Fulham vs Brighton: 16/12/2020 – match preview and predicted starting XIs
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Scott Parker, Manager of Fulham acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage on December 13, 2020 in London, England. A limited number of spectators (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by Matt Dunham - Pool/Getty Images)
Fulham vs Brighton
Date: 16/12/2020
K/O: 20:00
Venue: Craven Cottage
Referee: Robert Jones
TV: Amazon Prime
Fulham host Brighton in a huge game at the bottom of the Premier League on Wednesday evening. The term relegation six-pointer immediately springs to mind, with the hosts sitting in 18th position, while their opponents lie just two places and two points above them.
After their disappointing start to the campaign, Fulham have improved significantly of late against difficult opposition. After winning away at Leicester, they showed spirit in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium before most recently earning a hard-fought point against current Premier League champions, Liverpool. If it weren’t for some poor finishing from the Cottagers and a soft penalty going in favour of the Merseysiders, Fulham could easily have walked away with all three points.
Brighton meanwhile have had a mixed back of results in the last few weeks. A string of good performances against Burnley, Aston Villa and Liverpool which saw them pick up five points, the Seagulls succumbed to disappointing losses against Southampton and Leicester. In their most recent game at the King Power Stadium, the match was all over before half time, with a James Maddison masterclass bulldozing the Brighton defence. Manager Graham Potter will be demanding a much better performance from his charges this time around.
These two sides have played each other just twice in the Premier League, during Fulham’s dreadful relegation 2018/19 campaign. However, the West London club had some degree of success in this fixture, picking up four points from Brighton across their two encounters. An Aleksandar Mitrovic double inspired the hosts to a 4-2 victory the last time these two clubs met. The striker hasn’t started a game for the Cottagers since before the November international break. Will Scott Parker entrust the powerful Serb to lead the line on Wednesday evening?
Team News
Fulham
Mitrovic was passed fit following an ankle injury which forced him out of the game against Liverpool, but it looks unlikely that he will start on Wednesday. Scott Parker has made just one change from Fulham’s last three matches, with Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina swapping in the centre of midfield. After improved showings this month, it seems unlikely that Parker will make wholesale changes.
Brighton
Graham Potter was handed a boost this week by the likely return of full-back Tariq Lamptey, one of their stars of the season. If fit, he will slot straight back in the side at right wing-back. Danny Welbeck is set to be joined by Leandro Trossard and Aaron Connolly upfront, while Adam Webster could return at the back.
Predicted Starting XIs
Fulham (3-4-3): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo; Decordova-Reid, Lemina, Anguissa, Robinson; Lookman, Cavaleiro, Loftus-Cheek
Brighton (3-4-3): Ryan; White, Dunk, Webster; Lamptey, Bissouma, Alzate, March; Trossard, Welbeck, Connolly
Score Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Brighton
In what should be a tight affair, neither team will be looking to lose this one. In truth, a point isn’t a bad result for either side, so a cagey encounter is to be expected in West London on Wednesday evening. With the games coming thick and fast, could Fulham’s lack of rotation cost them?