Manchester City Vs Fulham: Time To Return To Winning Path

Striker Erling Haaland is again the first choice when Manchester City host Fulham in the English Premier League. (X/@ManCity)

JAKARTA - Manchester City have ambitions to break a bad record when facing its Fulham guests in the English Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Saturday, October 5, 2024 evening WIB. Man City's target is none other than to go to winning ways even though Fulham is ready to make a surprise at home to opponents.

Man City fluctuating results in various competitions. In the Champios League, Man City finally won their first win when they beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0. Previously, Pep Guardiola's team who played at home were only able to draw 0-0 against Inter Milan.

Man City's achievements in the Premier League were less convincing even though he was at the top of the standings. In the last two matches, The Cityzens were only able to draw against Arsenal (2-2) and Newcastle United (1-1).

Even when they hosted Arsenal, they almost lost if John Stones didn't save them, scoring just a few moments before the game ended.

But the draw in Newcstle made Man City lose position at the top of the standings. They were shifted by Liverpool who won 2-1 over Woverhampton Wanderers.

It's just that competition remains tight because Man City is ranked second with 14 points. They are only one point adrift with Liverpool. Man City himself has the same points as Arsenal, who are ranked third.

Man City has actually shown a revival when they visited Slovan Bratislava's headquarters. A four-goal victory through llkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and James McAtee became Man City's valuable capital to face its guests in the Premier League.

However, Man City still has to show that they are on the right track in domestic competitions. Victory is an absolute target to maintain competition with Liverpool, which now dominates the standings.

In the match against Fulham, Guardiola relied on the main squad again after backing them up. Man City certainly cannot be strengthened by main midfielder Rodri, who is injured by ACL and will miss until the end of the season.

In addition, Oscar Bobb suffered a fracture during training and Nathan Ake is still struggling with the muscle injury he suffered while strengthening the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League. Meanwhile, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has not been able to appear who is still injured.

However, Guardiola can still field the best team. Goalkeeper Ederson and defender Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis play again. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic replaces Rodri so Gundogan will sit on the bench. Midfielder duo Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish will support Erling Haaland.

Fulham is actually not Man City's light opponent. A stable performance made The Cottagers able to rank sixth by collecting 11 points.

Marco Silva's team started the competition with a loss to Manchester United. But Fulham managed to get up. Finally, the London club managed to beat Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. If Fulham can rank sixth, on the other hand MU will fall in 13th position with only seven points.

In that match, Silva maintained the core squad with Raul Jimenez to spearhead. Behind, defender quartets Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and Antonee Robinson. They fortify goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

In the middle there are Sanders Berge and Harrison Reed. Meanwhile, Adama Traore with Emile Smith Rowe, and Alex Iwobi support Jimenez.

Manchester City Lineup Forecast (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez