Man City vs Fulham prediction, team news and odds as City chase Arsenal

Manchester City host Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night as they look to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal - here's the team news, prediction and odds

Lifted by their dramatic triumph at Anfield, Manchester City will aim to intensify the pressure on Premier League title contenders Arsenal when they welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening. This fixture arrives just over two months after the two teams produced an entertaining nine-goal thriller at Craven Cottage, which City narrowly won 5-4.

City were mere minutes from witnessing their title aspirations virtually extinguished and dropping nine points behind Arsenal, but Pep Guardiola's squad demonstrated their championship credentials by recovering from a deficit to claim a vital 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Bernardo Silva's 84th-minute leveller and Erling Haaland's stoppage-time spot-kick transformed the contest, reducing the deficit at the summit to six points.

Success against Fulham would enable City to move to within three points of Arsenal ahead of the Gunners' trip to face an in-form Brentford outfit on Thursday.

Getting back to the Etihad will provide a welcome lift for Guardiola's charges, who have collected 44 points from a potential 51 across their previous 17 Premier League home fixtures and remain undefeated in their last 11 home league outings. Only Sunderland, with a 12-match sequence, currently possess a longer unbeaten home run.

City possess every justification for optimism, having triumphed in each of their previous 19 encounters with Fulham across all competitions and all of their past 16 Premier League clashes with the Cottagers - both records represent the longest winning sequences one English league side has ever achieved against another. Moreover, City remain undefeated in their past 55 Premier League home fixtures played on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (47 victories, 8 draws), a run extending back to a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in May 2010.

Fulham, by contrast, are amongst several sides pursuing European qualification as the campaign enters its concluding third, but a spell of three losses in their previous four matches has damaged their top-seven aspirations. The Cottagers secured a 2-1 victory over Brighton, positioned between narrow defeats to Leeds and Manchester United, before relinquishing a lead to lose 2-1 at home to Everton last weekend - an own goal from Bernd Leno confirming their 11th loss of the campaign.

Manager Marco Silva voiced disappointment over his team's insufficient sharpness and their failure to sustain their first-half superiority against Everton, bemoaning that Fulham "stopped playing" in the second period. Consequently, Fulham have dropped to 10th in the standings, four points behind seventh-placed Brentford.

A swift return to winning ways will prove challenging for Fulham, who have secured just three victories from their 44 Premier League away fixtures against sides positioned in the top three at kick-off - those uncommon triumphs arriving against Manchester United in 2003, Spurs in 2013, and Chelsea in December 2024.

Marco Silva's individual record against Manchester City provides scant hope, having lost all 13 of his top-flight meetings with them - the highest number of matches any manager has lost against a single opponent without ever winning. Fulham have also suffered defeat in their last eight league trips to the Etihad, shipping 25 goals during that sequence, although it's noteworthy that three of their four Premier League victories over City have occurred in Manchester.

Man City vs Fulham Odds

No shocks in this fixture as City enter this match as the bookmakers' favourites, with William Hill offering Guardiola's side at 4/11 odds-on to claim all three points and preserve their dominant head-to-head record against Fulham. By contrast, the visitors are priced at 13/2 to halt that sequence at the Etihad Stadium, whilst a draw stands at 4/1 as well.

Man City vs Fulham Team News Manchester City continue to be without Jeremy Doku (calf), Savinho (undisclosed), John Stones (fitness), Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture), and Mateo Kovacic (ankle/heel), with all five players remaining unavailable. Abdukodir Khusanov will undergo assessment after being withdrawn for concussion protocol during the Liverpool fixture.

Should Khusanov receive clearance, he's anticipated to line up alongside Marc Guehi at centre-back, though Pep Guardiola may choose to restore Ruben Dias to the starting XI following his substitute appearance last time out, after an eight-match injury lay-off.

Erling Haaland possesses an outstanding record against Fulham, having been involved in 10 goals across just seven Premier League encounters with them (seven goals, three assists). He could receive support up front from Antoine Semenyo, who has contributed directly to five goals in his previous three league matches against the Cottagers (three goals, two assists), including a brace and an assist in Bournemouth's 3-1 victory earlier this season.

Both Semenyo and Omar Marmoush started alongside Haaland against Liverpool, but Guardiola may contemplate bringing back Rayan Cherki or Phil Foden for Wednesday's fixture. Foden, significantly, netted twice in City's recent 5-4 triumph at Craven Cottage.

For Fulham, Sasa Lukic is still sidelined with a thigh injury, whilst captain Tom Cairney remains unavailable due to a calf issue that ruled him out of the Everton loss. Manager Marco Silva may consider reshuffling his back line, with Kenny Tete, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson all contenders to replace Timothy Castagne, Jorge Cuenca, and Ryan Sessegnon, respectively.

January acquisition Oscar Bobb, who arrived at Fulham from Manchester City for a reported £27 million, came off the bench for his debut against Everton. Whilst the Norwegian winger is unlikely to replace top scorer Harry Wilson—who has found the net nine times this season—he could offer competition for Samuel Chukwueze's spot in the starting line-up.

Man City vs Fulham Prediction

• Man City to win to nil - 6/4 (William Hill)
• Man City over 2.5 goals - 6/5 (William Hill)
• Erling Haaland to score anytime - 2/5 (William Hill)

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