Newcastle United continue their push for Champions League qualification on Saturday afternoon when they host Fulham.
Bar their surprise slip-up at home to in-form Bournemouth, Newcastle have been in exceptional form over the last few months, winning ten of their last 11 matches in all competitions. They returned to winning ways last weekend away at Southampton thanks to another inspired display from star striker Alexander Isak and are now level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City.
Fulham had been in confident mood themselves but suffered a setback on Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester United in a dreary affair. They missed the chance to move into ninth after accumulating just 0.67 xG during a lifeless encounter at Craven Cottage. Marco Silva will demand significant improvements at St James’ Park.
Here is 90min’s guide to an intriguing battle.
Newcastle vs Fulham head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Newcastle |
Fulham |
|---|---|
|
Southampton 1-3 Newcastle – 25/01/25 |
Fulham 0-1 Man Utd – 26/01/25 |
|
Newcastle 1-4 Bournemouth – 18/01/25 |
Leicester 0-2 Fulham – 18/01/25 |
|
Newcastle 3-0 Wolves – 15/01/25 |
West Ham 3-2 Fulham – 14/01/25 |
|
Newcastle 3-1 Bromley – 12/01/25 |
Fulham 4-1 Watford – 09/01/25 |
|
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle – 07/01/25 |
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich – 05/01/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Not televised – live radio commentary on BBC Newcastle and BBC London 94.9 (audio broadcast only) |
|
United States |
Peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 4 Canada |
Newcastle are without three players for the visit of Fulham, with long-term absentees Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles still unavailable for Eddie Howe. Harvey Barnes is also sidelined with a thigh injury sustained in mid-January and he won’t return for several weeks.
Isak is the Premier League’s most in-form centre-forward right now and is aiming to punish Fulham on Saturday. He’s scored 17 goals in the top flight this term and has scored in nine of his last ten matches in the competition.
Howe may have one eye on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Arsenal and will have to manage minutes wherever possible.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Botman, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Fulham will be sweating over the fitness of red-hot winger Harry Wilson, who twisted his ankle and had to be substituted against Man Utd last time out. The Welshman has three goal contributions across his last six outings.
Elsewhere, fellow wide forward Reiss Nelson is unlikely to return this weekend having been missing since early December and right-back Kenny Tete remains unavailable due to a knee injury.
Fulham predicted lineup vs Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez.
Newcastle many have suffered a hefty defeat during their last outings at St James’ Park but they were back to their best against Southampton last weekend. While Fulham will prove a sterner challenge than the Saints, the Magpies will be strong favourites on Saturday.
With Isak in scintillating form and the likes of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes on similarly impressive runs, Fulham will be hard pushed to keep Newcastle quiet in front of a cacophonous home crowd.