Premier League: Fulham Out to Put the Wolves in Their Place

Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Fulham aim to maintain its surprising top-four pace when they host the improving Wolves at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Marco Silva’s side is punching above their weight this season because they’re the seventh seed with 18 points after the first 11 Premier League matches.

A European football berth is within arm’s reach for the Cottagers since they only trail by one point against third-seeded Chelsea, fourth-seeded Arsenal, fifth-seeded Nottingham Forest, and sixth-seeded Brighton.

In contrast, the Wolves are second to last in the standings with only six points. Gary O’Neil’s men had a positive run of results recently, but they still have a long way to go to get out of the drop zone.

There’s a lot at stake when these two teams clash, and SBOTOP is here for the match preview.

 

Talking Points

Jimenez to spearhead Fulham’s charge

Raul Jimenez hasn’t been in the scoresheet for Fulham lately, and he will be eager to return this weekend to show his former employers what they’ve been missing.

Jimenez joined the Cottagers when the Wolves sold him for a cheap fee in 2023, and he is enjoying his life in West London because he has become an important player under Marco Silva.

The Mexican forward leads Fulham in scoring with four league goals and two assists. However, he’s not the only one the Wolves defence should look out for.

Harry Wilson has been the Cottagers’ sparkplug recently, as the 27-year-old midfielder scored all three of his goals in their last two games against Crystal Palace and Brentford.

The Welshman is doing it while coming off the bench, which is a welcome development for Marco Silva and co.

Health has been wealth for Fulham because of their short injury list. Sasa Lukic is still recovering from a shoulder injury, so Sander Berge should continue to start in his place in the middle of the park.

 

Cunha needs help to steer the Wolves clear

The Wolves are on a mission for Premier League survival, and their hopes of maintaining their top-flight status rest on the broad shoulders of their striker, Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian international was instrumental in helping his team earn their first Premier League victory of the season last time out, as Cunha notched a goal and an assist to beat Southampton 2-0 at home.

Cunha now has seven goal involvements this season (five goals, two assists), including four goals in his last three appearances, helping the Wolves get five points.

Besides Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rayan Ait-Nouri are also doing their part, combining for seven league goals and three assists.

But unlike Marco Silva, Gary O’Neil still has a lengthy injury list that’s hampering their progress. Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, Enso Medina, and Sasa Kalajdzic are still recovering from their knee injuries.

Meanwhile, Hwang Hee-Chan (ankle) is upgraded to questionable and could be listed on the matchday squad for the first time in a long while.

 

History

Fulham won 3-2 in this exact fixture last season, but it is their only victory against the Wolves in their last eight Premier League matches (D3, L4).

On the other hand, Wolves have won just one of the eight Premier League games against Fulham at Craven Cottage (D4, L3), with their last win being a 1-0 result in April 2021.

The Cottagers have the opportunity to win three Premier League games in a row for the first time since January 2023.

The Wolves haven’t won consecutive Premier League matches since February last season, and they’re winless on the road in their last 11 (D4, L7), conceding 28 goals in that period.

Gary O’Neil’s side has lost seven of their last 10 Premier League matches in London (W3), including both games this season.

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2024 odds are in favour of Fulham for this contest. The Cottagers are 1.65 favourites to win, whereas the Wolves are 4.43 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.68 in the 1X2 market.

Despite the clean sheet against Southampton, the Wolves backline remains suspect since it has allowed multiple goals in the previous two league outings.

Besides going for another Fulham victory, bettors can also expect Premier League 2024 highlights from this fixture, making options like Over 2.50 at 1.68, Over 2.75 at 1.92, and Total Goals 2-3 at 1.97 viable alternatives.

However, if you fancy the visitors winning on Saturday, then check out the Correct Score of 2-1 in their favour – the result of their last encounter – given its solid 16.00 offer.

   

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