Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Fulham vs Manchester City
Kickoff Time: 2025-12-03 03:30 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
Fulham has recently entered a rebound phase, first defeating the league’s “dark horse” Sunderland, then beating Tottenham Hotspur, who is involved in European competition, securing two consecutive wins. Currently, Fulham has scored 15 goals and conceded 17, making them the team with the most goals scored and the fewest conceded among the bottom six relegation contenders. In the last league match, Fulham utilized an efficient counter-attacking strategy, taking a 2-0 lead as early as the sixth minute. They then voluntarily relinquished possession and focused on defense, ultimately securing the victory. Statistically, Fulham’s strength lies in their midfield, averaging 12.8 fouls per game, ranking second in the league. This shows that Fulham excels at disrupting opponents’ offensive rhythm through foul tactics, which is also the main reason they were able to defeat Tottenham. However, the team does have weaknesses. Due to a lack of creativity among the players, when facing skill-oriented teams, Fulham’s midfield often loses control, making it difficult to launch effective counter-attacks.
Manchester City is currently five points behind the league leaders, Arsenal, and remain strong contenders for the league title. In the last league match, winger Phil Foden regained his scoring form, netting a brace to help the team secure a 3-2 victory over Leeds United. Aside from Foden, the most standout performer in the team is Erling Haaland, who has scored 14 goals in 13 league matches and has now reached 99 Premier League goals. He is poised to potentially reach the 100-goal milestone in this match. This season, manager Josep Guardiola has adjusted the team’s recruitment strategy and tactical philosophy, shifting from endless possession and backward passes to simpler, more direct dribbling and breakthroughs. Manchester City no longer obsesses over controlling every phase of the game but instead adjust their strategy based on the opponent’s strength, demonstrating a more pragmatic approach. The current Manchester City side does not overwhelm opponents with sheer shot volume but rather prioritizes quality over quantity. This marks a transition from “quantity” to “precision,” maximizing the tactical value of Erling Haaland.
In the last 18 encounters between the two sides, Manchester City has recorded a full sweep of victories, holding a psychological advantage. With Manchester City’s tactical upgrades, the gap in strength between the two teams has further widened. For this match, it is believed that Manchester City can continue their winning streak and secure a comfortable victory.
Fulham‘s Last 5 Games: WWLWD
25-11-30 Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Fulham
25-11-22 Fulham 1-0 Sunderland
25-11-08 Everton 2-0 Fulham
25-11-01 Fulham 3-0 Wolves
25-10-29 Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Fulham (PEN 4-5)
Manchester City‘s Last 5 Games: WLLWW
25-11-29 Manchester City 3-2 Leeds United
25-11-26 Manchester City 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
25-11-23 Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City
25-11-10 Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool
25-11-06 Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund
Head-To-Head Record
25-05-25 Fulham 0-2 Manchester City
24-10-05 Manchester City 3-2 Fulham
24-05-11 Fulham 0-4 Manchester City
23-09-02 Manchester City 5-1 Fulham
23-04-30 Fulham 1-2 Manchester City
Prediction: Manchester City to win