarming, and they can afford to tinker around. It’s a game you want to win ahead of the international break; no one wants to go into the break with a loss hovering over their head.

Verdict: Manchester City to win