High-flying Bournemouth entertain Fulham in a Premier League encounter at the Vitality Stadium.
Victory will lift Bournemouth up to second in the table ahead of the weekend’s action, whilst Fulham can leapfrog Bournemouth into sixth with a win.
Team News
Lewis Cook could return for Bournemouth after he missed their last two matches with a shoulder injury.
Adam Smith (hamstring) and Enes Unal (knee) remain sidelined.
Fulham will be without Rodrigo Muniz and Kenny Tete after the pair suffered hamstring and knee injuries respectively in their 3-1 loss at Aston Villa.
Raul Jimenez (groin) faces a late fitness check.
When is Kick-Off?
Bournemouth host Fulham at Vitality Stadium on Friday 3 October at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth have lost just one of their last six meetings against Fulham (W3, D2, L1).
- Fulham have won one of four previous Premier League visits to Bournemouth (W1, L3).
- Andoni Iraola’s Cherries have scored four goals in their last two home games against Fulham without conceding (W2).
- Bournemouth have kept two clean sheets in three league games at home this season (W2, D1).
- Fulham have won just one of their last five away games in the top flight (W1, D1, L3).
Prediction
Unbeaten in their last five league matches after a clinical draw against a gutsy Leeds, Bournemouth know that they can put pressure on those around them with a win but their set-piece defending needs to be tighter because they gave away two sloppy goals at Elland Road.
Fulham meanwhile have hit a mini top-flight rut on the road going back to their last two away trips of last season and haven’t really got going this season (D1, L2), but they otherwise are a solid team who were undone by careless defending at Villa.
Nevertheless this clash does feel like it could be close but I do think that Bournemouth will have too much attacking quality in the end.
Prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
Result: Bournemouth 3-1 Fulham