As the Premier League season heats up, Fulham will host Leicester City at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2024, seeking their first points of the campaign.
Fulham comes into this match after a narrow defeat to Manchester United, while Leicester managed to secure a draw against Tottenham.
Both teams are eager to improve their standings early in the season, making this matchup crucial for their aspirations.
Match Preview
Fulham opened their Premier League season with a tough 1-0 loss to Manchester United.
Despite the defeat, the Cottagers displayed commendable resilience, keeping the Red Devils at bay for the majority of the match.
However, Fulham struggled to convert their opportunities, registering 10 shots but only two on target, and maintaining 44% possession.
Manager Marco Silva will be looking for his team to sharpen their finishing as they prepare to face Leicester City, aiming to turn their promising performance into points.
Leicester City, on the other hand, began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham.
After falling behind to a Pedro Porro goal, the Foxes rallied in the second half, with Jamie Vardy finding the net to secure a point.
Although Leicester managed only 28% possession and seven shots throughout the match, their ability to stay in contention earned them a valuable draw.
Manager Steve Cooper will hope for a more cohesive performance from his team as they look to build on this result against Fulham.
Head to Head
Historically, Fulham has fared well against Leicester City in their recent encounters, winning three out of their last five meetings.
Leicester has managed two victories in this period, with the most memorable being Fulham’s thrilling 5-3 win in their last clash.
This recent success will provide Fulham with added confidence as they prepare to face the Foxes at home.
Team News
Fulham’s squad appears to be in decent shape, although there are potential changes on the horizon.
Manager Marco Silva is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that served them well against United, but Raul Jimenez could be brought in to replace Rodrigo Muniz in the starting lineup.
Emile Smith Rowe is expected to retain his position in the No. 10 role, while Harry Wilson may start on either wing.
Leicester City may welcome new signing Oliver Skipp into the lineup, as he missed the previous match against Tottenham due to unavailability for training.
Facundo Buonanotte, who impressed against Spurs, is likely to feature again.
Issahaku Fatawu, who played a key role in Leicester’s goal, is also set to start.
Jamie Vardy’s fitness will be closely monitored; despite being 37 and lacking a full preseason, he remains a significant threat to the opposition.
Prediction
Considering both teams’ recent performances and their historical matchups, a draw seems likely in this encounter.
With Fulham eager to secure their first points and Leicester looking to maintain their form after a solid start, we predict a competitive and balanced match.
- Score Prediction: Fulham 2-2 Leicester City
Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score – Yes: Given both teams’ attacking capabilities, betting on both sides to find the net is a strong option.
Over 2.5 Goals: With Fulham’s recent goal-scoring history against Leicester, wagering on over 2.5 goals could prove fruitful.
Draw: A draw appears to be a likely outcome based on both teams’ current forms, making this a sensible betting choice.
Jamie Vardy to Score Anytime: Despite fitness concerns, if Vardy plays, betting on him to score could offer good odds given his experience and goal-scoring ability.
