Fulham will be looking to put an end to their six-game winless run in the Premier League when they host AFC Bournemouth at the Craven Cottage on Saturday. The Cottagers are coming on the back of an embarrassing 4-2 defeat against Cardiff and a win could be imperative as they look to rescue their campaign after an anti-climactic start to the season.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, are flying high with 17 points in their nine games. The Cherries are currently sixth in the league table and are highly tipped as favourites to seal all three points in this high-octane clash this weekend.
Fulham team news
Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic confirmed that defender Joe Bryan will not be available against Bournemouth. He also hinted that star player Tom Cairney is not yet 100% and thus, he is unlikely to feature in this clash while Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Calum Chambers are slight doubts though they are likely to be fit this weekend.
Predicted Fulham lineup vs Bournemouth
Defence
With Chambers rated a doubt, Cyrus Christie is likely to replace him as the right-back with Maxime Le Marchand playing on the opposite flank. The former Nice defender has already notched up the most number of interceptions in the team as well as attempted 22 tackles(3rd best in the squad).
After appearing as a substitute against Cardiff last weekend, Alfie Mawson is almost destined to start in central defence alongside Denis Odoi. The former Swansea star will undoubtedly play a vital role in this game as Fulham look to fortify their defensive backline after conceding four goals against Cardiff.
Marcus Bettinelli will be the man between the sticks for the Cottagers this weekend.
Midfield
While Kevin McDonald and Jean-Michael Seri are assured starters, midfielder Stefan Johansen might make way for Andre Anguissa this weekend. Anguissa was an unused sub against Cardiff last weekend but his ability to anchor the game coupled with his excellent tackling prowess could be useful for the home side.
Furthermore, his presence could also help Seri in midfield, who will be tasked with the responsibility of providing the creative spark in the final third. The Ivorian has already conjured up 18 key passes in the league this season and it will be interesting to see how he fares against a disciplined Bournemouth side.
Attack
Aleksandar Mitrovic will be leading the attack for Fulham this weekend. After a promising start to the season, scoring four goals in his first four matches, Mitrovic’s output has taken a nosedive as he has netted only once in his last five games.
However, he will be assisted by the wide-duo of Andre Schurrle and Ryan Sessegnon as he looks to break his three-game scoreless run this weekend. Luciano Vietto, on the other hand, will likely serve as a super-sub for Fulham late in the game.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
