Can high-flying Fulham deliver another blow to Man City's title bid?

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 7.

Team analysis - Fulham 

Fulham will head to Manchester City with plenty of self-belief, having matched their highest ever points tally of 11 after six Premier League matches, which leaves them sixth in the table.

The top six

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Liverpool LIV	15	+18	36
2	Chelsea CHE	16	+18	34
3	Arsenal ARS	16	+14	30
4	Nott'm Forest NFO	16	+2	28
5	Man City MCI	16	+5	27
6	Bournemouth BOU	16	+3	25

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Their success so far, claiming three wins and two draws, has been built around a well-organised defence which has conceded just five league goals this season.

Summer signing Joachim Andersen has formed a promising centre-back partnership with Calvin Bassey, while Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete have been two of the league's most impressive full-backs.

A 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last time out produced Fulham’s first clean sheet of the campaign, but tellingly they are yet to concede more than once in a match.

Maintaining that record after a trip to the home of the champions will not be easy, but Marco Silva’s men will be up for the challenge against a Man City side who have drawn their last two matches and been overtaken at the top.

MCI

3-2

FUL

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Keeping opponents at bay

Silva, who has been nominated for September's Barclays Manager of the Month award, has enjoyed the luxury of a settled starting XI, with nine players starting all six matches to date.

As a collective they are working incredibly hard for him, with just two Premier League sides covering more ground than his players.

This industry has certainly helped them produce some terrific defensive numbers, despite Silva selecting Sasa Lukic as the sole defensive midfielder, with the more offensive Andreas Pereira alongside him.

Fulham are well-drilled and focused in their determination to stop opponents entering Bernd Leno’s penalty area, protecting their goalkeeper superbly.

Remarkably, Man City are the only team to have limited their opponents to fewer touches inside their own box.

Fewest opp. touches in the box 2024/25

That resolute defensive action has understandably restricted opponents to very few clear-cut opportunities, with the average Expected Goals (xG) figure for a shot against Fulham standing at just 0.09.

Only Arsenal, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest can better that.

No team have faced fewer big chances than Fulham, with just Tottenham Hotspur matching their tally of eight.

In fact, the Cottagers have only allowed their opponents to have a total of four big chances in the last five matches. The other four came in their opening-weekend 1-0 loss at Manchester United.

Fewest big chances faced 2024/25

Tete and Robinson have barely put a foot wrong during the early stages of 2024/25.

USA international Robinson is always a bundle of energy down Fulham’s left flank, snapping into challenges. He has won more tackles than any other Premier League player this season, with 16.

When you consider how much he offers going forward, delivering seven successful crosses in open play from 18 attempts, his value to the team is clear.

Meanwhile, Tete has featured in every minute for Fulham so far this season, having made only 10 league starts in 2023/24.

The 28-year-old Dutchman has justified his head coach's faith in him with a string of solid displays.

His tenacity and reading of the game has stood out in the early weeks of this campaign, and his 13 interceptions put him third in the Premier League in that department.

The central pair in Fulham's back four, Andersen and Bassey, are also defending extremely well. They have made a combined 54 clearances and eight blocks so far.

On the ball, they start a lot of attacks by delivering successful long passes into the opposition half - Andersen has completed 21 and Bassey 16.

Attacking talents revitalised

Further up the pitch, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez are both thriving in Silva's attack at Craven Cottage.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers duo struggled to make much of an impact for large periods last campaign, but the pair are looking sharp right now.

Jimenez has three goals in three starts, with his touch, turn and finish from Traore’s cross at home to Newcastle United highlighting his finishing capabilities.

Jimenez's goal v Newcastle

Traore has also increased his productivity for Fulham across the last few weeks.

The Spanish winger is offering plenty besides his outstanding pace, scoring one goal - by volleying home from a Robinson cross at Ipswich Town - and assisting twice this season. 

Traore's goal v Ipswich

A standout feature of Traore’s play in 2024/25 has been his long ball carries from outside to inside, angled towards the goal.

Below, from the 1-1 draw with West Ham United, is a terrific example of how Fulham are trying to exploit his electric speed by asking him to attack spaces that open up in central areas.

From this third-man run, with the ball laid back by Jimenez, Traore raced through before having a strong claim for a penalty.

Traore has created 10 chances so far this season. He has also won 49 duels - the second-highest figure in the league - and has travelled 1,220m with the ball.

The nature of his long ball carries in 2024/25 can be seen in the graphic below.

Fulham forwards have hurt City before

On Saturday, it will be just one day short of five years since Jimenez and Traore combined to defeat Man City in a famous 2-0 victory for Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.

Jimenez provided two stellar assists for Traore to score a brilliant counter-attacking brace that day, and Fulham will be hoping the duo can repeat that performance.

Jimenez's assists for Traore v Man City

With City often vulnerable to fast breaks, especially at home, Fulham certainly have players who can cause them issues.

In truth, Silva’s central midfield looks a little light of defensive stability, but the Portuguese boss will trust his in-form back four to handle the pressure.

With City dropping points in their last two matches, coupled with Fulham's strong start, this has the potential to be one of the weekend's most fascinating fixtures.

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