Prediction: Manchester City vs Fulham

Verdict: Manchester City win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to extend on their 100% start to the new season, Manchester City will welcome Fulham to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

Manchester City

Starting with the hosts, while Manchester City might not have been at their free-flowing best last weekend, the Sky Blues were able to extend on their 100% start to the new campaign. Eventually claiming a late 2-1 victory away at top-flight returners Sheffield United, Pep Guardiola’s men are the only Premier League outfit that have won each of their first three domestic appearances. Opening up the 2023/24 campaign with a routine 3-0 victory away at Burnley on August 11th, the Sky Blues simply have their sights set on making another statement here. Excited to make a return to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon, the reigning European champions certainly find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. While Guardiola might once again be missing from City’s dugout after undergoing minor back surgery earlier in the month, the Premier League giants are rightfully tipped as a standout contender here.

Team News

Sustaining a long-term hamstring injury earlier in the month, Manchester City will once again be without midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne on Saturday afternoon. The Belgium international will be joined on the sidelines by John Stones.

Notching his third Premier League strike in as many appearances away at Bramall Lane last weekend, the record-breaking Erling Haaland will spearhead City’s charge here. Making the move from French outfit Rennes last week, Jeremy Doku should make his debut at the Etihad.

Fulham

As for the visitors, while Fulham might have been hugely frustrated as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming against west London rivals Brentford on August 19th, Marco Silva’s men have certainly proven that performance as nothing more than a minor blip. Extending on their EFL Cup adventure earlier in the week as they edged past Tottenham thanks to a penalties victory at Craven Cottage, the one-time Everton boss should find the mood in his camp at a continued high. Gaining a string of plaudits last season as they booked a top-half finish on their Premier League return, the Cottagers appear to have continued from where they left off back in May. Last seen on top-flight duties snatching a last-gasp 2-2 draw away at title contenders Arsenal, Silva’s men have lost just one of their opening four showdowns against Premier League opposition across all competitions.

Team News

Once again missing out on EFL Cup duties in midweek, Fulham are once again sweating over the fitness of former Chelsea star Willian on Saturday afternoon. However, after serving a one-match suspension, ex-Rangers defender Calvin Bassey will make a full return here.

Both handed a rest earlier in the week, the duo of Andreas Pereira and Raul Jimenez should be handed a full recall at the Etihad.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back on April 30th, Manchester City picked up a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
• In fact, the reigning Premier League champions have won each of their last 14 straight meetings against Saturday’s guests – a run that stems all the way back to October 2019.
• The Sky Blues are the only Premier League club that can boast a 100% start to the 2023/24 campaign.
• Continuing on from last season, Fulham have recorded just a pair of clean sheets from any of their last 17 straight Premier League appearances.
• Erling Halend has notched three goals in as many Premier League appearances so far this season.

Conclusion

The only Premier League side that can boast a 100% start from their first three appearances, Manchester City will simply be looking to make another statement here. Tipped as a landslide contender to make more domestic history this season, Saturday’s hosts appear to have carried on from where they left off back in May. Clinching a 2-1 win when they last met Fulham at Craven Cottage back on April 30th, Guardiola’s men will also be excited by a rampant record against the Cottagers. Remarkably winning each of their last 14 straight showdowns, it is hard to see anything other than a similar outcome at the Etihad this weekend.

Verdict: Manchester City win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Olympusbet