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Manchester City will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday night to 17 points as they take on a much-improved Fulham side at Craven Cottage.
Despite seeing their phenomenal 21-match winning streak come to an end at home to rivals Manchester United, City were back to winning ways in a fantastic 5-2 victory over Southampton on Wednesday evening.
However, their upcoming opponents Fulham have began to edge even closer to making it out of the drop zone, losing just one game in their last five picking up eight points in that time including an outstanding win away to Liverpool last week, which is only their second ever victory at Anfield in the Premier League.
It was a strike from Mario Lemina that drove the Cottagers to a historic victory at Anfield, a result that could prove to be crucial in the fight for survival at the bottom of the league. Albeit having played a game extra, Scott Parker’s side now set level on points with Brighton who are ahead in 17th on goal difference, a feat many would not have expected at this stage of the season due to their incredibly tough start to the campaign.
Fulham have only managed five wins this season in the league yet three of them have came in the past seven matches, which will give the team great confidence going into this fixture.
The Cottagers are yet to be defeated away from home in the league since the turn of the year but have only managed a single win in their last 10 games at home in the league and having scored just eight goals all season at home, the lowest in the league, they will need an identical performance of the one against Liverpool if they are to stand a chance against City.
Pep Guardiola’s side impressed in midweek and entertained in a seven-goal thriller at the Etihad against a Southampton side who fought until the end. The gulf in class showed between the sides showed as City put five past them with braces from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez with Ilkay Gundogan also getting on the scoresheet.
Sitting far beyond United and Leicester at the summit of the league table, City have been known for their solidity at the back this season, with Ruben Dias proving to be one of the signings of the season. However Guardiola’s side have managed just one clean sheet in their last six outings in the league despite conceding a remarkable 21 goals which is by far the fewest in the league.
Man City will also be looking ahead to their fixture against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League last 16 second leg which could mean Guardiola once again rotating his team in preparation for the midweek fixture. Winning this one though will still feel extremely important for the Manchester club as they look to increase the gap beyond their rivals in second and hit the 70 point mark with a 13th consecutive away win in the Premier League.
Team News
Neither side have much concern for serious injuries in their squads with Nathan Ake now available for selection for City, they fortunately have a fully fit squad and amazing choice of defenders to place into the back line. Sergio Aguero is most likely to only appear from the bench as he is still being eased back into the team meaning Gabriel Jesus is most likely to lead the line.
As for Fulham, goalkeeper Mark Rodak and skipper Tom Cairney remain unavailable for this game but with options from the bench in abundance, Scott Parker may find it difficult to drop any of the starting XI that started at Anfield after a stunning display from his side.
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