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Fulham v Southampton
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Kick Off: Sunday 22nd December at 14:00
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Competition: Premier League
High-flying Fulham welcome bottom club Southampton to Craven Cottage on Sunday for a Premier League test that Marco Silva’s side are odds-on favourites to pass.
The struggling Saints are in managerial limbo following the sacking of Russell Martin, though they showed spirit in their narrow midweek Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool and Southampton could be competitive in the capital.
⭐ Fulham v Southampton Best Bet
Southampton gave Liverpool a scare in midweek under caretaker boss Simon Rust, matching the Reds for shots on target (4) and big chances created (2) in a 2-1 defeat against the Merseysiders in the Carabao Cup, and the Saints could make life awkward for Fulham on Sunday.
A massive 81% of Fulham’s Premier League fixtures this season have produced goals at both ends, while BTTS has also landed in 100% of their matches at Craven Cottage. With Southampton already looking more energised following the sacking of Russell Martin, back the Saints to trade blows with Fulham.
🟢 Fulham v Southampton #WhatOddsPaddy Tip
Craven Cottage has been a happy hunting ground for BTTS bettors this season with each of Fulham’s first 8 Premier League fixtures of the campaign producing action at both ends. Sunday’s visitors Southampton created chances and exchanged goals with Liverpool in a spirited showing midweek and the Saints can be competitive again here.
Fulham, who have been winning 5.75 and conceding 5.06 corners per 90 minutes this season, should also be able to beat a target of 4 or more corners against a Southampton side that has been conceding 7.44 corners (p/90).
Relegation candidates Southampton have been earning just 4.44 corners per 90 minutes, however, they showed enough of a spark in their first outing post-Russell Martin on Wednesday to suggest they can maintain that average at the very least on Sunday.
The card statistics for both teams also hold plenty of promise. Both Fulham and Southampton rank among the Premier League’s worst 5 teams in the disciplinary stakes, picking up 2.68 and 3.375 cards per game respectively. The Saints have also collected more cards on the road (27) than anyone else, so a hurdle of 3+ cards apiece here looks clearable.
👕 Fulham v Southampton Predicted XI
🔍 Fulham v Southampton Players to Watch
⚪️ Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi has been impressively productive for Fulham this season and alongside lodging 8 goal contributions (5G, 3A) in 16 Premier League appearances, the versatile attacker has been averaging 1.75 shots and 0.91 shots on target per 90 minutes for the Cottagers.
Iwobi failed to find his range against either Liverpool or Arsenal in his last couple of outings, though he hit 2 shots on target in 3 successive games before that (vs Wolves, Tottenham & Brighton) and the 28-year-old has the tools to threaten Southampton.
🔴 Tyler Dibling
Breakout Southampton starlet Tyler Dibling has been wowing supporters with his dribbling skills this season, though the 18-year-old’s close control has also made him a magnet for fouls and the winger could be on the receiving end again on Sunday.
Dibling has been drawing a lofty 3.20 fouls per 90 minutes in the Premier League this term, while only 4 other players in the division have drawn more fouls in total than the teenager (33). Back Dibling to draw at least a couple of mistimed challenges from an aggressive Fulham backline.
🔴 Flynn Downes
Flynn Downes picked up his 7th booking of the campaign in all competitions for Southampton in midweek when he was collared for a bad tackle against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and the hard-hitting midfielder is likely to be on the match official’s radar again on Sunday.
Downes has been committing 2.07 fouls per 90 minutes for the Saints since their promotion and the no-nonsense 25-year-old gave away 9 free kicks combined in Southampton’s last 2 Premier League away assignments at Aston Villa and Brighton. Look for Downes to commit at least another 2 fouls at Craven Cottage.
📂 Fulham v Southampton Cheat Sheet
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💻 Fulham v Southampton Form and Tactics
- Fulham have lost only 1 of their last 8 Premier League fixtures.
- Fulham play plenty of front-thinking football under Marco Silva and only 4 clubs have been averaging more touches in the attacking third per 90 than the Cottagers (164.1) than the Cottagers.
- Fulham aren’t afraid to take the direct route to goal and only Bournemouth (73.5) have attempted more long passes per 90 than Silva’s side (71.3) this term.
- Southampton have made a league-high 27 errors leading to shots this season due to their lacklustre attempts to play out from the back.
- Interim boss Simon Rust set Southampton up in a 5-4-1 formation against Liverpool in midweek and the Saints might opt for a defensive approach again on Sunday.
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🏁 Fulham v Southampton Ref Watch
- Referee: Tim Robinson
- Premier League fixtures officiated by Tim Robinson this season have featured an average of 5.00 yellow cards per game.
- EPL matches controlled by Robinson have also seen an average of 23.33 fouls per fixture.
- Robinson last took charge of a fixture involving Fulham in September (vs West Ham). Robinson only booked 1 Fulham player on that occasion, but whistled for 33 fouls in the contest.
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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
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