Two Premier League teams currently sitting in the top half of the table meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday, as Fulham play host to Newcastle United.
While the Cottagers are yet to lose after three games on home soil, the Magpies are still searching for their first away victory of the 2022-23 campaign.
Match preview
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After steering Fulham to the Championship title last season, Marco Silva will be delighted with the way that his side have settled back into life in the top flight as they have picked up 11 points from their opening seven matches, including all three against fellow newly-promoted side Nottingham Forest last time out.
Three goals within the space of just six second-half minutes helped the Cottagers come from behind to win 3-2 at the City Ground. While many may have predicted a Fulham victory, few would have expected Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed to get their names on the scoresheet, with star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic drawing a blank for just the second time this season.
Sitting sixth in the Premier League table, above the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, Fulham could climb into the top four with a victory over Newcastle, if Brighton & Hove Albion lose at Anfield and Manchester United fail to win in the Manchester derby.
Fulham have won three of their last five Premier League matches, as many as they achieved in their previous 30 games in the top flight combined, including two victories on home soil against fellow top-10 sides Brentford and Brighton.
The Cottagers have had plenty of success over the years against Newcastle, as they have won 12 Premier League fixtures against them – only against Bolton Wanderers have they won more in the competition.
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Newcastle have established a reputation as draw specialists so far this season, with five already to their name after only seven matches.
Their latest result was a 1-1 draw at home to Eddie Howe's former club Bournemouth, and the Magpies have now gone six league games without a win since their opening-day triumph at home to Nottingham Forest.
Howe will not be too concerned with his side's current form, as they have done enough to sneak into the top half of the table, but with the club's Saudi-backed owners having spent around £200m on new players since January, Newcastle fans will be keen to see signs of improvement in the coming weeks.
Newcastle will have fond memories of their recent visits to Craven Cottage, as they have won their last two games away at Fulham by an aggregate score of 6-0.
The Magpies have never won three consecutive away games in the league against Fulham, but success on Saturday would see them move above the Cottagers into sixth place on goal difference, if other results were also to go their way.
Team News
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Fulham's Antonee Robinson remains sidelined with an ankle problem, so Tim Ream is set to continue at left-back, while Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon are ruled out with knee injuries.
The Cottagers will also have to cope without the presence of summer signing Joao Palhinha, who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.
Either Andreas Pereira of Tom Cairney could be called upon to drop into a deeper midfield role alongside Harrison Reed, while the other occupies the number 10 position behind former Newcastle man Mitrovic, who scored four goals in two games for Serbia during the international break.
As for the Magpies, Howe could be short of options in attack as club-record signing Alexander Isak picked up a muscle injury while on international duty with Sweden, and Chris Wood is also out with a rib issue.
Jonjo Shelvey, Karl Darlow and Emil Krafth are all long-term absentees, while Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes are all doubtful with thigh injuries and will be assessed ahead of kickoff – the latter was forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad last week after sustaining his injury in training.
Centre-back Sven Botman will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI ahead of Fabian Schar – who has scored in his last two visits to Craven Cottage – while Miguel Almiron and Ryan Fraser are set to retain their places in attack.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Ream; Reed, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Kebano; Mitrovic
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Botman, Burn, Targett; Willock, S. Longstaff, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Fraser
We say: Fulham 2-1 Newcastle United
At least three goals have been scored in each of Fulham's last five league fixtures and there could be plenty more goalmouth action in their encounter with Newcastle.
With the Magpies potentially missing a few key players this weekend, we feel that the hosts may edge this contest, with Mitrovic looking to score his first goal against his former club at the fourth time of asking.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
