Fulham

Stoke's boss is my old Norwich team-mate Mark Robins, who is an excellent manager - he clearly learnt a lot from me - but I fancy Fulham here.

I don't know what Marco Silva's situation is with Fulham and if he is leaving at the end of the season, but he will want to go out with a bang.

I really like the way Silva's side play and I wouldn't rule out the Cottagers' chances of going deep in the FA Cup this season.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sarah Rendell
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Championship side Stoke City (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "No fresh injury concerns for us from the last game and the session as well. We have another session tomorrow before the game. Tom Cairney and Sasa Lukic are going to be out."

• The manager also did not want to make a comment on Phil Foden's potential red card from the defeat at Manchester City: "The moment it is not for me to give an opinion about that."

• On whether Oscar Bobb could start: "He could - we have to wait more. We have another session to see. It was a good session from him today - like all of the other players - and we have to decide tomorrow whether he will start. There is a good chance for him."

• On the importance of a cup competition: "I don't like just to go by words - we must prove it on the pitch. Yes, any time we start a competition like this we aim high. To arrive in the final stages we have to be serious."

• Asked if Thomas Frank's sacking by Tottenham makes it more appealing for him to stay at Fulham instead of moving to a different club, Silva said: "In the business we are in now, the results speak louder than all the other things we are doing. For Thomas, and other colleagues when they leave their jobs, it is always a difficult moment. He is a very good coach and a great man as well. But football is like that. My decision, or the club's decision, does not mean we look for other examples. Each club is its own example."

• On Stoke City: "They started the competition very well. They were in a good position, in the play-off position [in the Championship]. They were playing well. It's always a difficult place to go because the home support is very good. We have to respect them and they have a quality side who could make our life very difficult."

Follow all of Friday's FA Cup news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Stoke v Fulham at 14:00 on Sunday on BBC Radio Stoke on BBC Sounds

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Image source, Getty Images

Recently, Liverpool and the Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said former players-turned-pundits have a responsibility when discussing the performances of the current generation of footballers.

He believes they can stray into "clickbait" and have a possible impact on players' mental health.

On Thursday's episode of the More than the Score podcast, former Scotland international Pat Nevin and chief sports editor for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Marcel van der Kraan join John Bennett to discuss and analyse the modern world of punditry and the impact it can have on players and managers alike.

"As a player you do tend to take it to heart, especially when it feels a little personal," said Nevin.

"Generally, it isn't personal and the pundit is just having their opinion and we all kind of know where the lines are. But, the lines have been jumped over more often in recent years and I think Van Dijk is right about that.

"Because of the clickbait, it is so much easier to get more likes, views and work if you're a little bit more extreme. Ex-players aren't stupid and they know that. If you are too sensible and sit on the fence you won't get the big gigs.

"You have a dichotomy. Most ex-players would like to be balanced but they know if they are too balanced and sensible they won't be there next week.

"My criticism would always be constructive criticism which is explained. One-dimensional labeling of players should never happen. Sometimes if a big name says something enough it becomes accepted wisdom."

Van der Kraan added: "There are two different kinds of pundits; those who need to be on every week and those who are genuinely focused on what is right and what players should do.

"For Van Dijk, after so many years enough is enough.

"It all started after he came into the Netherlands team and became a big player at Liverpool. The first ex-player to really criticise him was Marco van Basten, saying he was not a leader. Van Dijk was biting his lip after every match because it became a bit of a stigma.

"Eventually it filtered to England and every time he had a bad game it became an open nerve."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on Manchester City's Premier League win over Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester City fans

Brian: Man City displayed determination and professionalism in a true team performance against Fulham. They simply set out to win with Fulham limited to a few chances. Man City clearly had an eye on closing the gap on Arsenal. This was Man City of old with the new January signings showing their class and proving their worth. The title chase is clearly on. This was a good watch and Pep took steps to protect against injury in the second 45. Three points and improved goal difference in the bag. Man City have wind in their sails.

Luke: Comfortable. Great man of the match performance from Marc Guehi. All three goals were good, Haaland's being the best in my opinion. The title race is still on 100%. Hope arsenal lose to Brentford tomorrow!!

Rodrique: What a game! It was a joy to watch. The first half was a masterclass. The fighting spirit was there. Guehi at the back was phenomenal. Huge credit to the players.

Kevin: It's like Pep sends out two teams every game. First half it's slick passing, moving the ball across the field well, aggressive and scoring good goals. Second half, it's training ground football, short, sloppy passing, no leaders and insufficient real control. It won't cut it with bigger teams especially in Europe. On paper, an amazing squad - but the chemistry isn't there.

Fulham fans

James: It was always going to end like that. As every game against Manchester City goes they completely dominated in the first half and sunk us with 3 goals. We are on awful form at the minute with three losses in a row. Let's hopefully end that winless run on the weekend in the FA Cup.

Neil: Rubbish.

John: Terrible. We will only ever be a bottom half team - where we will be after next few games. Silva makes some strange subs, taking the best players off and starting with wrong 11. It would be better if he moved on.

BBC Match of the Day take a look at Manchester City forward Phil Foden's challenge on Fulham's Calvin Bassey during their 3-0 victory at Etihad Stadium.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have hit a rut with consecutive defeats leaving them 12th in the table, and they never looked like getting out of this game from the first whistle.

The Cottagers' backline found it difficult to cope with Manchester City's high press and there was only pride to play for after conceding three times in the opening period.

The latest defeat means Portuguese boss Marco Silva has now remarkably lost all 14 Premier League meetings as manager against City, having also taken charge of Hull, Watford and Everton in the top-flight.

Fulham's own record against City is a thoroughly wretched one, now suffering 20 straight losses against them in all competitions – the longest losing run against another side in English football history.

It could have been a different story had Harry Wilson converted in the first half, but they were made to pay dearly for the miss.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday's and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Fulham boss Marco Silva, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We know normally in these types of games we have to be clinical.

"It was too easy for them to score the goals. At 1-0 we had a big chance and to equalise probably a different game.

"We have to be at our best level in these types of games and we weren't and that is why we lost the game."

Did you know?

• Only Burnley and Wolves (9 each) have lost more away games than Fulham (8) in the Premier League this season, with their eight away defeats already more than they suffered in the 2024-25 campaign (7).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City make two changes to the side following Sunday's last-gasp victory at Liverpool.

Abdukodir Khusanov is only fit for the bench after coming off with a knock to the head at Anfield, so Ruben Dias makes his first start since 4 January against Chelsea.

The other change sees Phil Foden coming in for Omar Marmoush, who is on the bench, alongside the returning John Stones.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Silva, O'Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Stones, Reijnders, Marmoush, Alleyne, Lewis, Khusanov, Gonzalez and Cherki.

Image source, Premier League

Fulham also make two changes following their 2-1 home loss by Everton last time out.

Kenny Tete and Calvin Bassey come into the backline in place of Timothy Castagne and Jorge Cuenca, with both of those players dropping to the bench.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Iwobi, Wilson, Chukwueze, Smith Rowe, Jimenez.

Subs: Lecomte, Kevin, Robinson, Muniz, King, Jorge Cuenca, Castagne and Bobb.

There are five games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Brighton

• Crystal Palace v Burnley

• Man City v Fulham

• Nottingham Forest v Wolves

• Sunderland v Liverpool (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And listen to Around The Grounds on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:00

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City attempt to follow up their late win at Liverpool on Sunday when they host a Fulham side aiming to bounce back from a home defeat by Everton.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into their meeting at Etihad Stadium.

Last-gasp, chaotic, potentially crucial – Manchester City's 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday kept Pep Guardiola's within six points of leaders Arsenal following the latest round of matches and the title race alive - for the time being.

City have 50 points after 25 Premier League games but only six teams have gone on to win the title with 50 points or fewer at this stage of a 38-game season – and the last one was 23 years ago.

On that occasion, Manchester United won 10 and drew three of their remaining 13 games to overhaul leaders Arsenal and finish top on 83 points in 2002-03.

The Gunners were top after 25 games that season with 53 points, but failed to win six of their remaining 13 matches – a drop in form which proved costly.

Arsenal currently have three more points at the same stage of this season but Match of the Day pundit Wayne Rooney believes Erling Haaland's winning goal against Liverpool last weekend – his first at Anfield for City – could spark a run of form to test Mikel Arteta's mettle should their be any slip-ups.

"It was a real high-pressure penalty because it was to keep Manchester City in the title race," he said. "You could see that relief in his face to score the goal so late to win the game. The confidence that will give him now will be scary for Arsenal in the next few weeks."

City's next game is against a Fulham side they have defeated in their past 19 meetings; the longest winning run one side has had against another in English football history.

Marco Silva's men dominated the first half against Everton on Saturday before losing to a late own goal at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers have won just three of their 12 away trips in the Premier League so far this season, while Silva's record is also rotten in this particular fixture.

He has lost all 13 Premier League meetings with City, the most one manager has faced an opponent with a 100% loss rate in the competition's history.

Any uptick in confidence for Haaland ahead of Wednesday's encounter will also be unwelcome for visiting fans given he's scored seven goals and assisted three in just seven Premier League appearances against Fulham.

Was Sunday's late comeback to win at Anfield the game that will spark Manchester City's title bid?

Time will tell, but I am not convinced. I still think the issues that saw City fall behind in the first place will still cost them in future games too.

Fair play to Pep Guardiola's side for turning things around with six minutes to go, because their record at Anfield was so poor and a point would not have been enough for them.

But I just don't see this City team controlling games anymore in the way they used to. In the past, if you got a result against City you were either fortunate or had to play exceptionally well, but this season I've seen them let teams back into games on numerous occasions.

Sunday was no different. They were getting mauled in the second half by wave after wave of Liverpool attacks, before the chaos at the end. Gianluigi Donnarumma's save was a big moment and I was delighted that Erling Haaland stuck his penalty away because he's captain of my fantasy team and that gave me a good score.

As a neutral, I hope the a title race lasts until the final few weeks of the season but I just feel like City will drop too many more points before then.

Fulham are a good footballing side and almost got something from City at Craven Cottage in December - I was there, and City only just held on for a 5-4 win.

Marco Silva's side have been hard done by in their past couple of games because they had plenty of chances in their defeat at Manchester United, then could have been well ahead at the break before they lost to Everton too.

This time? Well, I think Fulham will score at Etihad Stadium too, and they are due a bit of a break. Maybe they will get it against City, but I am still going for a home win.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Football's oldest cliche - it is a game of two halves - never rang truer than on Saturday.

In the first 45 minutes, Fulham played some of their best football of the season. A strong starting XI was complemented by an equally impressive bench as we finally emerged from the other side of our injury crisis.

It was a squad so packed with talent that defender Issa Diop and captain Tom Cairney were forced to watch from the stands.

But as we tucked into our half-time pies, there was a foreboding sense of inevitability around Craven Cottage.

Yes, we were a goal to the good, but a string of missed opportunities, punctuated by a pair of crossbar-rattlers and Raul Jimenez's decision to scuff a shot when Harry Wilson didn't have a player within 10 yards of him, meant we could all tell what was coming.

Far too often this season - as in previous campaigns - we have been the architects of our own downfall.

When Bernd Leno knocked Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's corner into his own net, it marked the seventh game this season that we have conceded one or more goals in the final 10 minutes of a game.

That has cost us 12 points. And while I am not expecting Fulham to be an infallible side that sits inside the top four - which is where we would be if we had not dropped those points - losing control in more than a third of our games leads me to wonder whether we are set for another season of missed opportunity.

It does not get any easier, with Manchester City coming up on Wednesday.

A loss at the Etihad would mark the 20th straight defeat against Pep Guardiola's side.

On paper, we know what will happen. But to use another famous cliche (thank you, Brian Clough), the game is played on grass.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

AC Milan are confident Fulham will exercise a £21m option-to-buy for 26-year-old Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze, who is on loan with the Cottagers. (Gazzetta - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Team news: "Timothy Castagne is going to be out and so will Sasa Lukic. All the others are OK."

• Silva wants his team to "bounce back" from the Everton defeat and "fight for the three points".

• He said: "It was a massive frustration to lose the game. The quality and chances we created in the first half. We have to blame ourselves for the second half."

• On facing Man City: "It's always difficult for us to play Man City and our record is very bad. It's something that we are aware of and want to change."

• He added: "It's going to be a City side full of confidence, but the three points that we lost [against Everton] haven't taken the confidence from ourselves."

• On the game against Man City last season: "It was a mad game. If we can repeat that second half, not just the goals..."

• Explaining further he said: "In a football match any moment that you switch off they [Man City] are capable of punishing you because they have the quality in their frontline. It was a great night but unfortunately the result did not go our way, and results speak louder than most things."

• Silva on his gameplan: "We have to be compact, solid. The moments we have the ball, we have to find the right set-ups. It's the way we play, not just because it's vs City."

• On Oscar Bobb: "He needs more time. We are working with him behind the scenes. He came from a hamstring injury, so we have to be careful with him. Sooner or later he's going to be ready."

• On Bobb returning to the Etihad: "I think it's going to be a great welcome for him from the Man City fans and the faces he's going to see. The whole staff and football club know that he has the qualities and talent he has. We are very pleased to have him here with us."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

When the camera panned to Silva moments before the full-time whistle, his face told the story of another sorry afternoon for the home side.

The Fulham manager was in a state of shock as his side - not for the first time this season - proved to be masters of their own downfall.

For much of the afternoon, it seemed as though Everton had no answer for Silva's side and the slick transitions they produced as Chukwueze, Smith Rowe and Jimenez came close to adding a second.

But in the end it was a familiar sinking feeling for the club's fans as six days on from a gut-wrenching defeat at Old Trafford, they conceded a late winner once more.

For all of the talent that has arrived at Craven Cottage in recent seasons - namely Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Kevin and, of course, Chukwueze - it is Fulham's weakness in defence that continues to prove costly.

Having gone seven Premier League matches without a clean sheet, with the last coming against West Ham on 27 December, Silva will know exactly where his side need to improve if they are to kick-start their push for European qualification.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Richard: Infuriating loss at home after a good first half when Fulham should have been at least two up. Lost our way in the second half as Everton improved. The substitutes were employed far too late to turn the tide. Familiar pattern of careless game management repeating itself.

Sean: First half was great, second half was woeful. We have to look for another keeper in the summer. Bernd Leno has looked very suspect to high balls into his area and now he is targeted as our weak link. Joachim Andersen was slow and he couldn't hit a barn door accurately - too many misplaced passes, which put us back under pressure.

Matthew: So unfortunate not to have buried Everton in the first half. And then we inexplicably didn't turn up in the second half. So, two very frustrating halves for opposing reasons. Football, eh?

Ian: So frustrating. However, with what has been a thin squad with key players injured, it still feels like we are punching above our weight. Onwards and upwards!

Everton fans

Grant: We did not deserve to get three points from that game. Defensively we were all over the place, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (even though not fully fit) dragged us through. Proud Evertonian watching our away performances at the moment.

SJH: Another away win, another game of two halves. An absolutely shocking first half and David Moyes' persistence in playing players out of position will never fail to confuse. The changes provided some much-needed balance and a much-improved second half. We rode our luck throughout the game as Fulham could have been out of sight in the first half, but three points and on to the next one. Hopefully there is a long overdue home win on the horizon.

Greg: Another win which we probably deserved in the end, though we are still a second-half team. It would be nice if we could do it over 90 minutes, but a win is a win. If we can get the home form right we may be able to give ourselves a chance of Europe. Dewsbury Hall makes a big difference and has been an excellent signing.

Steve: If we could play well for the full 90 minutes where would we be in the league? The squad is looking strong and the bench looked very good on Saturday. Moyes is doing a great job - now to move through the gears and get into Europe.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 1-1 Aston Villa

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• Newcastle 2-3 Brentford

Fulham manager Marco Silva, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It is normal when you lose the game we lose the game we lost. It has to be disappointing. The game at half time should have been decided. It should have been 4-0, 4-1. At this level you have to be ruthless.

"It was a good first half and second half was completely the opposite. We can only blame ourselves. The way we lost this afternoon should be a real learning point for us because at this level you cannot be soft and we were too soft. The way we defended, we are too soft."

On the winning goal: "We can blame many things about decisions but we have to look at ourselves much more than other things. We have to look at ourselves and blame ourselves."

On what he thinks of the decision: "That will stay with me but we have to blame ourselves for that second half. A team that played so well in the first half and was so clear in the game. We stopped playing. The way we were so soft in the way we defended, you have to look in the mirror and say it is not enough."

On why the performance was soft in the second half: "No it cannot be. You have to keep doing the right things. You have to expect a reaction from a team that is losing, that is normal. No reaction, no tactical changes, they just reacted. We stopped doing the things we did so well."

Did you know?

• Fulham against Everton today was the first game in the Premier League to see both sides net an own goal since Crystal Palace against West Ham in April 2024.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Andersen (C), Cuenca, Sessegnon; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez

Subs: Lecomte, Tete, Bassey, Robinson, Reed, King, Bobb, Kevin, Muniz

Everton: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski (C), Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Armstrong, Dewsbury Hall, Ndiaye; Barry

Subs: Travers Patterson, Beto, George, Dibling, Alcaraz, Branthwaite, Rohl, Iroegbunam