Fulham and Bournemouth meet at Craven Cottage this Sunday afternoon, with both teams aiming to sustain their strong Premier League campaigns. Fulham, currently eighth, are just five points off the top four following a dramatic 2-1 win against Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth, sitting in sixth place, are riding a six-match unbeaten run, underlining their credentials for European contention come May.
Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players, but their recent form suggests a closely contested encounter is on the cards. Fulham’s home advantage, coupled with Bournemouth’s strong away record, adds further intrigue to this clash.
Fulham will once again be without Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson, and Harrison Reed due to injuries. Emile Smith Rowe remains doubtful, and Sander Berge faces a race against time to recover from an ankle problem.
Manager Marco Silva is likely to stick with the core squad that secured victory over Chelsea, with Raul Jimenez and Adama Traoré expected to lead the attack.
Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz, impactful substitutes against Chelsea, may remain on the bench, offering attacking options later in the game. Fulham’s defence, anchored by Issa Diop and Joachim Andersen, will be key to containing Bournemouth’s dynamic forwards.
Leno; Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Traore, Pereira, Lukic, Iwobi, Robinson; Jimenez
Here is how the side last lined up
Bournemouth have injury concerns of their own, with Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra, Marcus Tavernier, and Adam Smith all sidelined.
Justin Kluivert is suspended, opening a spot for Philip Billing to return to the starting XI. Evanilson is likely to start in attack after coming off the bench in their goalless draw with Crystal Palace.
Max Aarons and Ryan Christie are expected to retain their places, with head coach Andoni Iraola favouring continuity in his defensive and midfield setups.
Kepa; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Billing, Ouattara; Evanilson
Here is how the side last lined up
