Man City vs Fulham Prediction: Clean sheet to elude the Citizens again

Manchester City suffered a second successive draw in the Premier League last weekend against Newcastle United, as it looked like the loss of Rodri was already taking its toll. They will be eager to get back to winning ways when they welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (15:00). 

The Cottagers sit sixth in the table and are unbeaten in their last five in the top-flight, so they could pose a problem for the defending champions. Below you will find my Man City vs Fulham prediction, alongside the latest match odds and team news.

Man City vs Fulham Odds

Man City are 2/9 to get back to winning ways, which gives them an implied probability of 81.8%. Fulham are valued at 10/1 to take the three points, giving them a theoretical chance of 9.1%. The draw can be backed at 5/1 (16.7%).

Both teams to score is marketed at 5/6 and over 2.5 goals is available at 4/9.

Man City striker Erling Haaland has 10 goals in the Premier League already and he is 4/9 to score anytime on Saturday, or 2/1 to open proceedings.

Football Odds

Team News 

Star midfielder Rodri is Man City's biggest absentee, and he remains out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury. Oscar Bobb's leg fracture will keep him out until later this year, while it is hoped that Nathan Ake and Kevin De Bruyne could return to action after the October international break.

Pep Guardiola made six changes to his team in midweek for City's Champions League clash with Slovan Bratislava, so we should see the likes of Ederson and Ruben Dias recalled. Kyle Walker could come in at right back if young Rico Lewis is deployed in a midfield role again like he was against Newcastle last weekend.

Jack Grealish looks to be rediscovering his form in a Man City shirt, and he could once again keep Jeremy Doku out of the attack.

For the visitors, forward Carlos Vinicius remains out with a calf issue, but it is believed that he could be back in contention after the upcoming international break. Marco Silva won't want to change too much seeing as his side have started the season well.

The back four of Antonee Robinson, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and Kenny Tete looks to remain unchanged ahead of Bernd Leno in goal. Sasa Lukic could potentially drop out of the midfield for either Harrison Reed or Sander Berge.

Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson is currently being kept out the side due to the form of Adama Traore on the right flank, but he has been having an impact from the bench.

Man City and both teams to score @ 8/5

Seeing as Man City have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five Premier League matches, it seems only right to back this market. Two draws in a row has allowed rivals Arsenal to leapfrog them to the top of the table.

The Citizens cannot allow the Gunners to move further ahead as Mikel Arteta's side host a wailing Southampton side, whom they are expected to beat comfortably, so Guardiola and his players need three points against Fulham.

Fulham's speedy attackers will allow them to get into some dangerous positions on the turnover, and I think City are not as defensively strong as they would like to be, so I do see the Cottagers getting on the scoresheet.

However, with Man City back at the Etihad, I expect them to deliver a strong performance that gets them back to winning ways. Haaland experienced his first league blank against the Magpies last time out, he will not allow it to happen for a successive game.

Not to mention that six of his 10 goals in the Premier League so far have come at home, so Fulham had better strap in for the ride the Norwegian looks set to take them on this Saturday.

With his quality, and the attacking players around him, the hosts should be able to bounce back by outscoring the Cottagers.

Jack Grealish anytime goalscorer @ 23/10

Grealish was a non-existent for City last year as he seemed to lose the faith of his manager. After a big contribution in the treble-winning season of 2022/23, in which he kept up the trend of Guardiola signings becoming key figures in their second season, the attacker regressed last season.

He found it difficult to get a lot of game time as Doku was predominantly favoured on the left side of the attack. Grealish has had to work hard to get back into the boss' thinking and he has been fighting hard for his place back in the team.

In the last two league games he has had a big impact. He played a key role in the late equaliser against Arsenal, and then he teed up Josko Gvardiol for his side's goal at Newcastle last time out.

Grealish looks to be favoured in attack again against Fulham, and I think this could be the game in which we see him score his first goal of the season. Haaland feels too easy to back, and of course his odds aren't as enticing, so I am going with the Englishman to find the back of the net here.

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