Manchester City vs Fulham predicted XIs: Confirmed team news & probable line-ups | OneFootball

Champions Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

This is a clash between two of the most in-form sides in the Premier League. City remain unbeaten, second in the table on fourteen points. Fulham meanwhile suffered their sole defeat on the first day of the season against Manchester United.

Man City v Fulham predicted XIs:

Man City v Fulham team News

Rodri is the obvious absence for Manchester City, but he is not the only significant one.

After being withdrawn at half time in City’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan, Kevin De Bruyne has missed the last four games with a thigh injury.

His level of fitness ahead of this clash is unknown but, given his patchy injury record, he is unlikely to be risked on Saturday as the upcoming international break will give him time to recover fully.

Nathan Ake is another absentee who could return after the international fixtures but Oscar Bobb, City’s other injury victim, is targeting a December return.

Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson and Ruben Dias were all dropped to the bench for City’s 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday, suggesting all six will come back into the starting lineup for Saturday’s match.

Fulham will arrive in better health than their hosts, with third-choice striker Carlos Vinicius their only injured player.

The Brazilian was unlikely to feature regardless given Raul Jimenez has netted in three consecutive games. The Mexican should be supported in attack by Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore.

Marco Silva is unlikely to make many changes to the side which earned an impressive 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last Saturday, although he may be tempted to replace Andreas Pereira or Sasa Lukic to add some steel to the midfield in the form of Sander Berge.

Will Fulham exploit Man City’s Rodri absence?

The main issue for Manchester City right now is how best to replace Rodri, who has been ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Rico Lewis was tasked with filling the sizable void left by the Spaniard against Newcastle last weekend and although he played fairly well, he does seem better suited to starting at right-back and inverting into midfield from there.

Experienced German Ilkay Gundogan is another option, but Pep Guardiola seems to prefer using him further forwards meaning the options for a partner for Mateo Kovacic are fairly limited.

It is no secret the Citizens are worse without Rodri – their win rate drops to 66.7% in games he has missed from the 74.1% with him in the side – and in-form Fulham will be looking to exploit his absence this weekend as they search for an elusive win over City.

The Cottagers are winless in their last 22 meetings with the Citizens, losing each of the last 16, but a strong start to the season has them sitting sixth in the Premier League and they will look to play their part in an exciting Etihad encounter.