Fulham welcome relegation-battling Southampton to Craven Cottage in their final match of 2022.
Victory would see Fulham climb to seventh until Saturday evening at minimum, whilst Southampton can move off the foot of the table with a point although a win could see them lift out of the relegation zone.
Team News
Layvin Kurzawa is a doubt for Fulham after a knock kept him out of their Boxing Day victory at Crystal Palace.
Neeskens Kebano (Achilles) and Manor Solomon (knee) both remain absent.
Southampton could hand Alex McCarthy (ankle) and Romeo Lavia (knock) late fitness tests after the pair missed the defeat against Brighton on Boxing Day.
Valentino Livramento (knee), Juan Larios (adductor) and Theo Walcott (calf) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Fulham have won just one of their last nine Premier League meetings against Southampton (W1, D4, L4).
- Southampton have won just one of their last five Premier League visits to Fulham (W1, D2, L2).
- Fulham are yet to suffer a Premier League defeat against Southampton during December (W1, D2).
- Bobby Decordova-Reid has been yellow carded in three of Fulham’s last four home matches.
- Four of Southampton’s five away goals this season in the Premier League were scored by Che Adams.
Prediction
Having enjoyed a clinical energetic attacking win at Palace in which they forced two red cards for the Eagles, Fulham know that they’re favourites coming into this match but omens do seem against them in this top-flight fixture in recent seasons
Southampton meanwhile just look a defensive mess with terrible marking in their defeat against Brighton so I do anticipate a response here, although their whole performance needs a huge revamp because their end product was still poor despite some solid pressing in midfield.
In fact unless Southampton turn up and can deliver something impressive, I can’t help but feel that Fulham should claim a comfortable home win despite their recent poor form against the Saints.
Prediction: Fulham 2-0 Southampton
Result: Fulham 2-1 Southampton