Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Man City
Match Time & Date:
02/09/2023
16:00
Prediction: 4-0
Fulham
David faces Goliath at Etihad Stadium as title hopefuls Manchester City take on Fulham in the Premier League round 4. The Citizens kicked off the new domestic campaign with three consecutive wins over Burnley (3-0), Newcastle (1-0) and Sheffield United (2-1) and they face an easy task against the capital club. As always, a man to keep an eye on in the home team will be Erling Haaland, who continues where he left last term. Both John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne remain on the sidelines with injuries, while centre-back Manuel Akanji should recover in time to face the Cottagers.
Fulham, on the other hand, continue life without Aleksandar Mitrovic, who signed a deal with Al-Hilal. Marco Silva’s men are not regarded as good travellers and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Man City’s party at Etihad Stadium. Defender Calvin Bassey is back from suspension, while Andreas Pereira should be fit for the match.
Highlighted Player (Nathan Ake):
Ake is a professional footballer who plays for the Dutch National Team and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The versatile defender who was born on the 18th of February, 1995, started his youth career in 2003 with local club ADO Den Haag. He then moved to Feyenoord in 2007 before joining Chelsea's youth academy four years later.
Ake made his first professional appearance at the age of 17, playing for the Blues in a 0-1 away victory against Norwich on the 26th of December, 2012. Barring a few starts and substitute appearances, Ake spent his next few years at Chelsea mostly in the reserves before being sent out on a one month loan to Reading in 2015. Upon his return, he immediately joined Watford on a season-long loan where his displays earned him the Watford's young player of the season award. Another successful loan spell at Bournemouth succeeded his time at Watford before Chelsea recalled him in January 2017.
At the start of the 17/18 season, the 24-year-old rejoined his current club Bournemouth permanently on a five-year contract worth 20 million pounds. On the International stage, Ake has represented the Netherlands at every youth level and has even captained the under-17 and under-19 sides. He made his first senior appearance on the 31st of May, 2017, featuring in Hollands 2-1 friendly win over Morocco.
Highlighted Team (Fulham):
Fulham are a club from London that play in the Premier League. The capital club dropped to the English second tier at the end of the 2013/2014 Premier League campaign after failing to impress in the elite competition, but managed to return in season 2018/2019.
Fulham were founded in 1879 and they play their home matches at Craven Cottage. Fulham are the oldest-established club from the English capital to have played in the top flight.
Fulham finished the 2008/2009 Premier League campaign in seventh place in the standings and that is considered the team’s biggest success, speaking of their participation in the Premier League.
The Cottagers played in the Europa League twice and they did well to reach the FA Cup final in 1975, but they were beaten by their local rivals West Ham United in the title game (0-2). Chelsea are regarded as Fulham’s bitter rivals as well and the two teams take on each other in the North London derby.
