In a groundbreaking moment for football, Rebecca Welch is set to etch her name in history as the first woman to referee a Premier League match, taking charge of Fulham against Burnley at Craven Cottage this Saturday.
Match Preview
As the historic event unfolds, Fulham finds themselves in 11th place in the Premier League table, amassing 21 points from their initial 17 matches of the season.
Despite a recent 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United, Marco Silva’s squad is riding high on confidence after securing a spot in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a penalty-shootout victory over Everton.
Fulham’s upcoming schedule includes crucial fixtures against Burnley, Bournemouth, and Arsenal, emphasizing their determination to make an impact in the Premier League.
Having recorded back-to-back 5-0 wins earlier in the month, the London club aims to maintain their impressive home form against Burnley.
On the flip side, Burnley, currently positioned 19th in the league, faces a daunting task. With only eight points from 17 league games in 2023-24, Vincent Kompany’s side is six points adrift of safety.
A recent 2-0 home loss to Everton adds to their struggles, and they enter the Fulham clash desperately seeking a turnaround.
While Fulham has a historical edge, having won three of the last four encounters against Burnley, the Clarets secured a 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage in May 2021.
The upcoming clash promises to be a challenging battle, with Fulham aiming to capitalize on their strong home record and Burnley striving to improve their away form.
Team News:
Fulham will face the absence of Adama Traore due to a hamstring strain, and Tim Ream is likely to miss out with a calf problem.
Raul Jimenez is suspended after a red card against Newcastle, opening opportunities for Rodrigo Muniz in the attacking third.
Willian faces a fitness test, and Kenny Tete’s impressive EFL Cup performance could earn him a spot at right-back.
For Burnley, Luca Koleosho and Charlie Taylor are sidelined due to injury, while Aaron Ramsey, Jack Cork, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson face late fitness tests.
Lyle Foster might feature in the attack, providing a fresh dynamic for Kompany’s team.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Fulham: (4-2-3-1)
Leno;
Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson;
Palhinha, Iwobi;
Willian, Pereira, Wilson;
Muniz
Burnley: (4-4-2)
Trafford;
Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer, Delcroix;
Larsen, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert;
Foster, Amdouni
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Burnley
While Burnley is capable of making it challenging for Fulham, the hosts’ strong home form is likely to secure another three points. Expect a competitive match with Burnley finding the scoresheet, but Fulham emerges victorious in this encounter.
