Fulham vs Southampton – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Fulham return to FA Cup action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Championship high-flyers Southampton to Craven Cottage, with both sides desperate to secure a coveted spot in the quarter-finals.

The Cottagers enter this fifth-round tie looking to bounce back from a narrow 1–0 midweek Premier League defeat to West Ham, a result that ended a promising three-match winning streak. Marco Silva’s men have been impressive in knockout competition this season, having already navigated a tricky away tie at Stoke City.

Fulham are aiming to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the third time in the last four seasons—a significant improvement for a club that had only reached that stage three times in the preceding two decades. While they sit comfortably in mid-table in the top flight, the FA Cup represents their primary opportunity to write a new chapter in the club’s history.

Southampton, meanwhile, travel to West London in imperious form, currently enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Under the guidance of Tonda Eckert, the Saints have moved into seventh in the Championship and are mounting a serious charge toward the play-off places.

Historically, the Saints have a significant pedigree in this competition as former winners, and they have proved stubborn opponents at Craven Cottage, losing just two of their last eight visits to the ground.

Fulham vs Southampton – Match preview and team news

Team News

Fulham

Marco Silva faces a late decision on talisman Harry Wilson, who is struggling with an ankle injury sustained against Spurs. While the winger has returned to individual training on the grass, Silva admitted he is unlikely to be in full contention for a start. Brazilian winger Kevin is ruled out for the remainder of the season following ankle surgery. Samuel Chukwueze is poised to deputise if Wilson is not passed fit.

Southampton

The visitors are boosted by the return of Ross Stewart, who missed the weekend win over Sheffield Wednesday. However, the Saints will be without Welington and Mads Roerslev Rasmussen, who are recovering from muscle and Achilles injuries, respectively. Young forward Jay Robinson is also expected to narrowly miss out as he nears a return from a thigh problem. Veteran midfielder Oriol Romeu could make his 20th career FA Cup appearance tonight.

Form

Fulham

Prior to the midweek setback against West Ham, Fulham had secured impressive victories over Tottenham and Sunderland, moving them into the top half of the Premier League table. Notably, the Cottagers have won three of their last four meetings with Southampton. However, their recent quarter-final record is a concern; they were eliminated at that stage last season by eventual winners Crystal Palace.

Southampton

The Saints have overturned a poor end to 2025 to become the form team in the Championship. Most recently, they secured a convincing 3–1 away win at Sheffield Wednesday. Notably, since winning the trophy in 1976, Southampton have been eliminated in seven of their last eight FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents while playing outside the Premier League. They will look to break that trend tonight to reach their fifth quarter-final in six seasons.

Predicted Lineups

Fulham Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Iwobi, Cairney; Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Bobb; Jimenez

Southampton Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Charles, Bragg; Matsuki, Azaz, Scienza; Larin

How to Watch Fulham vs Southampton?

The match will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 and can be streamed via the discovery+ app. Coverage begins at 11:30 GMT.

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