Fulham

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on former England striker Jermain Defoe.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Manchester United keep on winning - Sunday's success at Luton was their fifth in a row in all competitions - and I'm pleased to see Rasmus Hojlund has carried on scoring too.

Fulham were very unlucky to lose to United at Craven Cottage in November, but their away form is not the best. They have only won once away in the league all season, against Everton on the opening weekend.

I don't think this will be easy for United, because Fulham are a dangerous counter-attacking team, but Erik ten Hag's team are playing with more freedom at the moment, which is why I think they will win.

Jermain's prediction: 2-1

Read all of Sutton's predictions for this weekend's games

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Manchester United and Fulham in the Premier League.

• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League games against Fulham (W13 D3), since a 3-0 away loss in December 2009.

• After a run of two wins in eight Premier League games in December and January (D2 L4), Manchester United have won all four so far in February. They last had a 100% win rate in a month in which they played five or more Premier League games in January 2009.

• Fulham have won just 24% of their Premier League away points this season (7 out of a possible 29), the lowest ratio in the division. Since beating Everton in their opening game of the season, the Cottagers are without a win in 11 games on the road (D4 L7).

• Rasmus Hojlund has scored in each of his last six Premier League appearances. The only Manchester United player to score in more consecutive games in the competition is Ruud van Nistelrooy (a run of 10 games in 2003 and eight games in 2001-02).

• Rodrigo Muniz has scored in each of his last three Premier League games, netting four of Fulham’s six goals in total. Before this run, he had gone 23 league games without a goal for the Cottagers and former club Middlesbrough.

Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Fulham's match against Manchester United on Saturday.

Here are some of the main lines from his news conference:

• On team news, Silva said: "We're assessing Willian. Apart from Raul [Jimenez], everyone should be available. [Armando] Broja wasn't well for the last match but he’s ok."

• On January loan signing Broja, Silva said: "He's working hard. Different clubs have different styles [of play]. It takes time to adapt and we can see his quality on the training pitch."

• On Rodrigo Muniz's form: "Rodrigo got his chance and stepped in and showed his quality. He's had spells in the season where he hasn't scored, or injuries have stopped his run, but now he's playing well and I’m really happy for him."

• On the possibility of playing Broja and Muniz together as a strike partnership, Silva said: "Right now it's not something we are using. We are not starting normal games with two strikers."

• On opponents United, Silva said: "They are more confident, if you look at them they are achieving so many good results home and away. They have top players who can decide a game in any moment. It's going to be a challenging one for us but we are ready to fight for the three points."

• On being without suspended midfielder Joao Palhinha at Old Trafford, Silva said: "We are definitely stronger with all the players available, but it's not the moment to talk about Joao. The chance is going to be there for someone to take and I hope that the player can come in and can show quality."

Joining a new club can be really difficult and it's not always easy to get off to a flying start.

I had this situation when I joined Fulham. In the first couple of games I got an injury, I came back and then I got a red card. It was a three-match ban and then when I came back again I had another little bit of a hamstring injury and I remember just thinking 'this has turned into a disaster', I was hardly playing any games.

However, I had Chris Coleman as my manager and he was sensational. I couldn't have asked for somebody better at the right time to put his arm around me and saying, 'we'll get there, I've got the belief in you'. I thought that was really good of him and that is what helped me through. He said, 'don't worry, I've got you. You're going to be my captain, you're going to be a real leader in this team' and that's what I did.

Even though you still train every day, you know you're letting him down and you're letting yourself down when you're not playing so well, you get niggles and you get sent off. But then my career went well enough at Fulham in the end, I played lots of games, had some great results and we had a great time.

In the end it was short lived and Coleman got sacked. That's one thing I think Fulham shouldn't have done. We got through the difficult situation that we were in and that changed me. That is one of my regrets in that Fulham scenario when Coleman left.

We talk about managers these days changing minds and just leaving, but that was one I didn't want to see go out the door and I think it had a big effect on everybody at the football club. You saw the decline until Roy Hodgson came in and then eventually they did recover from it.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan says the club will consider offers that "make sense" for midfielder Joao Palhinha. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Sammy James
Fan writer

Saturday's defeat by Aston Villa was a bit of a bump back to Earth for Fulham after a decent little unbeaten streak. It was a tight game that was narrowly won by the better side. Ollie Watkins was ruthless with the two big chances that came his way.

For the first time in a very long time, Marco Silva had pretty much a full squad to choose from. Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, plus Tosin Adarabioyo and Kenny Tete were back in the squad too. However, they all started on the bench, presumably because Silva wanted to ease them in.

The key question for Silva now is whether to make a few big changes.

Bassey and Iwobi dramatically improved the side when they came on. I think it is time to bring both back into the starting XI. I also think Tosin and Tete deserve a chance to start as well. It might be a bit bold to make so many changes at once, but I think arguably they all improve the line-up when fit.

The one player who I would not change just yet, though, is Rodrigo Muniz, who continues to impress up front. He has scored in every league game in February so far. If he can bag again against Manchester United, he will surely be in the running for the Premier League's player of the month award.

His transformation this month has been brilliant to see and the goal he scored on Saturday was a real poacher's finish. I really hope he can continue his scoring touch in the upcoming matches.

Sammy James can be found at Fulhamish, external

Gareth Southgate is monitoring Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed before next month's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. (Mail), external

Want more football gossip? Read Tuesday's full column

We asked you for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League match between Fulham and Aston Villa. Here are some of your comments...

Fulham fans

Alex: Fulham were very slow in the first half, not creating enough chances. However, the second half was much better after we introduced Iwobi. Not very happy with the referee's decisions but not much more that we could do. Unlucky.

Bob: We have so many shots on goal in some games but we can't finish. It's good that Muniz is scoring but we have got to be better in front of goal. Where was Broja? Harry Wilson came on and livened things up as he does. Surely early substitutions would benefit as we now have a big number to choose from? Not out of the woods yet - we need to push on.

David: Once again conceded a game by giving away soft goals, especially the first one. Good to see Muniz continue his scoring run and Iwobi looked good after returning from Afcon. Referee was poor on his Premier League debut.

Aston Villa fans

Mark: This was the most important win of the season. After the two injuries this week and an undeserved defeat last weekend, Villa have shown tremendous character to bounce back.

Kam: Much needed three points after the last game. However, we still need to be more ruthless - we should have been three or four up - but lots of good chances again, which is a positive. The Premier League is tough. It was a little bit nervy towards the end, but we dug in and got the three points. UTV.

Ed: The game should have been done and dusted after an hour or so. Moreno goal controversially offside and a clear penalty not given our way. The ref had a stinker of a game. Some of the time wasting I don’t agree with, though. We should have enough grit and determination to see a game out rather than having to resort to silly antics.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League matches.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Burnley v Arsenal

Man City v Chelsea

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

For the first hour at Craven Cottage, Fulham looked sloppy.

For the final 30 minutes they were superb.

Let's start with the positives. The Cottagers seem to have a real gem in Rodrigo Muniz who netted his fourth goal in three games and looked a threat throughout.

After he reduced the deficit to one, Fulham poured forward. Only two fine, late saves from Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez kept the hosts behind.

As for the bad news, defensively, Fulham were very poor.

Antonee Robinson's throw-in put Willian in a world of danger and Villa were able to break forward to score their opener.

The second goal came from Fulham's centre-backs backing off and leaving Ollie Watkins in acres of space to fire into the net.

"We were punished by the mistakes we made," Fulham boss Marco Silva admitted to BBC Match of the Day after the match.

"We cannot concede goals the way we did it. We were too sloppy, we were too open in those moments. They score and punish us."

It seems Fulham, who are away to Manchester United in their next match, will be doing defensive drills in training next week.

Marco Silva on BBC Match of the Day after Fulham's defeat to Aston Villa: "The reaction was there, the desire to go again. The 2-1 lifted ourselves and was an important moment. After that we had our chances to equalise. unfortunately we didn't.

"We were punished by the mistakes we made. We cannot concede goals the way we did it. We were too sloppy, we were too open in those moments. They score and punish us.

"Even so we kept believing and forced a goal. We lifted ourselves and the last 20 minutes was everything for Fulham. We pushed them back. We created one-on-one situations. Clear chances to equalises the game and unfortunately we didn't.

"We did not achieve the result we wanted, which I really think we deserved for the reaction we did.

"The players are on the pitch and have to make decisions. Sometimes they are at a very good level, sometimes they are not. We have to work with them and have to improve."

On Rodrigo Muniz, Silva added: "He is a young lad, but he is a young lad who is improving and learning. I really believe he is going to be better and better, game by game. He has the skills to work with and improve. He is scoring goals which is always important for a striker."

• Aston Villa have won their last 10 Premier League games against teams from London, beating Fulham three times in that run, with only Liverpool between March 2019 and June 2020 managing a longer streak in top-flight history (11).

• Fulham suffered just their second home Premier League defeat in their last eight games (W5 D1), and their first in four, since losing 0-2 to Burnley in December.

• In his first 50 Premier League games in charge of Aston Villa, Unai Emery has accrued 30 wins and 98 points (D8 L12), five more victories and nine more points than any other Villa manager in that milestone.

• Only Dwight Yorke in 1995-96 has registered more goal involvements in a Premier League season for Aston Villa (27) than Ollie Watkins in 2023-24 (23, 13 goals, 10 assists).

• Fulham winger Adama Traore made his 200th appearance in the Premier League (157 for Wolves, 27 for Middlesbrough, 10 for Aston Villa, 6 for Fulham), the 11th different Spaniard to do so and the first since Ayoze Pérez in May 2021.

Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa bounced back to winning ways with a narrow victory at Fulham in the Premier League.

Jacob Ramsey pinched the ball off Willian after a poor throw-in from Antonee Robinson and set up Watkins who slotted Villa into a 23rd-minute lead.

And the England forward deservedly doubled his tally when he buried Youri Tielemans' through-ball just after the restart.

The hosts were gifted a way back into the match as Rodrigo Muniz capitalised on a mix-up between Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez and defender Clement Lenglet.

But Unai Emery's side were ultimately able to hold on, having lost their previous two matches.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

Fulham fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Villa fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

There are seven games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times are GMT

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on rapper Songer, who is a Chelsea fan.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Boubacar Kamara's injury is a serious setback for Aston Villa and, with Fulham usually strong at home, this is a difficult game for Unai Emery's side.

It feels like Villa have to win this, with Tottenham and Manchester United both hitting form in the race for the top four.

But Fulham have started scoring again, with Rodrigo Muniz getting two goals in their win over Bournemouth last week, and I feel like they will get something here as well.

Songer's prediction: 1-2

Villa played well against Manchester United last week, after Chelsea had given them a bit of a beating in the FA Cup a few days earlier. I love Unai Emery and Villa are a class team, so I'm going to back them here.

Read all of Sutton's predictions for this weekend's games

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League match at home to Aston Villa.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Silva confirmed Raul Jimenez is "going to be out for the next few weeks" but that "all the other players are going to be available".

• He is happy with his side's recent form: "[The mood] is really positive. We had a busy period in December and January. We are stronger now. When you have more of the squad available, it's good for competition."

• Silva said he is "really pleased" for striker Rodrigo Muniz who he says put in his "best performance in a Fulham shirt" during last weekend's win over Bournemouth: "When you have the chance, you have to pop up and take that chance and Rodrigo did."

• On the returning Alex Iwobi who played for losing Africa Cup of Nations finalists Nigeria: "He's very good mentally. Alex is a happy boy when he's on the pitch doing what he loves. If you lose a game, you lose a game together. They [Nigeria] did brilliantly until the final."

• He is pleased with the club's record at home: "People know what they're going to face when they come to Craven Cottage. The fans play a big part and we hope that, together, we can keep the same form at home."

• Silva is confident his team will apply themselves well against Villa: "We are going to be a really demanding team for them. I really believe that, and of course some of our players are in a really good individual moment too."

Follow the rest of Friday's Premier League news conferences

The key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Fulham and Aston Villa in the Premier League.

• Fulham have won six of their past nine home Premier League matches (D1 L2), scoring three or more goals in five of those wins. Indeed, the Cottagers have won all seven home Premier League games this season when scoring; last season, they scored in 15 home games but only won eight (53%, D4 L3).

• Aston Villa have won their past nine Premier League games against teams from London, beating Fulham twice in that run. In top-flight history, the only team to string together 10 consecutive wins against London sides were Liverpool between March 2019 and June 2020 (a run of 11).

• Since November 27th, only three teams have scored more Premier League goals than Fulham (23). By contrast, no side has failed to score in more games in the division in that time than the Cottagers (5, level with Sheffield United).

• Ollie Watkins has been directly involved in 18 goals in 23 away Premier League appearances for Aston Villa under Unai Emery (11 goals, 7 assists). He has also scored in five of his past six Premier League appearances in London (5 goals).

• Fulham have faced 46 shots in their past two home Premier League games (21 vs Everton, 25 vs Bournemouth), with that making up 33% of the shots they’ve faced on home soil this season (46/141). The last team to face more than 20 shots (21+) in three home games in a row in the Premier League were Norwich City between August 2019 and October 2019 (four in a row).

Image source, Reuters

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney spoke to the Footballer's Football Podcast about what he would consider to be success for the club this season:

"This is the second season out of the Championship, so we can't get carried away. I remember last season when we were seventh or sixth and people were talking about Europe and we were saying to slow down. This league can bite you if you get ahead of yourselves.

"If we get anywhere near the points tally of last season, which was Fulham's second-best ever season in the Premier League, then it will always be a successful season.

"I've always said staying in the Premier League is the biggest thing. We can't get ahead of ourselves because we lost our top scorer [Aleksandar Mitrovic] and you can't look past that really. Staying in the league, getting as close to last season's tally and take it from there. When I say staying in the Premier League, I don't mean on the last day of the season, I mean just being an established Premier League team.

"You have to look at examples like Brighton, we played them in the Championship in 2017 and they've not been down since. You would now consider Brighton an established Premier League club and we have to look at examples like that.

"In my lifetime, Fulham have always been a Premier League club; mid-table, nice football, always had top players like Dimitar Berbatov and Louis Saha. I don't mean Europe, I don't think our fans are that crazy and expect us to get in Europe, but I agree that fans always want more and so do we. Sustaining Premier League status is vital."

Listen to the full episode here

Sammy James
Fan writer

Saturday's win over Bournemouth was a huge relief to Fulham fans. While most outside observers already thought we were safe, a lot of us fans were nervously looking over our shoulders.

The next run of games is tough and we were a little close to the bottom three for our liking.

Saturday's hero was Rodrigo Muniz, who has gone from zero to three Premier League goals in just one week.

Muniz is well-liked. While many have questioned his ability, very few have ever questioned his passion and desire to make it at Fulham.

Last season's loan spell at Middlesbrough was a football disaster and the common thought was that if he cannott cut it in the Championship, there is no hope of him breaking through in the top flight.

Scoring a few goals does not constitute "making it" but Muniz has given Marco Silva a real headache. New loan striker Armando Broja is itching to play, and reportedly part of our agreement with Chelsea is that if Broja does not start at least 10 times, we have to pay the full £4m loan fee.

However, Silva is unlikely to drop a free-scoring striker, so Muniz will hope this is a conundrum that does not go away any time soon.

Sammy James can be found at Fulhamish, external

Fulham failed in an attempt to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller in January with the 29-year-old wanting to concentrate on the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast and unwilling to move mid-season. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We asked you for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League match between Fulham and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Maz: Finally we have got a result we fully deserved after the last two games where we dominated but only came away with one point from each. It’s nice to see Muniz getting a brace at home and a big shoutout to Tim [Ream] who was so solid in defence. As a team, we were immense. Bring on Villa.

Alex: A much better performance from Fulham and a great response from conceding. Muniz with two good goals, which is great for his confidence. An all-round good game from Fulham.

Luke: Fair play to Bournemouth - they came and attacked but we were far more ruthless. Muniz barely lost anything and Willian was a different class. No Tosin, Bassey or Iwobi either - shame we are too far off seventh to mount a challenge.

Chris: We totally deserved the victory. We’ve been playing well, without reward,.In this one, we got the reward

Bournemouth fans

Charl: Bournemouth look like they have reverted to last season’s debacle. There's no leadership on the field, poor passing, no ideas in front of goal and we are playing the ball backwards instead of building pressure. Tavernier, Christie, Faivre were poor, and why was Scott taken off? Enes Unal looks a great addition. Iraola, sort it out, you’re better than this!

Paul: I don’t really know what to say other than that was abysmal really. There was no cohesion and there were too many mistakes. It makes it worse that it was in front of the worst set of home fans I’ve ever witnessed. They barely sang a song and won 3-1!

Barry: Solanke needs to up his game. He gets lots of opportunities but he doesn't put many away. Look at his stats.

Tom: As ever, inadequate. Sorry, but we have got to win these ‘close’ matches. Five points dropped in the last two games.