Fulham vs Manchester City — Match Preview
The Premier League action comes thick and fast as Fulham host champions Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night. Just 48 hours after their respective weekend fixtures, both teams face a brutal test of fitness and squad depth.
Marco Silva’s Fulham are flying high after a morale-boosting 2-1 away win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, a result that moved them five points clear of the relegation zone. However, fatigue will be a major concern for the Cottagers. Manchester City, sitting 2nd in the table, also endured a rollercoaster weekend, scraping past Leeds United 3-2 at the Etihad thanks to a late Phil Foden winner. With leaders Arsenal setting the pace, Pep Guardiola knows his side cannot afford another slip-up on the road following recent defeats to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Fulham vs Manchester City
- Competition: Premier League (Matchweek 14)
- Venue: Craven Cottage, London (Capacity: 29,589)
- Date: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 19:30 GMT / 20:30 CET / 01:00 IST (Wednesday)
- Referee: Craig Pawson
- VAR: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): Amazon Prime Video
- TV Channel (USA): Peacock Premium
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- Live Stream: Amazon Prime (UK), JioStar (India)
Fulham vs Manchester City — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Fulham:
- Position: 15th in Premier League (17 Points).
- Form: Resurgent. After a wobble against Everton, Fulham have won back-to-back games against Sunderland (1-0) and Tottenham (2-1).
- Current Challenge: The quick turnaround. Playing Sunday then Tuesday is a nightmare schedule. Marco Silva must decide whether to rotate his winning XI or risk fatigue against the champions.
Manchester City:
- Position: 2nd in Premier League (25 Points).
- Form: Shaky but Winning. The 3-2 win over Leeds halted a two-game losing streak (vs Newcastle and Leverkusen), but defensive cracks remain visible. They have conceded 6 goals in their last 3 games.
- Current Challenge: Away form. City have looked vulnerable on the road recently, and Craven Cottage is a tight, intense ground under the lights.
Fulham vs Manchester City — What’s at Stake
For Fulham:
- Mid-Table Comfort: A shock win here would take them to 20 points, potentially vaulting them as high as 11th and completely dispelling any lingering relegation fears.
For Manchester City:
- Title Chase: Trailing Arsenal by 4 points, City are in chase mode. Dropping points here could allow the Gunners to widen the gap to a dangerous margin before Christmas.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Team Form
Fulham (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Tottenham (2-1)
- W vs Sunderland (1-0)
- L vs Everton (0-2)
- W vs Wolves (3-0)
- W vs Wycombe (2-1 – EFL)
Manchester City (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Leeds United (3-2)
- L vs Bayer Leverkusen (0-2 – CL)
- L vs Newcastle (1-2)
- W vs Liverpool (3-0)
- W vs Dortmund (4-1 – CL)
Fulham vs Manchester City — Team News
Fulham:
- Antonee Robinson: Out (Knee Injury – Ryan Sessegnon or Timothy Castagne will deputize at LB).
- Rodrigo Muniz: Out (Hamstring Injury – A blow to their physical presence upfront).
- Raúl Jiménez: Expected to lead the line after his tireless shift against Spurs.
- Emile Smith Rowe: Likely to return to the starting XI if Silva rotates his midfield.
Manchester City:
- Rodri: Out (Thigh Injury – Still not fit, leaving a hole in midfield).
- Mateo Kovacic: Out (Heel Injury – Long-term absentee).
- Phil Foden: The hero against Leeds (2 goals) might be rested or used off the bench due to the 48-hour gap.
- Kevin De Bruyne: Likely to start after managing his minutes against Leeds.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Head to Head
- 25 May 2025: Fulham 0–2 Man City
- 05 Oct 2024: Man City 3–2 Fulham
- 11 May 2024: Fulham 0–4 Man City
- 02 Sep 2023: Man City 5–1 Fulham
- 30 Apr 2023: Fulham 1–2 Man City
- Analysis: City have won the last 16 meetings against Fulham. It is one of the most one-sided fixtures in English football history.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Predicted Lineups
Fulham (4-2-3-1):
Silva rotates slightly to keep energy high. Castagne comes in for Robinson.
- GK: Bernd Leno
- RB: Kenny Tete
- CB: Joachim Andersen
- CB: Calvin Bassey
- LB: Timothy Castagne
- CDM: Sander Berge
- CDM: Sasa Lukic
- RW: Alex Iwobi
- CAM: Andreas Pereira (C)
- LW: Harry Wilson (Fresh off his goal vs Spurs)
- ST: Raúl Jiménez
Manchester City (4-1-4-1):
Guardiola is forced to rotate. Lewis and Nunes bring fresh legs.
- GK: Ederson
- RB: Rico Lewis
- CB: Manuel Akanji
- CB: Rúben Dias (C)
- LB: Joško Gvardiol
- CDM: Ilkay Gündogan
- RM: Savinho
- CM: Matheus Nunes
- CM: Kevin De Bruyne
- LM: Jack Grealish
- ST: Erling Haaland
Fulham vs Manchester City — Impact Bench Options
Fulham:
- Adama Traoré: The ultimate chaos factor. If City are leading and leaving space, Adama’s pace in the last 20 mins is Fulham’s best weapon.
- Reiss Nelson: Offers technical quality and speed if Wilson tires.
Manchester City:
- Phil Foden: If the game is tight, bringing on the man who scored a brace on Saturday is a luxury few teams have.
- Bernardo Silva: Can come on to kill the game with his ball retention.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Tactical Outlook
Fulham:
- Playing Style: Compact Counter. Fulham cannot go toe-to-toe with City on possession. They will sit in a 4-4-1-1 block, frustrating City’s midfield, and look to release Iwobi and Wilson quickly. With Robinson out, their left side is less dynamic, so expect attacks to focus down the right.
- Weakness: Set Pieces. City are physically imposing (Dias, Haaland, Gvardiol). Fulham must avoid giving away cheap corners.
Manchester City:
- Playing Style: Control & Cutbacks. Without Rodri, City are slightly more vulnerable to counters, so they will keep the ball to defend. Expect Grealish and Savinho to hold width, stretching Fulham’s defense to create gaps for Haaland or De Bruyne arriving late.
- Strength: Haaland’s Movement. Fulham’s center-backs (Andersen/Bassey) are aggressive. If they get too tight, Haaland will spin them in behind.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Timothy Castagne vs. Savinho | Speed Test: Castagne is playing on his unnatural left side. Savinho will look to cut inside or beat him for pace all night. | Man City |
| Sander Berge vs. Kevin De Bruyne | The Engine Room: Berge is huge and physical. He needs to impose himself on KDB. If De Bruyne finds space, he wins the game. | Man City |
| Raúl Jiménez vs. Rúben Dias | Veteran Duel: Jiménez is crafty and good in the air. Dias loves a physical battle. This will be a scrap. | Man City |
Fulham vs Manchester City — Spotlight Players
Bernd Leno (Fulham):
The German goalkeeper is one of the best shot-stoppers in the league. Against City, he will face 20+ shots. He needs a “Man of the Match” performance to keep Fulham in the game.
Matheus Nunes (Manchester City):
With Kovacic and Rodri out, Nunes has a huge responsibility. He was excellent against Leeds in carrying the ball. He needs to drive City forward and break Fulham’s lines with his running.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Fan Reactions
Fulham Fans:
“Two wins in a row feels amazing! Beating City is a massive ask, but the Cottage under the lights is special.”
“No Robinson is a worry against Savinho. We need to double up on the wings.”
Man City Fans:
” Leeds was too close for comfort. We need a clean sheet and a professional win.”
“Haaland needs service. Hopefully KDB starts and feeds him properly.”
Fulham vs Manchester City — Match-Defining Factors
- Fatigue Management: Both teams played intense games on the weekend. The team that manages their energy levels better in the final 15 minutes will win.
- City’s Defensive Focus: City have leaked goals recently (Leeds, Newcastle, Leverkusen). If Fulham score first, anxiety could creep into Guardiola’s side.
- The Referee: Craig Pawson lets the game flow. This favors City’s rhythm but also allows Fulham to be physical in the tackle.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Prediction
Score Prediction: Fulham 1–3 Manchester City
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Manchester City to Win.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (City’s defense is leaky; Fulham are scoring).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Erling Haaland (He has a brilliant record against Fulham).
Analysis: Fulham are in great form, but Manchester City are a different beast. Even with a quick turnaround, City’s squad depth allows them to rotate quality players like Grealish and Lewis. Fulham’s winning streak likely ends here, simply due to the relentless quality of the champions.
Fulham vs Manchester City — Final Word
Fulham have nothing to lose and enter this game with confidence, making them dangerous. However, Manchester City are in title-chasing mode. History suggests this is City’s favorite fixture, and despite their recent defensive wobbles, their firepower should be enough to secure a vital three points in London.
Fulham vs Manchester City — FAQs
When is the Fulham vs Man City match?
The match kicks off on Tuesday, 02 December 2025, at 19:30 GMT (Wednesday 01:00 IST).
Is Antonee Robinson playing?
No, Antonee Robinson is out with a knee injury.
Who is the referee?
Craig Pawson will officiate the match.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Star Sports Select 1 and stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
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