Fulham vs Manchester City Preview
- City to win
- Both teams to score
Fulham may have seen their dream of qualifying for Europe fade after Brighton’s impressive 3-2 win over Liverpool on Monday, but Marco Silva’s men still have the opportunity to sign off what has been a record-breaking Premier League campaign with a flourish.
Their 3-2 triumph over local rivals Brentford last weekend took them to 53 points, their highest ever tally in a single Premier League season. A second successive win to close out the campaign would be a fitting finale at Craven Cottage, especially with champions of recent years Manchester City in town.
However, history paints a rather ominous picture for the West London side. Fulham haven’t managed to beat Manchester City in any of their last 17 meetings across all competitions, conceding a staggering 52 goals in the process. Their last Premier League victory over the Sky Blues came more than 15 years ago in April 2009 under Roy Hodgson, when they came from behind to claim a famous 3-1 win at the Etihad. Since then, the fixture has overwhelmingly gone one way.
Ending that wretched run against City would also mean overcoming another personal barrier for Marco Silva, who is yet to register a victory over a Pep Guardiola-managed team in 14 prior meetings (L14). That statistic underlines the uphill task Fulham face, but with nothing to lose and a celebratory atmosphere expected at the Cottage after a historic season, perhaps this is the perfect time to rewrite the narrative.
City Look to Seal Top-Five Spot
On the other hand, Manchester City arrive in London with business still to complete. While the title has slipped from their grasp this term, Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth all but secured UEFA Champions League qualification for the 15th consecutive season. Mathematically, a point will be sufficient to confirm a top-four finish, but a victory could still potentially lift them into second if other results fall their way, particularly if Arsenal suffer a heavy final-day defeat.
It hasn’t been the kind of title defence City have become accustomed to in the Guardiola era. Barring a dramatic final-day swing, the Cityzens will finish outside of the top two for just the second time in Guardiola’s 16-year top-flight managerial career. It’s a rare underachievement by the standards they have set, but finishing the campaign with a convincing performance could at least offer a psychological boost heading into the summer.
This final-day clash will also mark the end of an era for both clubs in terms of long-serving players. Fulham’s Tom Cairney, now a decade into his spell with the club, could be making his last appearance in black and white. The midfielder’s equaliser at Brentford last weekend was his fifth successive club goal to arrive in the second half, a testament to his continued ability to impact matches. Cairney has become synonymous with Fulham’s rise over the past ten years, and a strong performance here would be a fitting farewell should he move on.
Over in the City camp, Kevin De Bruyne is also set to wave goodbye to the Premier League. After ten glittering years with Manchester City, the Belgian playmaker will be departing the club in the summer. While De Bruyne has remained a creative force in his final season, he has yet to score an away league goal in 2023/24. There would be no better way to sign off than breaking that duck at Craven Cottage.
Guardiola’s men will hope to continue their trend of dominant final-day performances. They’ve won nine of their last 11 Premier League season finales (D1, L1), and last year, they crushed Fulham 4-0 at this venue. City have also been particularly ruthless in London this season, winning five of their seven league visits to the capital (L2) and scoring at least twice in each of those victories.
Key Players to Watch
Tom Cairney (Fulham)
With speculation mounting about his future, the Fulham captain will look to go out on a high.
A fan favourite and influential figure in the dressing room, Cairney’s knack for second-half goals and experience could prove crucial in what is likely to be an emotionally charged afternoon for the Cottagers.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Set to make his final Premier League appearance for City, the midfield maestro has been central to the club’s golden era.
Though he hasn’t found the net on the road this season, his creativity and leadership will be vital as City look to close out the campaign in style.
Tactical Outlook
Fulham are likely to stay compact and seek opportunities on the break, exploiting wide areas with the pace of their wingers and overlapping full-backs. However, their record against the league’s elite this season suggests they’ll need to be near-perfect defensively to withstand City’s attacking machine.
Guardiola, meanwhile, is unlikely to take any chances in terms of rotation despite their UCL qualification being nearly secured. He will want a clinical, dominant performance to put a positive full stop on what has been a slightly underwhelming season by their lofty standards.
Hot Stat
None of Fulham’s last nine matches have been goalless at half-time — suggesting we’re likely to see some first-half action in what should be an open and entertaining encounter.
Prediction
Fulham will put up a fight, and emotions will run high, but City’s experience and firepower should prove too much to handle. Expect a professional job from the visitors and a memorable send-off for some departing stars.
Fulham 1-3 Manchester City
For more info on this game, you may also visit:
Fulham v Man City, 2024/25 | Premier League