Fulham vs Newcastle United: Preview, Team News and How to Watch
Photo by George Zografidis on Pexels. This is a stock illustration, not a photo from the match.
Two bottom-half Premier League teams meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday, 7 November, when Fulham host Newcastle United in a Gameweek 10 fixture that kicks off at 22:00 WIB (15:00 in the UK). Neither side can afford to lose: Fulham are 15th, only two points above the relegation zone, while Newcastle are 13th, just four points above the bottom three. The home side arrive with momentum after a timely upturn in form, the visitors arrive under pressure after a chorus of boos at St James' Park, and the match could be a turning point for one manager and a deeper problem for the other.
Fulham endured a winless six-game start in the Premier League this season, but a timely upturn in form under Alvaro Arbeloa has seen his team put together a three-game unbeaten run, while they have lost just one of their last few matches. After winning back-to-back games by a 1-0 scoreline against Hull City and Coventry City, Fulham look like a team that is starting to believe in the way Arbeloa wants them to play. The manager is encouraged to see his players believing in his approach, and he hopes this match will begin a long journey in the right direction for a club that started the season so poorly.
Although Fulham have scored the joint third-fewest goals in the Premier League this season, with nine, they have found a way to win tight games, and their recent 1-0 wins show a team that is defending better and taking its chances. Fulham will welcome Saturday's clash with Newcastle, as they have won three of their last four top-flight meetings with the Magpies, and they picked up all three points in their most recent meeting with Newcastle. Craven Cottage, where the home crowd can make a difference in a close game, is a good place for Fulham to try to extend that run.
Newcastle's promising start to life under Matthias Jaissle now feels like a distant memory for Magpies supporters, who made their feelings clear following a disappointing recent result. A chorus of boos echoed round St James' Park after Newcastle suffered their fourth defeat in five matches, a run that has left the fans frustrated and the manager under pressure. Despite the growing frustration, and reports of players believing they are paying the price for a difficult period, Jaissle will be keen to bounce back, and a win at Craven Cottage would ease the pressure considerably.
Sitting down in 13th spot and just four points above the bottom three, Newcastle will be keen to get back to winning ways. After beating Crystal Palace 2-0 in their most recent Premier League away match, the Magpies will endeavour to win back-to-back away games in the league, and they have shown on their travels that they can be dangerous. Their recent league form, however, has been poor: a 4-1 defeat at Leeds United, a 2-1 home win over Hull City, a 4-1 defeat at Coventry City, a 0-1 home defeat to Aston Villa, the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace, and a 0-1 home defeat to Everton. That is a team that is struggling for consistency, and the manager knows it.
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Team news favours Fulham. Their only injury absentee will be captain Tom Cairney, who has a knee injury, while Ryan Sessegnon is available for selection after serving a three-game ban and could rival Antonee Robinson for a start at left-back. Hugo Larsson and Cesar Palacios are both pushing for a start in centre-midfield, but Arbeloa may decide to keep faith with the team that has won back-to-back games. Although Gonzalo Garcia has failed to score in his last eight Premier League starts, the former Real Madrid forward may keep his place, such is the trust Arbeloa has in his work off the ball.
As for Newcastle, Joelinton is ruled out with an unspecified injury sustained in the defeat to Everton, while Jacob Ramsey will serve a one-match ban after he was sent off in second-half stoppage time in the same game. Tino Livramento, with a knee injury, and Ewen Jaouen, with a hamstring injury, remain sidelined, while Mathias Fernandez-Pardo, with an illness, and Lewis Miley, with a muscle injury, are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kick-off. Teenager Sean Steur could take the place of Joelinton and link up with Nico Gonzalez in centre-midfield, but Jaissle may drop Joe Willock into a deeper midfield role and recall Yoane Wissa to operate in behind central striker William Osula.
The possible starting lineups, as published before the match, are: Fulham — Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia. Newcastle United — Hornicek; Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall; Willock, Gonzalez; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula. These are predicted selections, not confirmed teams, and the official starting lineups will be announced about an hour before kick-off.
What should we expect from the game? Sports Mole predicts a 1-1 draw, and the history of this fixture in West London makes that an interesting call: none of the 18 Premier League meetings between these two teams in West London have ended all square. That statistic suggests a winner is more likely than a draw, even if the form of both teams points to a tight, low-scoring game. Fulham's recent 1-0 wins show they can win by a single goal, while Newcastle's away win at Crystal Palace shows they can win on the road. The first goal, as so often in games between two teams low on confidence, could decide it.
How to watch: there is no UK television broadcast listed for this fixture, so no UK channel is given here — that is the honest position, and it matches the channel listing on our Live Today page. Viewers outside the UK should check their local Premier League broadcaster for the official coverage in their country, or follow the clubs' official channels for live updates. If you are in the UK and want to follow the game, the clubs' live text coverage and our Live Today page, which lists the day's matches and kick-off times in WIB, are the best places to start.
Fulham have a chance to put real distance between themselves and the relegation zone, and to make it three wins in a row after a winless start. Newcastle have a chance to quiet the boos, to win back-to-back away games and to show that the early promise under Jaissle was not a false dawn. Both teams need the points, both managers need the result, and Craven Cottage should provide a tense, competitive afternoon. A draw would help neither side much, but on the evidence of recent weeks, a single goal either way may be enough.
Source: Sports Mole - Preview: Fulham vs Newcastle United - prediction, team news, lineups - https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/preview/fulham-vs-newcastle-prediction-team-news-lineups_608429.html
