Premier League action is back on Saturday as we head across the capital for a London derby against Fulham (5.30pm), looking to stay on top of the pile after a fine start to 2025/26.
We boast a fine recent record against the Cottagers, who have only triumphed once in the last 14 league meetings between the sides, and their task of improving that record seems all the more difficult in that we have lost just one of our last 18 away league London derbies.
However, in both instances, the anomaly was a 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage in December 2023, while we could only return with a point last season. With the Whites unbeaten in five games on their own patch this season so far, this tough test is one Mikel Arteta will look to navigate as we attempt to stretch our seven-game unbeaten run, and our lead at the league’s summit.
Cottage comforts
Fulham head into this game 14th in the table, with eight points to their name. Seven of those have been claimed on home turf, with back-to-back wins against Leeds United and Brentford following the last international break kick-starting their campaign, following on from a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in their home opener.
They are looking to avoid defeat in each of their opening four home matches of a league season for the first time since 2011/12, but on their travels it has been a different story. A 97th-minute equaliser from Rodrigo Muniz earned a point on the opening day at Brighton, but since then they have acrimoniously lost a west London derby at Chelsea, before tasting defeats at Aston Villa and Bournemouth in their last two outings.
Worryingly for Marco Silva, they shipped three goals in both of those last two defeats, but they’ll be hoping that a return to their iconic Thameside home will be just the tonic they need, where League Cup wins against Bristol City and Cambridge United have also been claimed this term.
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What the managers say
Arteta: “Last year, immediately, when we are in total control of the game, in one moment, we concede the goal, and then it’s a different game to be played. But we learn from it. Obviously, we want to make it different, especially the results that we had in the last few years and do our best to achieve it.
“[Newcastle] is a good example, West Ham as well. In the last two seasons we lost against them at home, so that’s an opportunity tomorrow. We know that it’s a really tough place to go, they’re a very well-coached team, and we’re going to have to be at our best tomorrow.” – every word from Mikel’s pre-match press conference
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Silva: “In the last four games [against Arsenal] you see a really competitive side against them. It’s a different moment of the season for us in terms of not having our full capacity, but we want to compete at our best level. We want to show up and show that we are capable of competing, even without five or six players that have been very important for us.
“If you have all your players available, you’re going to be stronger. If you don’t have key players – not just one or two – you’re not at the same level. But it’s not going to be an excuse for us. With our fans, we need them definitely at their top level too because in these types of moments, we have to show the togetherness and connection even more.”
Team news
Martin Odegaard’s stop-start season continued when he was forced from the field early against West Ham United with a knee injury and he is out for the near future, but Arteta will have Piero Hincapie back after he has missed the last month with a groin problem but has returned to training.
Martin Zubimendi and Ben White should be fine to feature after missing some sessions this week, but Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remain out with their own knee injuries.
As for Fulham, Sasa Lukic suffered a groin injury during the Cottagers’ last encounter against Bournemouth and will be missing, as will Antonee Robinson, who is struggling with a knee injury that limited his USA gametime, while Rodrigo Muniz is definitely out with a hamstring issue.
Silva’s striking options could be depleted further with Raul Jimenez struggling with a hip problem that saw him miss Fulham’s last match and Mexico duty, while Kenny Tete (knee) and Samuel Chukwueze (calf) are also being monitored and are doubtful.
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Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke: It will be interesting to see if Silva continues with the surprise 3-4-2-1 formation he used last time out at Bournemouth. He is usually more of a 4-2-3-1 man, so was that a one-off, or is it signalling a new direction? Having lost that game, my hunch is that he will revert to a back four, but all eyes will be on his teamsheet.
Fulham’s home form has been solid. Unbeaten in three outings, they have faced just 28 shots at Craven Cottage – the only top-flight side to have faced fewer on home turf is us! So, we may have to be patient in our attempts to break them down. Hopeful balls played into the box should be avoided as centre back Joachim Andersen is dominant inside his own area.
In this fixture last season, Silva abandoned his possession-based approach to sit in with just a 34% share of the ball. Having snatched a 1-1 draw via a counter-attack, do not be surprised if that tactical policy is repeated, but the injury to their best off-the-ball midfielder Lukic means central midfield is an area we should look to dominate.
Former Gunner Alex Iwobi is possibly the biggest dangerman. He has one goal and two assists to his name at Craven Cottage this term, and is very much their chief creator with nine key passes, four through balls and six successful open play crosses. His battle with Jurrien Timber will be one to keep an eye on.
Facts and stats
We have only lost one of our last 17 away Premier League games (W9 D7), winning four of our last six.
Fulham could lose three Premier League games in a row for the first time since December 2023.
Since facing 22 shots against Manchester United on the opening day, we have restricted our opponents to fewer than 10 shots in our six subsequent league games. The last side to do so in more successive matches in the competition were Liverpool in 2022 (9).
No side has had more different goalscorers (excl. own goals) in the Premier League this season than us (9, level with Brighton). Only twice before have we had 10 different players score in our opening eight Premier League matches, in 2009/10 and 2018/19.
Alex Iwobi has created four chances via line-breaking passes in the division this term, with Bruno Fernandes the only player to do so more (5).
Only Iwobi (10) and Raul Jimenez (8) have been involved in more Premier League goals for Fulham in 2025 than Ryan Sessegnon (7 – 5 goals, 2 assists).
Bukayo Saka has netted three goals across his last four Premier League appearances against Fulham.
Gabriel has three Premier League goals against Fulham, his joint-most against a side, scoring in two of his three previous appearances at Craven Cottage in the competition.
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Match officials
For the 56th time, Anthony Taylor will referee us, and we have won 31 of those and lost just eight. We are unbeaten in our last eight under his watch since May 2023, although we have drawn the last three, including a controversial penalty award at Brighton in January and Mikel Merino’s dismissal at Anfield in May.
Conversely, Fulham have won just seven of the 29 games Taylor has been appointed to, losing each of the last five. This term the Manchester whistler averages three yellow cards per Premier League game, and while he hasn’t sent anyone off, he has awarded two penalties.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Sam Barrott
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Craig Taylor
Previous Cottage clashes
After winning five successive league visits to Fulham from 2012/13 to 2022/23, we have failed to win at Craven Cottage in both of the last two campaigns. Last season, a William Saliba goal drew us level after Jimenez struck, and Bukayo Saka thought he’d nicked it in stoppage time only for VAR to intervene.
On New Year’s Eve 2023, Saka put us in front early on but efforts from Jimenez and Bobby DeCordova-Reid turned the game around and handed the hosts the spoils. However the season before, we recorded a convincing 3-0 success when Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Odegaard all netted before half-time to cruise to victory next to the Thames.
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Live coverage
This season, Live From N5 is the place to be for live commentary of all our men’s first-team games across 2025/26.
Tune in from just before kick-off, when Dan Roebuck and Jeremie Aliadiere will once again be behind the mics to guide you through the on-field action.
You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action live, wherever you are in the world.
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