Manchester City vs Fulham: Match preview

Stadium: Etihad Stadium

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Kick-off: 8:30 PM (IST), Saturday, 19th of January

The visit of Fulham presents Roberto Mancini’s men with their first chance in weeks to get closer to Manchester United than the seven point gap which has been maintained since around the Christmas period. With the league leaders scheduled to play Tottenham tomorrow, City can at least temporarily, get within four points of United and put them under considerable pressure for the visit to White Hart Lane. The threat to City’s own position, from Chelsea, has considerably dimmed after the Saints earned a 2 – 2 draw at Stamford Bridge, with 6 points separating the second placed club from the third.

Fulham, on the other hand, have had a dramatic collapse from their early season positioning in the table, having recorded just two wins in their last 14 league games and are perched precariously in thirteenth place, just 6 points above the drop zone. The rumours floating around regarding Martin Jol no longer being a welcome presence around the club have only served to add a sense of gloom to the London club.

Form

Manchester City: L W W W W

Manchester City have recovered well from their shock loss to Sunderland, and former player Adam Johnson, by recording four straight victories. Having survived a real scare from Norwich in a 4 – 3 win, City have gone on to keep a clean sheet in each of their last three games, scoring 8 goals themselves in the process. Thus, with Aguero having recovered from his second knock of the season, City look in peak form and well prepared to make a push for the league title at the business end of the season. With the best defensive record in the league at the moment, City have also managed to close the gap on United in terms of goal difference, and now lag by just three, with a healthy +24 against their name.

Fulham: L W D D W

Going forward, Fulham have had no real problems as such, with their strike force mustering at least one goal in eight of their last nine fixtures in all competitions. The real problem has been their defence, which hasn’t kept a clean sheet since November, for ten games running. In fact, although there are teams which have conceded even more, Fulham have conceded 38 which is even more than bottom placed QPR, who have let in 36 goals this season. Against a Manchester City attack, which is in as fine form as it is at the moment, there could be much damage inflicted upon Fulham, unless they put in a vastly improved performance.

Injuries, Concerns and Suspensions

Manchester City: Maicon, Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Abdul Razak.

Fulham: Mahamadou Diarra, Kerim Frei, Bryan Ruiz, Mladen Petric, Philippe Senderos.

Key Players

Carlos Tevez

The Argentinian striker had a fine outing last time out, bagging himself an assist or two, depending on the way you look at things, and a solid performance overall. With countryman Aguero unlikely to be risked over the full 90 minutes, Tevez may well get a place on the starting lineup yet again. If he does, expect him to add to his current tally of 7 goals, which he would feel, is below what is expected of a man of his class, at least on the football pitch.

Giorgios Karagounis

The combative veteran midfielder from Greece has slowly been working his way into the Fulham first team, and scored his first league goal for the Cottagers last weekend, against Wigan. While he has the potential to implode and cause more harm to his own side than anybody else, his style of hatchet man play might be just what Fulham need to contain the skillful likes of David Silva from causing mayhem in midfield.

What to expect

A reasonably comfortable outing for the sky blues. Manchester City are too good a team, and have been in too good form to roll over and die against the visitors. In fact, the opposite is very likely to be the case, as Fulham have rarely displayed any real grit or determination since their goalless draw against Chelsea back in November. Over to Manchester United to reestablish the gap, then.