The reigning champions will turn to Craven Cottage for a win, after being unable to scoop up three points in their last four games.
Fulham:
Martin Jol’s troops have had a superb start to the season, with the only minor blip being the loss against Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United.
The Whites overcame Wigan Athletic in their last game and given the quality they have at their disposal, they should be also able to match City at home.
Manchester City:
Following their Premier League conquest in May, the Citizens have failed to live up to their high standards and struggled during their opening fixtures. Mancini and his men haven’t tasted a win in their last four games, with back-to-back draws against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429,
Aston Villa and Stoke City in various competitions.
Furthermore, the excruciating loss at the Bernabeu will have done little to lift the morale and City will need to overcome their poor form if they are to turn around their languishing fortunes.
Team News:
Fulham:
Following a close win at the DW Stadium, manager Jol should let the players continue as they are. However, injuries to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giorgos-Karagounis-c14970 could potentially be
making his bow for the club.
Other omissions include Kerim Frei and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Philippe-Senderos-c29952 has still not recovered properly after missing the team’s entire pre-season campaign and continues to watch from the sidelines.
Manchester City:
After playing out a lackluster draw with Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323 will surely forego any experiments and should name a more orthodox defensive line.
Captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vincent-Kompany-c36184 wasn’t involved in the mid-week tie, but will be returning when the club travel to London.
However, injuries could force the Italian’s hand, with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Zabaleta-c29022, who will look to start in
midfield and at right-back respectively, while the rest of the team will remain the same.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-c33030 Aguero and Edin Dzeko will continue in attack, while Javi Garcia will look to showcase his sublime skills in the middle of the park alongside Ivorian behemoth Yaya Toure.
Pressure on Mancini is mounting, but according to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson.
"All winning managers are the same, they show this passion. All winning coaches are the same - if Ferguson has the hairdryer, Roberto has the same passion. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-c31294 is no different. He’s a winning manager like the other ones so he has the same passion.”
“All winning managers are the same and they show this passion to the players because they really want to win. Roberto can get passionate but, generally speaking, he likes to keep quiet and keep the atmosphere around the team calm. But, of course, the players
appreciate it when the manager speaks up for the team - especially because he puts the pressure on him rather than giving it to the players,” he said.
Key Players:
Fulham: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254
The skilled Bulgarian has had a brilliant start to life in London and facing Manchester City, he will look to shine through and impress onlookers.
Manchester City: Yaya Toure
The midfielder has been a pivotal fulcrum in the Sky Blue machine and without him, the side are simply not good enough to challenge for the Premier League.
Author Prediction:
Manchester City 2-2 Fulham
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