Verdict: Draw
Best Odds: 12/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
Two sides suffering a woeful start to the new Premier League campaign, Fulham will travel to Huddersfield hoping to put an end to their miserable run against the league’s bottom side.
Huddersfield
Starting with the hosts, while Huddersfield may have famously avoided the drop last season, the Terriers are now almost universally tipped to be the leading contender in the relegation race. Coming off the back of a lacklustre showing in their 3-0 loss away to Watford, David Wagner’s side have now yet to win a Premier League game in their opening 10, they’re now the only team in the league still looking for their first win. Now sat two points adrift of Fulham at the bottom of the table, it will once again be their form in the final third most worrying their German coach. Huddersfield have now scored just four domestic goals, the worst record in the league. More worrying for the hosts, have failed to score at The John Smith’s Stadium any home fixture this season. Since they scored against Watford in April, Huddersfield have had 76 shots in home Premier League games without scoring.
Team News
Huddersfield could welcome back Terence Kongolo, Tommy Smith and Rajiv van La Parra from injury and Abdelhamid Sabiri after illness.
Terriers boss David Wagner has said Danny Williams is the only player definitely unavailable to him.
Fulham
As for the visitors, while Fulham may have impressed on route to winning the Championship playoffs last season, thing’s could not be going worse for the Whites. Despite breaking the bank and spending over £100million during the summer, Slaviša Jokanović’s side are now coming off the back of a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the EFL Cup, Fulham have now lost their last five outings across all competitions. In fact, this has now been the worst start to a Premier League season in the West London club’s history. Now sat 19th in the table and the possibility of being leapfrogged by Huddersfield, it has been the Whites’ woeful defensive record that will be their biggest concern. Already conceding 28 league goals in their opening 10 games, Fulham have conceded at least three goals in each of their last four Premier League games – only Sunderland in November 2005 have done so in five consecutive matches.
Team News
Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald is eligible after he missed the League Cup defeat to Manchester City due to suspension.
Defender Joe Bryan remains on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.
Key Factors to Consider
- This is their first top-flight meeting since Fulham beat Huddersfield 1-0 at Craven Cottage in April 1952.
- Huddersfield could become only the second team in English Football League history to fail to score in their first six home games of a season, after Mansfield who failed to score in their first nine in the third tier in 1971-72.
- In total, they have failed to score in their last seven home top-flight matches.
- Fulham have made their worst-ever start after 10 matches of a top-flight season (W1, D2, L7).
- They have equalled the Premier League record for most goals conceded after the opening 10 matches of a season of 28, joining Barnsley (1997-98) and Southampton (2012-13). The Premier League record after the opening 11 fixtures is 29 by the Saints.
Conclusion
From a betting perspective, Monday’s relegation scrap looks incredibly hard to call. Given Huddersfield’s woeful form at the John Smith’s Stadium, coupled with Fulham’s equally poor record on the road, we’re backing an uninspiring draw in West Yorkshire.
Verdict: Draw
Best Odds: 12/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
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