Fulham

Before this season, Crystal Palace's victory at Wembley would have tidied up the European qualification position within the Premier League.

However, England gaining a coveted European Performance Spot has added a layer of complication, which is why Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham fans should not give up hope of a Conference League place just yet.

Here is why.

Ordinarily, England gets four Champions League places, two in the Europa League, for the FA Cup winners and the fifth placed team and one in the Conference League for the Carabao Cup winners.

So far, so straightforward.

If the Carabao Cup winners qualify for one of the higher ranking European competitions, the Conference League spot goes to the next team down in the Premier League.

Just as Manchester United or Tottenham will qualify for the Champions League because one of them will win the Europa League after finishing outside the Champions League places, the same is also true for Chelsea if they win the Conference League and finish outside the Europa League places.

Still with me?

The complication comes through EPS. So, while fifth now gets you into the Champions League and sixth into the Europa League, for the purposes of competition qualification, the EPS situation doesn't count.

So, if Chelsea finish sixth and win the Conference League, without EPS, they would already be in the Conference League berth, so they go into the Europa League as Conference League winners and England would not take its Conference League place. With EPS added, instead of the sixth-placed team (Chelsea) qualifying for the Europa League through their league placing, because they are already in, the seventh-placed team benefits. So that would be three English teams in the Europa League and none in the Conference League.

By the same process, if Chelsea finish seventh and win the Conference League, without EPS, they would qualify for the Europa League despite being outside the European places, meaning three English teams in the Europa League – Chelsea, Palace and the fifth placed team – and one – the sixth-placed team – in the Conference League. With EPS added, everything drops down a place BUT as Chelsea are already in the Europa League, instead of the Conference League spot going to them after finishing seventh, it goes to the eighth placed team.

In other words, the teams battling for eighth need Chelsea to win the Conference League and to finish seventh.

I am looking at every game this week as the one that could make or break my chances of defending my predictions title but, whatever I say here, I know I'll be wrong because I've found Fulham almost impossible to call all season.

I was actually spot on with my prediction when they beat Brentford 2-1 in November, but only because Harry Wilson scored two injury-time goals.

On form, the Bees are favourites here after winning their past four games, but Fulham have the ability to beat anyone, and they also usually do the opposite of what I think.

Maybe I am best off going with a draw, because the opposite of that is still a draw.

On top of that, I think everyone else will go for a home win so this could be the result that makes the difference for me - I need it to, because my title is on the line after two successive seasons where I have triumphed.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "We have to keep working with them and assess Sasa (Lukic) and Jedi (Antonee Robinson). Sasa worked with us this morning, Robinson did yesterday. We will take a decision."

• Silva, despite being linked with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, reiterated that he is "completely focused" on Fulham and will remain with the team for at least "next season, simple as that".

• On his reaction to the defeat against Everton: "I was very angry at the end of the game, like our players were. It was a type of game we needed to win. We gave them the goals. Frustration gets bigger when this happens. We had all the control in the first half."

• Silva also stated that it is "impossible" to consider this season as a "failure" which is "not realistic" and believes the club has had a "very, very good season," and wants to give the fans something special on Sunday.

• On players contracts: "We have been working and planning. What we want to achieve as a target is very clear. The fans will have news soon. Kenny has been speaking with us for a long time already, Tom Cairney is the same situation. The club will sit down with the representatives. Willian and Vini ( Carlos Vinicius), we will speak with them soon."

• Silva also praised the belief the squad has and the faith especially by gaining points from losing positions throughout the season. Silva praised the "character" and it's up to them to find a way "to keep results for them."

• On Brentford: "It's always an emotional game. We know we are going to play against a very good side. Thomas has been there a long time. It's going to be a very good game in my opinion. They have quality, they have pace. Both teams like to be on the front foot."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney is a target for Championship-bound Wrexham, with the 34-year-old former Scotland international set to be offered a deal worth £50,000 a week when he leaves the Cottagers on a free transfer. (Talksport), external

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

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No side has dropped more points from winning positions than Fulham in the Premier League this season, with their 28 also their highest in a single campaign in the competition.

Brentford's Yoane Wissa and Fulham's Antonee Robinson (401 each) have made more off-the-ball runs into the final third than any other players in the Premier League this season. 189 of Robinson's runs into the final third have been overlapping runs, the most of any player.

Having drawn six of their first eight Premier League games from the start of December (won two), none of Fulham's past 16 league games has ended level (won seven, lost nine). They are looking to avoid losing three consecutive games for the first time since December 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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BBC Sport's football news reporter Alex Howell has been answering your questions on the transfer window.

Kevin: Fulham need to clear out at least five or six senior players and not only bring in some young talent, but also give some of the youngsters proper game time. We have a great academy but we only give them one or two a chance. Josh King has been in and around the first-team squad all season but he has had minimal game time. On Saturday, when we needed something a bit different, Marco Silva brought on Willian and Tom Cairney when he had Martial Godo and King on the bench. It has become very predictable, so how will a mid-table team like Fulham attract the young players they need to progress?

Alex: It's exceptionally hard for young players to break into a first team at Premier League level.

Silva has built a very experienced squad, but I am always impressed about what he gets out of the players he has available to him.

I think if you look at other teams who are able to attract young players, the best thing to show them, unfortunately for Fulham, is that there is a pathway to move to a top team, whether that is in Europe or the Premier League.

If you look at Crystal Palace, they have had success buying from the Championship as they are able to say 'look, sign with us and you can get a move to a top team". Michael Olise has gone to Bayern Munich and Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi (after a loan to Swansea) and Adam Wharton have all broken into the England squad after a move to Palace.

The key for Fulham will be to have a success story to point to.

Read more from a transfer Q&A with our experts

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

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We always ask: when is a good time to look at the league table?

Is it after 10 games when it has 'shaken out?'

Is it after the congested festive period when the wheat is separated from the chaff?

If you are a Fulham fan, the best time is after the final game of the campaign.

The stats show that in the Premier League under Marco Silva, we experience a sharp drop-off in April and May, picking up an average of 1.13 and 1.17 points per game in each month, respectively since our return to the Premier League in 2021.

That is not a relegation form return, but when February boasts a points-per-game figure of 2.12, it is clear to see there is a problem.

This season, it has cost us European football.

We have rarely dropped below eighth all term, let alone out of the bottom half, but our meek 3-1 loss to Everton on Saturday was our fourth loss in six games. It leaves us stuck in 11th, looking longingly at the teams battling it out for continental football.

Whether it is bodies on the ground, our physical fatigue, or our mentality, Silva's Fulham just do not have enough in their locker to grab the prize in sight after 38 games.

So, despite a season of far more highs than lows, they will be known as the 'nearly men'.

But what is next? Our primary mission now must be to thwart rivals Brentford in their mission for Europe. Missing out will sting so much more if the Bees make it to the Conference League - pun fully intended.

If we win at the Gtech Stadium and dent their aspirations, we will better our record points total and equal our highest number of wins in a single season. Then gauging the success of this season becomes harder.

But the best thing about football is that in three months, the table resets and we get to do it all again.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on a Riverside Stand hospitality section opened by Fulham on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Anon: It's certainly a spectacle but for most of the regular fans and season ticket holders being able to watch a game from there feels a bit like an improbable fever dream - the ticket prices probably require re-mortgaging the house!

Neil: It's a bit like a shopping mall for tourists, with a bit of football for millionaires who can afford the club's outrageous prices (I bet very few of them were season ticket holders in the old Eric Miller stand).

Fernando: The stand is incredible and I think it's important to generate revenue streams. However we must also mind the true Fulham supporters, as a season ticket holder on the Riverside it's frustrating to be completely surrounded by tourists more interested in the novelty than the football itself. The club should free more seats for season tickets. Like most clubs in England we are losing the essence and soul of our institutions to greedy owners. We are supporters not customers.

Andrew: I agree that this is a fantastic revenue stream for the club, but how long will it last - £3000 for season tickets is excessive in any sport, especially given this is supposed to be a working man's game. If the stand is full of fans singing the club to victory every week then good luck to them but I do not think it is sustainable. I also think the idea of corporate hospitality in such a small ground destroys the atmosphere needed to inspire the team on the pitch.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham opened their Riverside Stand hospitality section on Saturday - an opulent project six years in the making.

With Michelin-star inspired menus, rooftop access on the three-floor 'Sky Deck', an infinity pool and sweeping views across the River Thames and London, it also comes with a hefty price tag for members and those wanting matchday tickets.

One fan told BBC Sport it was "like walking into a posh garden party".

We'd like to hear from you. What do you make of the stand - and the prices?

Is it prohibitively expensive?

Or, as project manager Glen Sutton says, does it "create revenues streams that are important for the financial sustainability" of Fulham football club?

Tell us over here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Richard: Yet another well-below par performance. A disappointing end to the season. Fulham very much in need of an established striker.

Brian: Dire! The whole season is collapsing after such a bright beginning and middle. Marco Silva will be off and we may see an exodus of our best players. The board should address these issues now as next season will be difficult.

Rob: So frustrating. Superb for first 30 minutes, but yet again we failed to score the second and third. After that, awful. Are the players on a bonus not to qualify for Europe? Silva won't hang around with these performances.

James: Very disappointing result. We dominated the first half and lost all control in the second. This is a massive dent to our European hopes.

Everton fans

Ian: What a difference the subs made! The score doesn't reflect the game too closely - Fulham were the better side most of the game - but the subs made all of the difference

Dave: Down 1-0 away was once a definite loss. Now we seem to have turned a corner.

Gary: With nothing to play for but contracts, this was never going to be a classic. I'd like to congratulate the referee for being strong enough to stay with his original decision over the penalty. Something you don't see very often.

Anton: I'm still trying to get my head around how we won that. Horrifically awful for the majority of first half, yet somehow we went in all square. Then nicked a couple of goals when Fulham ran out of belief and steam. I suppose credit should be offered for winning such a match, and clearly Moyes is manager of the meason but there are far too many technically sub-standard players in the squad. No control, can't pass, can't beat a man. We've 15 players potentially leaving in the summer and we keep hearing how we can't go changing that many in one fell swoop. News flash, we should.

Image source, Reuters

Fulham manager Marco Silva speaking to BBC Sport after the 3-1 defeat to Everton: "Very simple in my opinion. We were the best team on the pitch, the first 30, 35 minutes was the level we want. Last 10 minutes we started to lose some of the main things we had to be in control of the game.

"It is the story of the last three or four games. Goals have come from set-pieces. We have to be willing to fight, do our job well and we didn't. It's about concentration and focus. We have to blame ourselves because it didn't happen before but it did in the last few weeks."

On conceding the two quick-fire goals: "That moment was very tough for us, we had time to react but 3-1 was difficult to react too. The moments that we lost the focus and concentration played a big part on the game."

On his side's hopes of securing European football: "We have to correct the things which happened with us in the last three or four games. In these decisive moments of the season, if you want to be there fighting you cannot lose concentration. Two big games for us [coming up]."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham's hopes of qualifying for Europe took a major dent after a 3-1 defeat by Everton at Craven Cottage.

Raul Jimenez gave the Cottagers the lead when he powered in Emile Smith Rowe's cross.

Marco Silva's side continued to dominate and went close to doubling their lead through Harry Wilson but Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was equal to his low effort.

Everton equalised on the stroke of half-time when Vitalii Mykolenko's tame effort from the edge of the box took a deflection off Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira and wrong-footed goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

The Toffees took the lead 18 minutes from time when defender Michael Keane headed in from a corner and the visitors scored a third 22 seconds after the restart when Leno failed to deal with Beto's strike.

The defeat leaves the Cottagers in 11th, four points behind eighth-placed Brentford.

With a trip to the Bees next week before hosting Manchester City on the final day, Fulham need to win both of their remaining matches and hope for results elsewhere to go their way to qualify for Europe.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have dropped 28 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, the joint-most of any side (along with Southampton) and the Cottagers' most in a single campaign in the competition.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

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I was at Goodison Park for Everton's draw with Ipswich last week and although the result was disappointing, they played well enough to win.

If Everton had taken their chances they would have had the points wrapped up before Ipswich got back into the game.

As I've said before though, I don't think it's a bad thing that they have not sustained their early form under David Moyes, because that would paint a false picture of how strong their squad is and it needs a serious overhaul in the summer.

Moyes definitely lifted things when he took over in January but he has got some big decisions to make about who stays and goes and it feels like a few players are on trial at the moment, with their futures uncertain.

As for Fulham, well I've found them almost impossible to call for most of the season, especially at home, but I am going to back Marco Silva's side to take the points here.

They will have a go at Everton and, with James Tarkowski injured, I don't think the Toffees will hold out.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Fulham v Everton

• Ipswich Town v Brentford

• Southampton v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to name the current Fulham player from a series of clues.

The correct answer is Raul Jimenez.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "Some concerns unfortunately for us from the last game as you saw with Harrison Reed. Surgery of Timothy Castagne took place last week and he will be out until the pre-season. Sasa Lukic is going to be out unfortunately for us, too. And the other two situations is Rodrigo Muniz and Reiss Nelson, they've been out. We are going to be without these important players but we have to be resilient and it is always a chance for others to come in and show their quality."

• On chasing a record points tally: "No doubt about it. Of course other teams are fighting hard as well. But as you mention, we have a position in the table that is important for us. After the FA Cup final, you do not know what is going to happen to the places for European competitions. And to break the points tally record is very important for us. The commitment, the attitude and the ambition from ourselves, being at our best level, we played some great football, too, and of course, now we want to fight very hard to achieve the things that are there to be fought for."

• Silva reiterated that he wants his "players excited" to fight for European football and this part of the season demands and deserves "enthusiasm". However, Silva stated that they need to be in control of their emotions and prepare to the best of their abilities.

• On his future amidst interest from Saudi giants Al-Hilal: "For me it is very clear, the focus is on what I can control and what we can control as a football club. When you do good things, it is normal with this type of speculation and it is not something I talk or think about it. The most important thing as always is Fulham Football Club."

• Silva stated that he "loves to be in the Premier League" and will only focus on improving himself. He also said that he "loves to challenge" himself with the "best ones" and "it is clear where they are".

• On potential budget for the summer transfer window: "No one has promised me anything. I already have my plan, the board knows that as well. I hope they can match the plan. I have trust we can do it."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news